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| Olivia Newton-John |
| O.N.J. was born on September 26, 1948 and is often mistaken as being an Aussie (Australian) but was actually born in Cambridge, England. Her German/Welsh parents moved the family to the land down under in 1953. By all accounts Olivia had an idyllic childhood and showed an amazing talent at an early age. Her parents encouraged the teenager in her pursuit of singing and Olivia formed her own vocal group, Sol Four while still a teen. A small role in the movie "Funny Things Happen Down Under" also showed that the teenager had a natural acting talent as well. After entering a talent contest in 1965, and winning, Olivia was awarded the prize of a record deal (Decca Records) and a trip (back home) to England. The record deal turned out to be a one-shot single ("'Til You Say You'll Be Mine" b/w "For Ever") which failed miserably. Olivia's prospects in England seemed bleak until a fellow Aussie, Pat Carroll, arrived in England. The two quickly combined talents and made the rounds of local pubs and clubs as "Pat & Olivia" to mixed reviews. A torrid affair with the married Bruce Welch (Shadows) in 1968 and the departure of Pat Carroll in early 1969 left Olivia confused and without a clear career path. She continued the rounds of singing gigs and set her sights on acting as a main career choice. Her luck changed in 1970 when she was cast in the manufactured "group" Toomorrow. An album and movie were made to launch the group but they did not succeed. Her next break came when she auditioned for and won a spot on fading teen idol Cliff Richard's television show in 1972. The exposure was enormous and Olivia, with Bruce Welsh's help, landed another recording contract. She released three albums in England, "Olivia-Newton John," "Olivia" and "Music Makes My Day." All were arranged and produced by Welsh and John Farrar (Farrar another member of the Shadows later married Pat Carroll.) "If Not For You" hit number 25 on the U.S. Top 40 in the summer of 1971. But oddly enough it would take another year and a half for her second single, "Let Me Be There" to chart at number 6. One of the reasons was that Olivia was licensed to Uni Records which was in the process of being absorbed by MCA Records at the time. The album, "Olivia-Let Me Be There" followed in 1973, eventually going Platinum Plus. 1974 was a banner year for John as she met Lee Kramer, a successful businessman. The two would remain together for more than 6 years. Her second album, "If You Love Me, Let Me Know" was released and the title track sailed to number 5 on the pop charts and crossed over to the country charts. Olivia also represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Long Live Love." She came in fourth place having lost out to ABBA who won with "Waterloo." But justice was served when Olivia hit number 1 (for two weeks) with "I Honestly Love You" later in the year while "Waterloo" only went to number 6. The song was arranged by future disco star Alan Hawkshaw and helped her second album go Platinum as well. In 1975 Olivia moved to America to concentrate and capitalize on her U.S. success. Her next album, "Have You Never Been Mellow," spawned the number 1 title-track and the number 3 "Please Mr. Please." She was quickly embraced by the record buying public, but outraged many when she won Academy Of Country Music and Grammy Awards for Best Country Vocalist. 1976 brought her numerous television appearances including hosting the Midnight Special and her own special "A Very Special Olivia Newton-John." The album "Clearly Love" gave her two more hits with "Something Better To Do" and "Slow Down Jackson." She also launched her first full scale concert tour that year to sellout crowds. Her next three albums, "Come On Over," "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Making A Good Thing Better" all sold well giving her three more Top 40 singles and awards between 1976 and 1977. Capping off 1977 was the casting of Olivia in the movie version of the Broadway hit "Grease." The film led to one of the most successful movie musical soundtracks in history, featuring the duets "You’re The One That I Want" and "Summer Nights," with co-star John Travolta, as well as her own mega-hit, "Hopelessly Devoted To You." The film was re-released worldwide in 1998 in celebration of it’s 20th anniversary to even more acclaim, a true testament to it’s timeless quality. Coinciding with the 1978 blockbuster movie was her own album release "Totally Hot." The album gave her two more top 20 hits with "A Little More Love" and "Deeper Than The Night." Entering the new decade Olivia was cast opposite screen legend Gene Kelly in the misguided musical "Xanadu." The movie was out of sync with the times but the soundtrack was right on the money. It gave her a third number one hit with "Magic" which held that spot for four weeks. On the set of the movie Olivia also met future husband and dancer, Matt Lattanzi. The gorgeous Lattanzi is nearly ten years younger than Olivia. Perhaps this exciting new affair prompted Olivia into recording her next album? When "Physical" was released in 1981 no one, including Olivia, expected the outcome. The song, her first real club hit, sailed into the number one spot. Thanks to a video the song became a landmark single by occupying the top spot for an unprecedented 10 weeks! A second single from the album, "Make A Move On Me" peaked at the number five slot giving her another Platinum Plus album. 1982 saw the release of her second volume of greatest hits featuring the new single and club hit "Heart Attack." 1983 had it's bright spots for Olivia. There was no denying the chemistry between Travolta and Olivia, and so the two were cast in "Two Of A Kind" that year. The movie proved that chemistry cannot overcome a terrible script. The sound track however had three club smashes. Patti Austin's "It's Gonna Be Special" and Olivia's own 12" singles of "Twist Of Fate" and "(Livin' In) Desperate Times." Oddly enough long after the disco-era and as her movie career continued to tank she had suddenly become a club favorite. That year year she and Pat (Carroll) Farrar founded Koala Blue, a chain of clothing boutiques for women with the designs of the apparel based on the unique style and colors of Australia. The chain was successful for some time but eventually went out of business. However, Newton-John and Farrar have licensed the brand name for a line of Australian produced wines, confectionery and other items. In 1984 Olivia married Lattanzi and the two had one child, Chloe, in 1986. The two would eventually divorce in 1995. "Soul Kiss" was released in 1985 giving John two more 12" single club hits with the title-track and "Toughen Up." A video companion of the album was also released to help capitalize on her success. Besides the birth of her daughter the only other event of 1986 was a duet with David Foster on "The Best Of Me." The next few years Olivia chose to avoid work and the limelight, instead focusing on motherhood and her business chain. She rebounded in 1988 with "The Rumour," her second biggest club hit since "Physical." The track was penned by and featured backgrounds by longtime friend Elton John. After nearly 20 years with Uni/MCA Records Olivia left in 1989 and moved to Geffen Rcords for "Warm And Tender" a self-indulgent disc of favorites for her daughter Chloe. The move also gave her one last 12" single club hit with 1992's Giorgio Moroder produced "I Need Love." The song and three other new ones were issued on the disc "Back To Basics: The Essential Collection 1971-1992". Following that success was her 1992 bout with breast cancer. Her surgery and eventual recovery prompted her next release 1994's "Gaia: One Woman's Journey." The next year she divorced Lattanzi and met (current) boyfriend Patrick McDermott. Over the next two years Olivia's career was a medley of different directions, with her participation in beauty ads for the Home Shopping Network, a bit part on the sitcom "Murphey Brown," an Australian wildlife show entitled "Human Nature," appearing in an Aussie TV series "Snowy River" and acting in the movie "It's My Party" directed by "Grease" director Randal Kleiser. In July 1997 Olivia signed with MCA-Nashville and recorded a tribute single with Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Neal McCoy and others entitled "One Heart At A Time." A duet with the Raybon Brothers of "Falling" on their duet album also appeared. She then recorded a duet with longtime friend/mentor Cliff Richard for "Heathcliff." And a live album from her "Main Event" concert tour. Then her long awaited "Back With A Heart" album was released featuring a new remixed version of "I Honestly Love You." 1999 was occupied with filming her part for Del Shores hit "Sordid Lives," for which Olivia was given great reviews. The new millenium has brought Olivia more work than she can handle, appearing at the opening of the Olympic games in Sydney, a Christmas album, a movie with daughter Chloe, an album of duets, numerous television appearances and several concert tours. Approaching her 60's it's fun to see Olivia busier than ever. We love Olivia because very few artists have embraced so many musical styles throughtout their careers and did them all so well. |
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