I came so close to never seeing my boys grow up so I appreciate every second I have with them now.

Thursday, 09 June 2016

The family four-piece who moved Simon Cowell to tears on Britain’s Got Talent is to release a single on Father’s Day in aid of the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK. The Neales will release their first self-penned track ‘I'll Be There’ on independent label Zy Records with the full backing of all Tesco stores across the UK.

The new single will be available to buy on checkouts in over 750 Tesco stores around the country from Friday 10th June for £1. The CD comes in a specially designed, personalisable sleeve that allows people to show their own dad the love and appreciation he deserves, while also supporting a vitally important cause. The single will also be available for digital download.

The Neales are the four-part family harmony group that won the hearts of the nation during Britain's Got Talent 2015. Made up of three brothers and their father, this group evoked tears, smiles and warmth as they made their way to the Live Final, finishing as the highest placed band in this year's competition.

This time last year, the Britain’s Got Talent audience rose to their feet for a long and rapturous standing ovation as Laurie Neale (60) and his sons Phil (26), Dan (27) and James (30) performed their rendition of the Everly Brothers ‘When Will I Be Loved.’

As James introduced the group it was clear why the band were on stage.

“10 years ago my dad had a heart attack, and he knew he had to change his life, and he loves singing. The three of us are here because we realise the reason he had that heart attack was because he ran himself into the ground trying to provide for us. So you’d have thought that when he asked us to come on Britain’s Got Talent to achieve his dream, we’d say yes, but it actually took three years of pestering” James revealed.

Laurie broke down in tears when the judges said “yes” four times after he and his three sons had sung in perfect harmony. Amazingly, it was the four-piece vocal group’s first-ever public performance and it had taken years of constant nagging and a near death experience before Laurie could persuade his boys to sing as The Neales.

The Neales later made television history and moved Simon Cowell to tears following their performance of Cat Stevens’ Father and Son. Simon later said: 'That actually got quite emotional. What has happened to me? It was a perfect song. I really like you guys.’

Fellow judge Alesha Dixon summed up the sentiment of the British public stating: ‘People are going to make connection with you because the most important thing in the world is family.

Laurie Neale had a heart attack 10 years ago while helping to move a piano at a music school near the family home in Solihull, West Midlands. He suffered sudden and severe chest pains and believes his life was saved by the actions of a school nurse who stabilised him before an ambulance arrived.

Laurie said, " I came so close to never seeing my boys grow up so I appreciate every second I have with them now.

"Music was always my passion and it became my therapy to de-stress after I almost worked myself into the grave. Enjoying music with my sons is all I’ve ever wanted.”

The Neales’ debut single ‘I'll Be There’ will be released on the 10th of June with the full backing of Tesco. The Tesco and Zy deal sees every single penny of all sales going to the Tesco chosen charities of The British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK.

Tesco have confirmed that they will market 150,000 physical singles throughout their entire network of 750 stores.

Phil Neale, a member of Tesco’s marketing team, commented:

“I’ll Be There” is an original song that we wrote together as a family and it’s a promise to a loved one to always be there, no matter what. That’s a very fitting sentiment for us as a family singing together, and one we hope the nation share with us this Father’s Day.

“We know we’re still music chart underdogs, but we hope that with the backing of Tesco we can get the single to number one, and raise a huge amount of money for the National Charity Partnership funding crucial work to prevent heart disease and diabetes right across the UK. Having nearly lost our own dad and band member 10 years ago to a heart attack, we feel very lucky and proud to be in a position to raise money for and awareness of two illnesses that affect millions of dads across the country.”


Dan Neale added: ’Adversity has made us so much stronger. We’re a special family with an unbreakable bond and that’s what ‘I’ll Be There’ means to us!’

Tesco have will have 150,000 physical singles throughout their entire network of 750 stores from 10th - 19th June. The Neales will go on a tour of selected Tesco stores all over the UK during the first weekend of the song’s release.


ENDS

Notes to editors

The single is available for digital download, and can be pre-ordered here: I'll Be There

Soundcloud link with an exclusive preview of the song here (NOT FOR PUBLICATION): Soundcloud Link

The Tesco Charity Partnership with Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation aims to tackle and help prevent heart disease and diabetes. It exists thanks to efforts like this from three hundred thousand UK Tesco colleagues, every day of the year, supporting the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK. To find out more, visit: www.tescocharitypartnership.org

For further info please contact Margaret Murray on margaret@fmguk.com