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Wendy Matthews
Birth name Wendy Joan Matthews
Born (1960-01-13) 13 January 1960 (age 65)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, performer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1976–present
Labels
Associated acts
  • Little Benny Blues Band
  • Hiroshi Sato
  • Models
  • Peter Blakeley
  • Rockmelons
  • Kate Ceberano
  • Noel's Cowards
  • Absent Friends

Wendy Joan Matthews (born 13 January 1960) is a talented singer and songwriter. She was born in Canada and later moved to Australia. Wendy has been a part of popular bands like Models and Absent Friends. She is also a very successful solo artist.

In the 1990s, Wendy had many hit songs, including "Token Angels", "Let's Kiss (Like Angels Do)", "The Day You Went Away", and "Friday's Child". Her albums like Émigré and Lily were also very popular. She has won six Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards for her amazing music. People often describe her voice as "extraordinary" and "crystal-clear."

Wendy also appeared on an Australian TV show called It Takes Two. On this show, celebrities teamed up with professional singers. She helped induct her former band, Models, into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2010.

Wendy Matthews' Music Journey

Early Life and Music Beginnings (1960–1981)

Wendy Joan Matthews was born in 1960 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She has a mix of Abenaki (a First Nations tribe), Spanish, and Scottish family history. Growing up, she loved listening and singing along to music by artists like Joni Mitchell and Linda Ronstadt.

When she was 15, Wendy joined her friends in a band called the Little Benny Blues Band. She left school at 16 and started busking (performing music in public for money) across North America, even going to Mexico. By 1978, she was in Los Angeles. There, she continued busking, made jewelry, and worked as a session singer (a singer hired to perform on recordings). In 1981, she sang on albums for Japanese musicians, traveling to Japan to record.

Joining Bands and Soundtracks (1982–1990)

While in Los Angeles, Australian singer Glenn Shorrock asked Wendy to sing backing vocals for his album. She then toured Australia with him in 1983. Wendy loved Sydney and decided to stay there. She became a very popular session vocalist, singing on albums for many famous Australian artists like Jimmy Barnes and Icehouse.

After singing on Models' 1985 album, she became a regular singer for the band. In 1985, Wendy also recorded songs for the TV series Dancing Daze. She sang a duet called "Dancing Daze" with Jenny Morris. In 1987, she teamed up with Kate Ceberano for the soundtrack of another TV series called Stringer. Their duet album, You've Always Got The Blues, was released in 1988 and became a big hit, reaching No. 4 on the Australian charts.

Wendy also joined a band called Noel's Cowards and sang on the song "Jump" for Rockmelons' album Tales of the City. In 1989, she became a member of the Australian supergroup Absent Friends. She sang lead vocals on their hit song "I Don't Want to Be with Nobody but You", which reached No. 4 on the charts. The band toured Australia and even supported INXS on a tour in Europe. After Absent Friends broke up, Wendy decided to start her solo career.

Solo Music Success (1990–1999)

In 1990, Wendy recorded her first solo album, Émigré. It was a huge success and sold many copies. She won the Australian Rolling Stone magazine award for best female vocalist that year.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 1991, Wendy won two awards: 'Best Female Artist' and 'Breakthrough Artist – Single' for her song "Token Angels", which reached No. 18. Other popular songs from the album included "Woman's Gotta Have It" and "Let's Kiss (Like Angels Do)".

In 1992, Wendy released her second solo album, Lily. This album was even more successful, reaching No. 2 on the charts and selling over 140,000 copies. The main song from the album, "The Day You Went Away", was a massive hit, reaching No. 2. Other hits from Lily were "Friday's Child" and "If Only I Could". In 1993, Wendy won 'Best Female Artist' for Lily and 'Best Single' for "The Day You Went Away" at the ARIA Awards.

Her next album, The Witness Tree, came out in 1994 and included the hit song "Standing Strong". This album also sold very well. In 1995, Wendy became an Australian citizen. She released another album, Ghosts, in 1997. In 1999, she released Stepping Stones, which was a collection of her greatest hits and reached No. 4 on the charts.

Music, TV, and Other Activities (2000–Present)

In 2000, Wendy was going to be in a new Australian musical called Godspell. She even released her version of the song "Day by Day". However, the musical faced financial problems and could not be staged.

In 2001, Wendy moved from Sydney to a property near Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. Her solo album, Beautiful View, was released that year and made it into the Top 40. In 2003, she sang a duet with the famous singer Rod Stewart on his album.

Wendy released her own album of cover songs, Café Naturale, in 2004. She wanted to create something more acoustic and instrument-driven. This album included acoustic versions of songs by bands like U2 and Massive Attack.

In 2008, Wendy went on the Fallen Angels Tour and also toured with Ian Moss. She then released her album She on her own record label. This album featured her favorite songs by inspiring female artists like Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell. In 2010, she toured with country musician Adam Harvey.

On 27 October 2010, Wendy had the honor of inducting her former band, Models, into the ARIA Hall of Fame. She shared a fun memory of meeting them for the first time when they were playing indoor cricket in the studio!

In 2015, Wendy released a live album called Billie and Me: The White Room Sessions. This album celebrated the 100th birthday of the legendary singer Billie Holiday, who Wendy greatly admires. In 2016, Wendy was featured on a song called "F U Cancer" with other Australian artists like Kasey Chambers.

TV Appearances

Wendy Matthews has appeared on three seasons of Channel Seven's celebrity singing competition It Takes Two.

  • In 2006, she was partnered with former Australian Rules football player Richard Champion. They were voted off in week six.
  • In 2007, she was paired with comedian Russell Gilbert. They were voted off in week four.
  • In 2008, she teamed up with news reader John Mangos. They were voted off in week two.

Wendy also appeared on the TV show RocKwiz in 2008, where she performed Toto's "Hold the Line" as a duet.

Discography

  • You've Always Got The Blues (duet album with Kate Ceberano) (1988)
  • Émigré (1990)
  • The Way It Has to Be (1991)
  • Lily (1992)
  • The Witness Tree (1994)
  • Ghosts (1997)
  • Beautiful View (2001)
  • Café Naturale (2004)
  • She (2008)
  • The Welcome Fire (2013)
  • Billie and Me: The White Room Sessions (2015)

Awards and Nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are given out every year by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).


Year Nominee / work Award Result
1995 "Standing Strong" – (Wendy Matthews, Glenn Skinner) Most Performed Australian Work Won

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are presented every year by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Wendy Matthews has won six awards from twenty-two nominations as a solo artist.


Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987 "Dancing Daze" Best Female Artist Nominated
1989 You've Always Got The Blues (with Kate Ceberano) Best Female Artist Nominated
Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated
Best Jazz Album Nominated
1991 Émigré Best Female Artist Won
Breakthrough Artist – Album Nominated
"(I Don't Want to Be With) Nobody but You – (Absent Friends featuring Wendy Matthew) Single of the Year Won
Breakthrough Artist – Single Nominated
"Token Angels" Won
1992 "Let's Kiss (Like Angels Do)" Best Female Artist Nominated
1993 Lily Album of the Year Nominated
Highest Selling Album Nominated
Best Female Artist Won
"The Day You Went Away" Single of the Year Won
Highest Selling Single Won
1994 "Friday's Child" Best Female Artist Won
Lily Highest Selling Album Nominated
1995 The Witness Tree Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated
The Witness Tree Highest Selling Album Nominated
1997 "Then I Walked Away" Best Female Artist Nominated
1998 Ghosts Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated
Ghosts except "Halcyon Days" – Tony Espie Engineer of the Year Nominated
2001 Beautiful View Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated

Wendy Matthews has also won awards as a member of Rockmelons and for projects like the Stringer soundtrack album.


Year Nominee / work Award Result
1989 Tales of the City Breakthrough Artist – Album Won
Stringer various Australia (Kate Ceberano, Matthews, Martin Armiger, Joy Smithers) Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album Won

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) are also known as the Golden Guitar Awards. They are held every January in Tamworth, New South Wales, to celebrate great country music. Wendy Matthews has won one award here.


Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 "F U Cancer" (Catherine Britt with Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Lyn Bowtell, Josh Pyke and Wes Carr) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards recognized achievements in live entertainment in Australia. Wendy Matthews won one award.

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1990 Wendy Matthews Female Rock Performer of the Year Won

Rolling Stone Awards

The Rolling Stone Awards are given by Rolling Stone magazine.

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1990 Wendy Matthews Best Female Vocalist Won
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