The Harmonies

Not content with a number one box-office film and West End play based on their exploits, the Women's Institute also broke into the music industry with five-piece vocal group the Harmonies. After all 205,000 members of the Women's Institute were invited to participate in auditions for an X-Factor-style competition, Jan Mason, Gemma Woznicki, Doreen Connor, Jennie Mantell, and Naomi Willmott were chosen in 2010 following performances in front of several judges at Abbey Road Studios. The group, whose members had an age range of 26 to 54 when they signed a £1 million record deal with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Universal%22">Universal</a>, released their debut album, The Voices of the WI, in 2010. Featuring renditions of <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a>'s "What a Wonderful World," <a href="spotify:artist:0vn7UBvSQECKJm2817Yf1P">James Taylor</a>'s "You've Got a Friend," and Mama Cass' "Dream a Little Dream of Me," plus two original compositions, it charted at number 42. The Harmonies made their live debut at Prince Charles' eco-festival, A Garden Party to Make a Difference; signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with Marks & Spencer; and planned to headline their own tour in 2011. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi