Overtone, a boy band backed by Dina and Clint Eastwood, is currently on its first U.S. tour, opening a half dozen West Coast shows for pop sensation Corinne Bailey Rae. The seven members – Emile Welman, Riaan Weyers, Ernie Bates, Valentino “Tino” Ponsonby, Shane Smit, Ruan Van Zyl and Eduard Janes Van Rensburg — are all in their early to mid-20s and hail from Johannesburg, South Africa. Overtone is unique in that there are no instruments – just seven distinct voices, and armed with new material they are ready to take their shot at the big time. How they got to this point is a pretty good story, too. Here’s how it happened.

It was early 2009. Dina Eastwood was going a little stir crazy. Her hotel room in South Africa was getting smaller by the minute and she was beginning to question her decision to relocate to Johannesburg, with young daughter in tow, while her famous husband directed the movie “Invictus.” A flyer promoting a musical tribute to the 1980’s rock band Queen caught her eye. “Just the ticket,” she thought. “This will relieve some of my cabin fever.” Little did she know the outing was going to change her life.

Dina went to the show and was surprised by what she did not see and astonished by what she did. The band was not a group of aging, eyeliner wearing, bleached hair, pot-bellied Queen wannabes that she was expecting. Instead she discovered Overtone – seven charming, good-looking young men with vocal talent the likes of which she had never heard before. This was a boy band that had everything – the looks, the charm and most importantly the voices that blended together into something of a harmonic convergence. Think a cappela taken to the streets. Heavy bass, beat boxing and contemporary arrangements.

Dina knew she was seeing something special. She arranged for an impromptu concert for the “Invictus” cast and crew. Husband Clint liked the boys so much he hired them for the movie’s soundtrack. A whirlwind of promotional appearances followed the movie’s release including spots on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Lopez Tonight” and “The Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Overtone was getting noticed, but real sustained success in the music business was going to require paying some dues. Dina signed on as manager and sometime songwriter (she wrote “Urge” on their soon to be released new album). For their part, the boys got busy writing, arranging and rehearsing. And the hard work is paying off. The tour with Corinne Bailey Rae is a big first step, but they are still a ways away from fame and fortune. They are traveling down the coast in rented vans, and enjoying fast food that they can’t get in South Africa. Dina is right there with them. The Eastwood name certainly helps, but she knows the “the boys” will have to make it on talent. Their new single “The Plan” is a catchy, rap influenced, toe tapping get up and move kind of a song – and may end up being a big part of the plan that launches Overtone into overdrive.

For more check out www.overtoneband.com