COUNTRY STAR OF THE MONTH
Olivia Newton-John is one artist whose popularity spread quickly throughout the world. Acclaimed in England, Australia, Japan and the United States, Olivia is a performer whose name is known and well liked world-wide.
Olivia’s Welsh-born father had an academic background and her German-born mother was the daughter of a Nobel Prize winning physicist. Somehow, despite her academic background, show business entered Olivia’s blood at an early age. By the time she turned five, her family had moved from Cambridge, where Olivia was born, to Australia and there, at Ormond College, where her father was Master of the college, Olivia started making up tunes on the family piano.
When Olivia was fourteen, she and three friends formed a singing group called The Sol Four, but when the act began to interfere with schoolwork, the group disbanded. Olivia went on to sing as a solo act in a local coffee lounge owned by her brother-in-law. It was a customer who suggested to Olivia that she enter a talent contest organized by Johnny O’Keefe, a popular Australian record and TV artist.
Not surprisingly, Olivia won the contest, but because she was in school at the time, more than a year went by before she could enjoy her prize trip to London. Not long after her arrival in England, Olivia teamed up with another Australian girl, Pat Carroll, and they appeared on BBC television and in cabaret. When Pat’s visa ran out, she was forced to return to Australia.
Olivia stayed on in England and early in 1971 recorded her first single for Festival Records International, “If Not For You”. The song became a great hit throughout the world.
An album followed and then another successful single, “Banks Of The Ohio”, which won her a Silver Disc in Britain and a Gold Disc in Australia. Olivia toured Europe with the Cliff Richard Show and she took part in the Antibes Song Festival in France. She also performed with Cliff at the famous London Palladium. By 1972, Olivia had become a regular guest on the BBC-TV series, “It’s Cliff Richard”, and she notched up another successful single with “What Is Life?”
Olivia was voted Best British Girl Singer by readers of the pop weekly “Record Mirror” in both 1971 and 1972. Her performances included appearances in England’s Prince of Wales Theatre, in the Tokyo Song Festival and at Australia’s Sydney Opera House.
In America, Olivia has earned no fewer than five gold records and one platinum album in ten months. Both her MCA LP’s, “Let Me Be There” and “If You Love Me, Let Me Know”, were certified gold by the R.I.A.A. and “If You Love Me, Let Me Know” was certified platinum. Her three singles, “Let Me Be There”, “If You Love Me, Let Me Know” and “I Honestly Love You” were certified gold.
Olivia has also won several awards here. She was presented a “Grammy” award as the Best Female Country Vocalist (the first time a British singer has won in the Country Music category) and she won the award as the Most Promising Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music. The Country Music Association named her 1974 Female Vocalist of the Year.
Olivia recently completed an extensive tour of the United States. And, judging from the enthusiastic response, she’ll be back with many more records and live performances, not only here, but throughout the world.