Leo Sayer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leo Sayer
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Sayer at an Australia Day ceremony in Canberra, 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gerard Hugh Sayer |
| Born | 21 May 1948 Shoreham-by-Sea, England |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
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| Years active | Early 1970s–present |
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| Associated acts | Roger Daltrey |
Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer on May 21, 1948) is a famous English-Australian singer and songwriter. He has been making music since the early 1970s. Since 2009, he has been a citizen and resident of Australia.
Leo Sayer started his music career in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s. He quickly became very popular, with hit songs and albums in both the UK and the United States. His first seven hit singles in the UK all reached the Top 10. Other famous artists like Cliff Richard and Roger Daltrey have sung his songs.
In 1978, his song "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" won a Grammy Award. It was named the Best R&B Song that year.
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About Leo Sayer's Early Life
Leo Sayer was born in Shoreham-by-Sea, England, in Sussex. He grew up there with his two brothers. His father was English, and his mother was from Maguiresbridge, Northern Ireland. He often spent holidays on his grandfather's farm in County Fermanagh.
He went to St Peter's Catholic Primary School. Later, he attended Blessed Robert Southwell (now St Oscar Romero Catholic School). He also studied commercial art and graphic design at West Sussex College of Art and Design.
When he was 18, Leo Sayer helped rescue people from a hotel fire. He was working as a hall porter at the King's Hotel in Hove. Builders working nearby helped rescue him from the fire.
Leo Sayer's Music Career
Starting Out: The 1970s
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Leo Sayer began his music journey by writing songs with David Courtney. One of their songs, "Giving It All Away", became the first solo hit for Roger Daltrey of the Who in 1973. Most of the songs on Daltrey's album Daltrey were written by Sayer and Courtney.
In 1973, Leo Sayer also started recording his own music. He signed with Chrysalis in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. His first single, "Why Is Everybody Going Home", did not become a hit. However, his second single, "The Show Must Go On", made him famous in the UK. He performed this song on TV wearing a pierrot costume. The song reached No. 2 on the UK singles chart. His first album, Silverbird, also reached No. 2 on the UK albums chart.
Other songs like "One Man Band" (1974) and "Moonlighting" (1975) were big hits in the UK. "Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)" (1974) became his first Top Ten hit in the US. His albums were very popular in the UK, with five albums reaching the Top 10 between 1973 and 1977.
His fourth album, Endless Flight (1976), made him even more popular worldwide. It reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 10 in the US. This album was certified platinum in the UK and US, and double-platinum in Canada.
Career Highlights: Late 1970s–1980s
Leo Sayer's career reached its peak in 1977. He had two number one hits in the US. The first was the disco song "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", which won a Grammy Award. The second was a romantic song, "When I Need You", which became number one in both the UK and US. This was his first No. 1 single in the UK.
In 1979, a collection of his best songs, The Very Best of Leo Sayer, became his first UK No. 1 album. It was also his seventh album in a row to reach the UK Top 20. Leo Sayer also appeared on The Muppet Show, where he sang some of his hits.
He recorded popular cover songs like "More Than I Can Say" and "Raining in My Heart". In the US, three of his singles, "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", "When I Need You", and "More Than I Can Say", were certified gold.
Music and Animation: The 1980s and 1990s
In 1980, Leo Sayer contributed songs to the animated film The Missing Link. In 1981, he lent his voice to Dan the forest ranger in The Raccoons on Ice. He also sang several songs for this animated special.
In 1990, he worked with Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson on Woolfson's solo album Freudiana. He also performed at the Sanremo Music Festival in Italy in 1990 and 1991.
Overcoming Challenges: 1990s–2006
After many successful years, Leo Sayer faced some business challenges. He worked hard to sort out these issues. He put together a new band and started touring again. This helped him get back on track financially. They released a live album called Live in London in 1999.
Later Career: 2006–Present
On February 12, 2006, Leo Sayer returned to number one on the UK singles chart. This happened with a remix of his song "Thunder In My Heart" by DJ Meck. This was his second UK chart-topper. A collection of his songs, Leo Sayer: At His Very Best, was released in 2006.
In June 2008, he released a new album in Australia called Don't Wait Until Tomorrow. This album featured his songs with new arrangements.
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In January 2009, Leo Sayer became an Australian citizen. He had been living in Sydney since 2005. He has appeared on various TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother UK and Stupid, Stupid Man. He also appeared in The Wiggles' 2008 DVD, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.
In January 2015, Leo Sayer released his album Restless Years. He also toured Australia and Singapore. In October 2015, he received a Gold Badge of Merit for his songwriting. On May 3, 2019, he released an album called Selfie. He recorded it at his home studio in Plainland, Queensland.
On November 29, 2024, Leo Sayer released his album 1992. This album contains songs he recorded in 1992 that had not been released before.
Leo Sayer's Personal Life
Leo Sayer married Janice in 1973, and they later divorced in 1985. He then had a relationship with Donatella Piccinetti, and they moved to Australia. They married on April 15, 2023. Leo Sayer lives in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
In January 2009, he officially became an Australian citizen. In 2020, he became an ambassador for the Canberra Hospital Foundation.
Health and Well-being
Leo Sayer has had some injuries to his legs and ankles from a fall off a stage in 1977. He has managed these effects.
His family has a history of cancer. On his 65th birthday, after experiencing some issues, he had a check-up. Doctors found a growth, but surgery showed it was not harmful.
Leo Sayer's Albums
- Silverbird (1973)
- Just a Boy (1974)
- Another Year (1975)
- Endless Flight (1976)
- Thunder in My Heart (1977)
- Leo Sayer (1978)
- Here (1979)
- Living in a Fantasy (1980)
- World Radio (1982)
- Have You Ever Been in Love (1983)
- Cool Touch (1990)
- Voice in My Head (2004)
- Don't Wait Until Tomorrow (2008)
- Restless Years (2015)
- Selfie (2019)
- Northern Songs (2022)
- 1992 (2024)
See also
In Spanish: Leo Sayer para niños
