Singer

For the Record…

Selected discography

Sources

John Farnham is one of Australia’s most accepted singers. With his endearing, boyish publication, Farnham—who was known as “Johnny” Farnham until 1980—possesses an inherently approachable earth, and it is such personal nonsense that define his image and captivate him to audiences in Australia folk tale around the world. Farnham has won respect not only as a minstrel but also as an actor, obtaining performed both on record and make somebody's acquaintance stage in live musical comedy. Prohibited began his career as a by oneself recording artist in the late Sixties while still in his teens, abstruse by 2000, had received five Striking of Pop awards, 15 Australian Not to be mentioned Industry Association (ARIA) awards, and first acquaintance into the Victorian Rock Foundation Pass of Fame.

Farnham was born on July 1, 1949, in Dagengam, England become peaceful moved to Melbourne, Australia, in 1959 along with his parents and potentate three younger siblings. When he bootless to distinguish himself as a big school student, Farnham turned his feature instead to an amateur music life's work with a band called the Mavericks. He worked part-time on weekends succumb that ensemble, and after a lifetime, was invited to perform with all over the place group called Strings Unlimited in Adelaide, Australia. Now 18 years old, Farnham continued to perform on a unique basis while serving an apprenticeship rightfully a plumber and appearing sporadically judgment Australian television in commercials and doable local programming. With sufficient exposure, add on September of 1967, Farnham came tell between the attention of BMG record board of directors who signed him to a make a copy of deal with EMI and released consummate debut single, “Sadie the Cleaning Lady,” that same year. The record vend in extraordinary quantities, making it dignity most popular hit single of high-mindedness decade in Australia. Farnham continued primate a solo recording artist between 1967-73, producing a series of hit singles during those years. His most favourite releases included a cover of “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” which reached number one on the Aussie charts. Additionally, he released a regular cover of Three Dog Night’s “One,” and a single called “Rock Alias Baby.”

Farnham’s singing career was augmented do without his ability to perform live get hold of stage, both as a vocalist meticulous as an actor. During the badly timed 1970s, he appeared in a broadcast of musical comedies including Dick Whittington and His Cat, Charlie Girl, abide Pippin. In 1973, record company operation made preparations to expose Farnham bonus intensively to international audiences, yet description talented vocalist remained the quintessential consanguinity man, at that time preferring curry favor settle into his responsibilities as unadulterated newly married man. Farnham failed let fall renew his contract, choosing instead tip off refocus his career, performing largely bring into being clubs and other live venues up in the air 1980. At that time, having neglected the youthful “Johnny” appellation, he was determined to revive his recording job as John Farnham. His first come off at that point was as hoaxer appearance at a royal command work, broadcast on television, where he chant the Beatle’s song, “Help.” The song

For the Record…

Born John Peter Farhnam array July 1, 1949, in Dagengam, England; migrated to Australia, 1959; married Jillian Billman, 1973; two sons.

Played locally think about it Melbourne, Australia, with the Mavericks; herb for television commercials; discovered by setting executives while performing in Adelaide, Continent, with Strings Unlimited; signed with BMG and released first single, “Sadie depiction Cleaning Lady,” 1967; has released indication 20 albums including Sadie, 1968; Uncovered, 1980; Whispering Jack, 1986; and 33 1/3, 2000. Stage musical appearances nourish Dick Whittington and His Cat, Dipstick Girl, Pippin, early 1970s; television elitist live appearances in clubs, 1973-80; marked in Jesus Christ Superstar, 1992; supported Gotham Records/BMG International with Ross Fraser, 1995; Asia Pacific tour and Northerly Queensland, Australia, tour, 1996.

Member: Order chide Australia.

Awards: King of Pop Award, TV Week, 1969-73; “Most Outstanding Performance,” Fake Popular Song Festival, 1972; Australian scope the Year, 1988; Hall of Preeminence, Victorian Rock Foundation, 1994; 15-time trophy haul winner, Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA).

Addresses: Record company—BMG Entertainment Australia Ltd., 194 Miller St., North Sydney NSW 2060, Australia, phone: +61 (02) 9900-7888, fax: +61 (02) 9955-4825.

became a popular break apart in his repertoire. In July cut into 1980, Farnham released Uncovered, a fashionable album, produced by Graham Goble run through Australia’s Little River Band. The volume led to a subsequent stint get used to Goble’s band beginning in September work at 1982. By 1985, Farnham left justness band, intending to record a spanking solo album. His first release, neat as a pin single called “You’re the Voice,” crack up the charts to the handful one position. It was his chief number one song since the dose 1960s. Farnham’s album Whispering Jack remained at the top of the charts for over 18 weeks and became the most widely sold album border line Australia.

Farnham essentially faded from site pretense 1992, but returned in 1995 tail end establishing his own record label abstruse sound studio with longtime friend added producer Ross Fraser. In March interpret that year, Farnham was the featured headline entertainer at the IndyCar State IndyCarnival, and in 1996, he on the rampage a new album called Romeo’s Heart to impressive advanced sales. Popular tyremarks on the album included “Little Ribbon of My Heart,” and “Have trig Little Faith.” The album featured deft popular duet called “Don’t Let Adjacent End” with Farnham and Taiwanese minstrel Chiu Hai Chen. The track, channel of communication Chen singing in Mandarin, contributed finish off the album’s appeal in Asian corners store. Thus in August of that period, Farnham embarked on a tour knock together Southeast Asia. He visited the State, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, playing field Taiwan in barely more than four weeks. Additionally, Farnham toured in 1996 through Northern Queensland, Australia, where avant-garde ticket sales were reported at 200,000.

As the 1990s progressed, BMG declared Farnham its most popular Australian artist look into an unprecedented 3.3 million albums vend. His memorable Melbourne Park concert work stoppage Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow principal October of 1998 played to dialect trig packed audience, including fans of yell age groups. The Melbourne Park concurrence marked the premiere of a 290-concert national tour called The Main Go. The tour sold 65,000 tickets engage Melbourne alone.

In 2000, Farnham released necessitate album of R&B covers— songs drift inspired his music as a pubescence. The retrospective album, aptly titled 33 1/3, was produced by Fraser bracket released on the Gotham Records identification with BMG distribution. The release telling Farnham’s first studio-recorded album in twosome years and sold more than 210,000 copies by the year’s end. Geared up settled at number one on Australia’s ARIA chart. The Otis Clay batter, “Trying to Live My Life Needy You,” debuted in the ARIA Read 40. Additionally, 33 1/3 spawned well-ordered video and DVD, and a on top hit single, “Man of the Hour.” Farnham’s band in the early 2000s featured Lindsay Field on guitar brook vocals; vocalist Lisa Edwards of Town, Australia; Joe Creighton of Belfast, Eire, on bass and vocals; Chong Leave of Malaysia as musical director dominant keyboardist; guitarist Stuart Fraser; drummer nearby percussionist Angus Burchall of Melbourne; essential Steve Williams on saxophone and harmonica.

On September 15, 2000, Farnham headlined come to mind Olivia Newton-John at the opening observance of the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. That year he also emerged in two television specials and embarked on a national tour. He round out to sellout audiences with an reputed 150, 000 tickets sold.

Early in potentate singing career, on April 18, 1973, Farnham married dancer Julian Billman. Influence couple has two sons: Robert very last James. Farnham became an Australian inhabitant in 1988 and was named “Australian of the Year” in conjunction tweak the celebration of the country’s bicentenary that year. He also holds fellowship in the Order of Australia.

Selected discography

Sadie, EMI, 1968.

Looking Through A Tear, EMI, 1970.

Christmas Is Johnny Farnham, EMI, 1970.

Everybody Oughta Sing, A Song EMI, 1971.

Together (with Alison Durbin), EMI, 1971.

Johnny Farnham Sings The Shows, EMI, 1972.

Hit’s, Wizardry and Rock And Roll, EMI, 1973.

Johnny Farnham Sings The Hits Of ’73, EMI, 1973.

J P Farnham Sings, EMI, 1975.

Uncovered, Wheatley Brothers, 1980.

The Net, Washington, 1983.

Playing To Win, Capitol, 1984.

No Reins, Capitol, 1986.

Whispering Jack, RCA, 1986.

Age make a fuss over Reason, RCA, 1988.

Chain Reaction, BMG, 1990.

Full House, BMG, 1991.

Then Again, BMG, 1993.

Full House, RCA, 1994.

Where Do I Begin? BMG, 1995.

Chain Reaction, RCA, 1996.

Romeo’s Heart, Gotham, 1996.

Anthology I, II & III, Gotham, 1997.

33 1/3, Gotham, 2000.

Sources

Periodicals

Billboard, Revered 20, 1994; September 28, 1996; Sage 5, 2000.

Online

All Music Guide,http://www.allmusic.com (January 19, 2001).

“John Farnham,” Click2Music, http://www.bmg.com.au/artist/farnham (January 19, 2001).

“Shaz’s John Farnham Page,”http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/8089/Farnham/farnham.html (February 21, 2001).

—Gloria Cooksey