John Farnham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Farnham
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Farnham in 2014
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| Born |
John Peter Farnham
1 July 1949 |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1964–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Jillian Billman
(m. 1973) |
| Children |
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| Musical career | |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Pop rock, adult contemporary, soft rock, soul music, R&B |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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John Peter Farnham AO (born 1 July 1949) is a famous Australian singer. He started his career as a teen pop idol in 1967, when he was known as Johnny Farnham. Later, he became a very successful adult contemporary singer. He has mostly worked as a solo artist, but he was also the lead singer of the Little River Band from 1982 to 1985.
In 1986, his song "You're the Voice" became a No. 1 hit in Australia. His album, Whispering Jack, was also No. 1 for 25 weeks. It is the highest-selling album by an Australian artist in history. Both the song and the album were popular around the world, reaching the top ten in countries like the United Kingdom and Sweden.
Farnham is one of Australia's most popular performers. He is the only Australian artist to have a number-one album or single in five different decades. Some of his famous hits include "Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)" (1967), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1970), and "Age of Reason" (1988). He has also worked with many other famous artists, like Olivia Newton-John, Tom Jones, and The Seekers.
Farnham has received many awards for his music. He was named Australian of the Year in 1987 and has won 19 ARIA Awards. He was also voted 'King of Pop' by readers of TV Week magazine for five years in a row.
Early Life and First Bands
John Peter Farnham was born in London, England, on 1 July 1949. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Australia and settled in Melbourne, Victoria.
As a teenager, Farnham loved to sing. In 1964, while still in school, he joined a local band called The Mavericks. A year later, he became the lead singer for another band, Strings Unlimited.
In 1967, a manager named Darryl Sambell heard Farnham sing and was very impressed. He offered to help Farnham start a solo career. Soon after, Farnham signed a record contract with EMI, a major music company.
Musical Career
1967–1970s: Teen Pop Idol
Farnham's first big hit was a song called "Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)". At first, his manager didn't like the song, but the record producer insisted on releasing it. It became a huge success, reaching No. 1 on the Australian charts in 1968 and staying there for six weeks. It was the highest-selling single by an Australian artist in the 1960s.
Because of his popularity, Farnham was called a "teen idol." From 1969 to 1973, he was voted the 'King of Pop' five times in a row by readers of TV Week magazine. In 1969, he had another No. 1 hit with a cover of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head".
Besides singing, Farnham also acted in stage musicals like Charlie Girl. It was during this musical that he met a dancer named Jillian Billman. They got married on 18 April 1973. By the mid-1970s, his pop career had slowed down, and he focused more on television and theatre.
1980–1986: Joining Little River Band
In 1980, Farnham decided to change his music style to a more grown-up, pop-rock sound. He released a cover of The Beatles' song "Help!", which was a top ten hit.
In 1982, he was invited to become the new lead singer of the famous Australian rock group Little River Band (LRB). With Farnham as the singer, the band recorded three albums and had hits like "Down on the Border".
Farnham also sang songs for movie soundtracks, including Fletch (1985) and Rad (1986). However, he eventually decided to leave Little River Band in 1986 to focus on his solo career again.
1986–1997: The Peak of His Solo Career
"You're the Voice" and Whispering Jack
After leaving LRB, Farnham began working on a new solo album. His manager, Glenn Wheatley, even mortgaged his own house to pay for the album's production because no record label wanted to sign Farnham at first.
One day, they received a demo tape of a song called "You're the Voice". They knew it was a special song. When it was released in 1986, radio stations started playing it, and it quickly became a massive hit. It reached No. 1 in Australia, Sweden, and Germany, and was a top ten hit in the UK.
His album, Whispering Jack, was released in September 1986. It became the highest-selling album by an Australian artist in the country's history. It stayed at No. 1 for 25 weeks. The album's success led to the Jack's Back Tour, which was the highest-grossing tour by an Australian artist at the time.
Age of Reason and Chain Reaction
Farnham's success continued with his next album, Age of Reason (1988). The title song, "Age of Reason", became his last No. 1 single in Australia. The album itself was also a No. 1 hit and was the best-selling album in Australia for 1988.
In 1990, he released Chain Reaction, which also went to No. 1. This album featured more songs written by Farnham himself. It included hit singles like "Chain Reaction" and "Burn for You".
Stage Success and More Albums
In 1992, Farnham took on the lead role in the stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar. The show was a huge success, and the soundtrack album was also very popular.
He continued to release successful albums throughout the 1990s, including Then Again... (1993) and Romeo's Heart (1996). Both albums were praised by critics and loved by fans.
1998–Present: Tours and Collaborations
In 1998, Farnham toured with Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow in a show called The Main Event. The tour was a massive success, and the live album from the show went to No. 1.
In 2000, Farnham and Olivia Newton-John performed the song "Dare to Dream" at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The performance was seen by billions of people around the world.
In 2002, Farnham announced his "The Last Time Tour," saying it would be his final major national tour. The tour was a huge success and became the biggest-grossing tour in Australian history. However, he continued to perform in special concerts and events. In 2004, he toured with Welsh singer Tom Jones.
Farnham has continued to record music and perform. He released the album Jack in 2010 and toured with Olivia Newton-John again in 2015. He has also performed at many charity events, including the 2019 Hay Mate concerts to support Australian farmers.
Personal Life and Health
Farnham married Jillian Billman in 1973. They have two sons, Robert and James. He lives on a farm near Bendigo, Victoria.
In August 2022, Farnham had surgery for a cancerous tumour in his mouth. The surgery was successful, and a year later, in August 2023, he announced that he was cancer-free.
Recognition and Legacy
John Farnham is considered one of the greatest performers in Australian music history. He has won 21 ARIA Awards, including being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2003.
In 1996, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to music and charity. A documentary about his life, John Farnham: Finding the Voice, was released in 2023.
Australian music historian Ian McFarlane called him "the most successful solo artist in the history of Australian rock and pop." Farnham is known for his powerful voice, his friendly personality, and his connection with his audience.
Selected Discography
- Sadie (1968)
- Everybody Oughta Sing a Song (1968)
- Looking Through a Tear (1970)
- Christmas Is... Johnny Farnham (1970)
- Johnny (1971)
- Uncovered (1980)
- Whispering Jack (1986)
- Age of Reason (1988)
- Chain Reaction (1990)
- Then Again... (1993)
- Romeo's Heart (1996)
- 33⅓ (2000)
- The Last Time (2002)
- Jack (2010)
Images for kids
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John Farnham performing in 2009 during his "Live By Demand" tour.
See also
In Spanish: John Farnham para niños
