Olivia Newton-John scheduled at center in Oklahoma
Olivia Newton-John is the winner of more 1974 music awards than any other female vocalist.
Livvy, as she’s known to friends, has started duplicating the same honors in 1975 and 1976. And with the release of her latest MCA album entitled, “Clearly Love,” another sweep is being predicted throughout the record industry. With her soft, ethereal voice and winsome, laid-back quality, music came at an early age to Olivia.
“Music is just in the Welsh blood,” says the granddaughter of Nobel-prize winning German Physicist Max Born and daughter of a Welshman who agonized for years before choosing a life as a German professor, rather than as an opera singer. “And it was with me through my childhood”
“My father had a collection of a thousand records, classical, but he gave me Tennessee Ernie Ford records, too. My other musical influences growing up were Ray Charles, Joan Baez and Nina Simone.”
Though singing began for Olivia in her early teens, worldwide prominence didn’t come until late 1973 when she won her first Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist with the song “Let Me Be There.” Since then, awards and gold records have been a steady happening.
Olivia Newton-John is the first female vocalist to score three successive number one records on the top pop charts; she has garnered seven gold records (all certified by the R.I.A.A.) and two platinum awards; and is playing to capacity audiences in concert and club dates across the country.
Olivia was born in Cambridge, England, but at five moved with her family to Australia where her father was made Master of Ormond College in Melbourne.
Starting to sing “just for something to do,” Olivia and three friends formed a singing group called The Sol Four. But when the act began to interfere with schoolwork, the group disbanded.
Olivia, however, had made up her mind on a singing career. She quit school, as did her older sister to become an actress, to launch a solo act in a local coffee house owned by her brother-in-law.
Additional dates followed until a talent-contest prize took her back to England at age 16. Olivia started a double act with another Australian girl, Pat Carroll, and they appeared on BBC television and in cabaret for two years. 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,” a Bob Dylan tune that became a 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.
In America, Olivia’s record sales compare with the best of any artist and her club and concert dates are hitting maximum potential.
Olivia Newton-John will appear at the Lloyd Noble Center Monday at 8:15 pm. along with Paul Williams. Tickets are on sale now at the Lloyd Noble Box Office and at Satellite Ticket Agency in Oklahoma City.