Emile Welman

Emile Welman is a contemporary Jazz singer who infuses an R&B twist to the classic Jazz genre. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Emile emerged from the South African a cappella band, Overtone. Emile quickly became a local sensation for his dashing appearance and remarkable vocal range as the lead-singer and frontman of the band.

Emile experienced his first claim to international exposure when the band performed a Queen tribute show in Cape Town, South Africa. Dina Eastwood, wife of legendary actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood, was present at this show and was immediately captivated by Emile’s exceptional vocals and the band’s powerful presence.

Dina brought Overtone to the attention of husband Clint, which led to him using the band for a number of tracks on the soundtrack to his 2009 rugby film, Invictus. One of the tracks included the standout song
“9,000 Days” which was co-written and performed by Welman. Overtone went on to promote the film, by performing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Lopez Tonight.

While with Overtone, Emile worked with artists like Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron, hotelier Steve Wynn, and musical icon Tony Bennett (who later compared Emile’s vocals to that of Frank Sinatra). Their past stage performances include concerts with OneRepublic, Grammy Award-winner Corinne Bailey Rae, actor Kevin Bacon, and producer David Foster. The band is also the proud recipient of several awards from South Africa’s well known musical organization, VONK.

Focused on spreading word of their talent, Dina featured Welman and Overtone on her hit reality show Mrs. Eastwood & Company in 2012, televised nationwide on the E! Network. Soon after the success of the show, Emile committed himself to starting his solo career.
Emile’s voice ranges over three octaves, which naturally lends itself to the jazz and swing eras. His goal is to make jazz popular again by infusing it with a hip-hop/R&B influence. Emile released his first single,
“Love Away” back in 2013 on iTunes. Since his initial solo release, Emile has gone on to perform a variety of shows throughout Los Angeles. He joined the California Crooner’s Club in late 2015 alongside Hugh Sheridan and Gabe Roland to perform on highly anticipated tour in Australia. At the tour’s end, Emile will return to Los Angeles to finish up the final touches to his debut solo album scheduled for release in late 2016.
With his great looks, smooth vocals, and commanding stage presence, Emile’s passion for music will surely connect with audiences worldwide. His incomparable talent will continue to attract fans to his unique sound for years to come.