Olivia displays talent in show
By George Worthington,
If one woman possessed enough talent to capture the hearts of millions of listeners all over the world, that one woman probably is Olivia Newton John.
Livvy, as she is known to friends, with her soft ethereal voice and winsome, laid back quality will appear at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces for one night only, Sunday at 8 p.m.
Born in Cambridge, Eng., Olivia moved with her family to Melbourne, Australia where her father was master of Ormand College. She lived there for eleven years. “Long enough to make me a real Aussie girl,” the singer explains. Singing throughout her early teens, she was influenced by Tennessee Ernie Ford records. Olivia is the granddaughter of Nobel Prize winning German physicist, Max Born.
Singing, “Just for something to do, “Olivia and three friends formed “The Sol Four” a group that quickly disbanded when report cards were handed out nevertheless she was determined to become a professional singer. “Music is just in the Welsh blood,” she said Olivia quit school at an early age, (as did her older sister to become an actress) to launch a solo act in her brother-in-laws coffee house.
At the age of 16, she took first place in a talent contest that brought her back to England where she was put on a double bill with another Australian girl, Pat Carroll. For the following two years Olivia and Pat appeared on the B.B.C. and had their own show in a local cabaret, then, when Pat’s visa expired, Olivia was once again on her own.
In 1971, she recorded a Bob Dylan tune, “If Not For You” which made a worldwide impact on the music industry. Following her first hit she released an album, “Let Me Be There” including another hit single, “Banks of the Ohio,” which won her a Silver Disc Award in England and a Golden Disc Award in Australia.
By 1972 Olivia had become a regular quest on the B.B.C. series, “It’s Cliff Richard.” Her next hit “What is Life” earned her the title of “Best British Girl Singer of 1971 and 1972.”
In late 1973 Olivia gained prominence with “Let Me Be There.” The album earned her the first of many Grammy Awards.
Also Olivia succeeded in scoring three number one hits on the top of the charts. She has earned seven gold records and two platinum record awards, and is presently playing to sell-out crowds in concert and nightclub dates across the country. In fall 1976 Olivia hopes to continue to draw capacity crowds when she makes her Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe debut. Never before has one woman has such an impact on the music industry.
There is no doubt in my mind that it will be “Clearly Love” when Olivia meets her audience in the Pan American Center.
Tickets for Sunday’s performance are available at Central. Ticket Agency and Jones Western Wear in El Paso. All tickets are $3 for general admission and $4, $5, and $6 for reserved seats.