Jon English facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jon English
Jon English performing at Celebrate Australia! on Australia Day 2010.
Born	Jonathan James English (1949-03-26)26 March 1949 Hampstead, London, UK
Died	9 March 2016(2016-03-09) (aged 66) Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Cause of death	Aortic aneurysm
Alma mater	Cabramatta High School
Occupation	Singer, actor, musician, songwriter
Years active	1970–2016
Known for	Jesus Christ Superstar "Turn the Page" Against the Wind "Six Ribbons" The Pirates of Penzance
Spouse(s)	Carmen Sora (1969-2006)
Children	4

Jon English singing at Royal Theatre, Canberra 2011

Jonathan James "Jon" English (born 26 March 1949 – died 9 March 2016) was a famous singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He was born in England but became an Australian citizen. Jon English was well-known for his powerful singing voice and his exciting performances on stage and screen.

Early Life and Moving to Australia

Jon English was born in 1949 in Hampstead, London, England. His parents were Sydney and Sheila English. He had three siblings: Janet, Jeremy, and Jill.

In 1961, when Jon was 12 years old, his family moved to Australia. They sailed on a ship called RMS Orion. His father worked for an airline and was moved to Sydney Airport.

The family settled in Cabramatta, New South Wales. Jon went to Cabramatta High School. His father, Sydney, loved music and played piano, guitar, and drums. He bought Jon his first guitar. Jon's sister, Janet, even took him to see the Beatles perform in Sydney in 1964.

Jon English's Amazing Career

Jon English started his music career as a singer and guitarist. He was part of a band called Sebastian Hardie. However, he soon left the band for a big opportunity.

In May 1972, Jon got a major role in the Australian stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar. He played the part of Judas Iscariot. This show was even shown on television, making him famous across Australia.

Hit Songs and TV Fame

Jon English was also a very successful solo singer. He had many hit songs in Australia. Some of his most popular songs include "Turn the Page", "Hollywood Seven", and "Hot Town".

In 1978, Jon starred in an Australian TV series called Against the Wind. He played the main character, Jonathan Garrett. This role was a huge success for him. He even won a special award, the TV Week Logie Award, for 'Best New Talent in Australia'. He also helped write the music for the show.

The TV series Against the Wind was popular around the world. In countries like Norway and Sweden, his song "Six Ribbons" from the show became a number one hit!

Stage Performances and Awards

From 1983 to 1985, Jon English won four Mo Awards. These awards celebrate live entertainment in Australia. He won 'Entertainer of the Year' three times in a row!

Jon also loved performing in famous operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan. He starred in shows like The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and H.M.S. Pinafore. Many of these performances were shown on Australian TV and released on video.

Later Life and Passing Away

In early 2016, Jon English became unwell. He had to cancel some shows because he needed surgery for a health problem called an aortic aneurysm. Sadly, he passed away on 9 March 2016, after complications from the surgery.

A special public memorial concert was held for him in Sydney. Many famous friends and performers, like John Paul Young and John Waters, performed to remember his life and music.

Jon's Other Interests

Outside of his career, Jon English was a big sports fan. He was a very enthusiastic supporter of the Parramatta Eels, an Australian rugby league team. He also supported the Fitzroy Football Club in Australian rules football.

Acting Roles and Theatre Work

Jon English had a long career in acting, both on TV and in theatre.

• TV Shows: He appeared in TV dramas like Matlock Police and mini-series like Against the Wind. He was also a main character in the popular TV comedy All Together Now from 1991 to 1993. His last known TV acting role was in the children's series Time Trackers in 2008.
• Films: Jon starred in films such as Touch and Go and Walk the Talk.
• Theatre: He performed in over 700 shows of Jesus Christ Superstar as Judas Iscariot. He also played the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance many times. Other notable roles included Pap Finn in Big River and King Arthur in Spamalot.

Awards and Recognition

Jon English received many awards throughout his career for his music and performances.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are major awards for Australian music. They celebrate the best in music each year.

Countdown Awards

Countdown was a popular Australian TV music show. It gave out awards to artists from 1979 to 1987.

Mo Awards

The Mo Awards were Australian awards for live entertainment. Jon English won six of these awards for his amazing performances.

Other Awards

• 1979 – TV Week Logie Award for 'Best New Talent in Australia' for his role in Against the Wind.
• 1984 – Green Room Award for Male Actor in a Leading Role (Music Theatre) for playing the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance.

Images for kids

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  Jon English live at Sweden Rock Festival June 8, 2013