John Farnham

John Peter Farnham (born July 1, 1949), is an Australian pop singer. Whilst not having the international success of, for example, Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem, Steve Irwin, and Jimmy Barnes, domestically he has remained one of Australia's best-known performers over a career spanning more than 30 years.

From Little River Band to national success

From 1981 until 1984, he fronted the Little River Band after Glenn Shorrock departed, a move towards rock music away from the cabaret he had been doing. With Farnham, the group recorded three albums, which had some modest success, though not enough to pay back the advances the record company had given the band.

Related Topics:
Little River Band - Glenn Shorrock

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With the aid of manager Glenn Wheatley, and both under considerable financial pressure, he recorded Whispering Jack in 1986. It became the biggest-selling album in the Australian market of that decade, and one of the most successful of all time, selling over one million copies and remaining the number one album for 25 weeks in Australia. The biggest single off the album, "You're the Voice," was also a number one hit in several European countries. The album is probably best described as pop-rock, its most outstanding feature Farnham's soaring, powerful voice and some nicely-written songs. On television, he performed a live duet with another top-selling, big-voiced vocalist, American pop star Laura Branigan ("Gloria") to Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is."

Related Topics:
Glenn Wheatley - Whispering Jack - Laura Branigan

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"Whispering Jack got us out of trouble, I mean, we were deeply in debt. So it paid our debts, we bought a car, and it paid for our children's education for the next twenty years," Farnham told in an interview with Australian music historian, Molly Meldrum.

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In 1988, Farnham was named Australian Of The Year, and to support the album "Age Of Reason," Farnham toured the country with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Related Topics:
Australian Of The Year - Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

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In the early 90s Farnham performed the lead role in an Australian production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, with Kate Ceberano, Jon Stevens, Angry Anderson and John Waters in the other leading roles.

Related Topics:
Jesus Christ Superstar - Kate Ceberano - Jon Stevens - Angry Anderson - John Waters

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Farnham released several more albums throughout the 1990s to considerable success, though not to the same enormous degree as Whispering Jack. With albums, such as "Chain Reaction", "Then Again", and "Romeo's Heart", Farnham continued to show his versility.

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In 1997, Farnham teamed with pop group Human Nature on "Every Time You Cry" which was one of the biggest selling Australian singles of that year. He remained Australia's most successful domestic live act, filling stadiums around the country on a regular basis. Some idea of his popularity can be gained by the fact that over his career, over 1 million tickets were sold for his shows at one 15,000 seat arena, Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, alone.

Related Topics:
Human Nature - Rod Laver Arena

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When Farnham toured with Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow, he again experienced multi-platinum class, under the name, "The Main Event". The next year, he took his birthday party on the road with the "I Can't Believe He's 50 Tour", teaming up with Kate Ceberano, Ross Wilson, James Reyne, Merril Bainbridge, Human Nature, and his son's band, Nana-Zhami. But the event of 1999 was the "Tour Of Duty" concert in Dili for the Australian troops.

Related Topics:
Olivia Newton-John - Anthony Warlow - Kate Ceberano - Ross Wilson - James Reyne - Merril Bainbridge - Human Nature - Nana-Zhami - Tour Of Duty - Australian

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Millions around the world watched as Farnham sang "Dare To Dream" with Olivia Newton-John at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Related Topics:
Olivia Newton-John - Olympic

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In 2002, Farnham released a new album, The Last Time, and held a countrywide concert tour, taking a circus-style tent to smaller towns. As the title suggested, Farnham announced that he intended to cease large-scale concert tours. He broke Australian touring records, performing with his 10-piece band from November to June 2003, becoming the seventh most profitable touring act in the world.

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"I'm not retiring, I'm just never going to undergo a major tour ever again," Farnham told a press conference promoting the album and the tour.

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Later that year, he worked with Queen to produce a new version of the worldwide favourite "We Will Rock You", released on his greatest hits album, "One Voice". Farnham was inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame before a roof-raising performance of "You're The Voice".

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Again feeling success in 2005, Farnham did ten concerts in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne with Welsh music veteran, Tom Jones. He also made an appearance at the Melbourne Music Festival.

Related Topics:
2005 - Farnham did ten concerts in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne - Tom Jones - Melbourne Music Festival

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The current members of the John Farnham Band (2005) are Lindsay Field, Lisa Edwards, Dannielle Gaha, Angus Burchall, Stuart Fraser, Craig Newman, Steve Williams, Chong Lim, Lachlan Davidson, Jordan Murray, Brett Garsed, and Bob Coassin.

Related Topics:
Lindsay Field - Lisa Edwards - Dannielle Gaha - Angus Burchall - Stuart Fraser - Craig Newman - Steve Williams - Chong Lim - Lachlan Davidson - Jordan Murray - Brett Garsed - Bob Coassin

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John Farnham is the only Australian artist to have a number one record in five consecutive decades.

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Farnham married Jillian Billman in 1973. They have 2 sons, Robert and James.

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