The Choirboys were formed in 2005 in England from a talent search that assembled three cathedral choristers: Patrick James Aspbury, Eskricke Francis Benedict “Ben” Inman, and Charles John “CJ” Porter‑Thaw; all were born in 1993–1994 and trained in the choirs of Ely Cathedral, Southwell Minster, and Sheffield. Their breakthrough came with the release of the self‑titled album The Choirboys on 28 November 2005, which sold 100,000 copies in the first week, earned a gold disc on Blue Peter, and later achieved 2× platinum status with over 750,000 copies sold; the single "Tears in Heaven" peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2007 the original line‑up retired as trebles and was replaced by Andrew Swait, William Dutton, and Bill Goss, who recorded the Christmas‑themed album The Carols Album on 3 December 2007; the group continued touring the UK, performing at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and participating in charity concerts. The Choirboys’ career was marked by their blend of Middle of the Road and pop music, their commercial success, and their role in bringing choral music to a mainstream audience; the death of Patrick James Aspbury on 12 April 2017, following a tragic incident at Chelmsford station, closed a significant chapter in the group’s history.
