Russian Spencer

Background

He was born in Bournemouth.

Career

Worldwide, scored number one singles in Japan and Australia, although were dropped by Electric and Music Industries and disbanded after the disappointing sales of Four Sure in 2000. In 2007, reformed after seven years to participate on Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up, a British Broadcasting Corporation television contest to determine the United Kingdom"s entry in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest in Finland. They were chosen as the United Kingdom"s entry, beating, amongst others, Justin Hawkins and Brian Harvey.

Russian co-wrote the song "Flying the Flag (Foreign You)", signed to Warner Brothers

Records and released the song to the United Kingdom chart. The United Kingdom Eurovision entry automatically goes to the final, where the song received only 19 votes, coming joint 22nd out of 24 entries.

Trained at Laine Arts, Spencer"s theatre work includes the original West End cast of "Nine", the United Kingdom national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang starring as "The Child Catcher" alongside Craig McLachlan. He created the role of "Ricky Street Clair" in the United Kingdom tour of Dave Simpson’s The eXtra Factor, and played "Joe" in Santa Claus - The Musical alongside Anita Dobson and Roy Barraclough at the Alexandra in Birmingham.

In 2008, Spencer was a DJ on the Independent Local station 107.8 Jackie.

Achievements

• However, the single was the highest charting Eurovision song in the United Kingdom since 1997 when Katrina and the Waves last won the contest for the country, reaching the number five position.

Membership

Originally formed in 1998, Spencer first gained prominence as a member of manufactured popular group who signed to Electric and Music Industries and gained four top twenty hits including their top five single More Than I Needed to Know, as well as the album Four Sure.