As a young boy living in Australia, the three homegrown recording artists I witnessed on the international stage were The Bee Gees, Olivia Newton John and Helen Reddy, only to discover that it was Helen Reddy that was the true blue Aussie among them! The brothers Gibb and ONJ were born in England, but raised and nurtured as performers in Australia. Helen Reddy's inimitable style and look made her one of the great pop icons of the 1970's, with the best of her career having faded by the 1980's. Her beauty and strong, impassioned voice made her a best selling and critically acclaimed recording artist - with sales in the United States alone, topping 25 million. Although she would score several hits back home, America would be her greatest stage and platform for her fame and her fortune. With a television program, countless albums and tours, Helen Reddy was a force to be reckoned with, and displayed great star power - still does. Inducted into the Australian Record Industry Awards' Hall of Fame in 2006, I am incredibly proud of the achievements of this great lady, and she paved the way for artists such as Air Supply, INXS and Little River Band to find their success in the holy grail of markets. "You're my world" was a worldwide smash for Brit Cilla Black, in 1964, and Australia's own Daryl Braithwaite (Sherbet's lead singer) scored a local #1 hit with a remake in 1974. Helen's version released in mid 1977, was not a hit downnunder, but was in the States - and was to be her last major chart success there, reaching the Top 20 in July of 77. Helen continued to record into the 1980's, and is a successful entrepreneur and author.

Be the first to comment