Hawaiian singer/songwriter Yvonne Elliman is best remembered for her successes in the 1970's. Discovered in London by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber she featured on the concept album, in the touring production and also starred in the movie version of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Later she went on to be part of Eric Clapton's solo success and famously collaborated with the Bee Gees.
There are Grammy Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and so many hits you may have forgotten some of them, included in the history of the Pointer Sisters. Ruth Pointer has some great memories including those from the night they helped record the milestone "We Are The World" as part of USA for Africa.
This is Part 1 of Ian Keenan's interview with Helen Reddy, the Australian born singer who early in her career went to America and found worldwide success in the 70's. She is possibly best remembered for the anthem of the feminist movement, "I Am Woman", but her story also features plenty of other amazing highlights as you'll hear. Don't miss Part 2 either!
This is Part 2 of an interview with Helen Reddy, the Australian singer who found worldwide success in the 70's. This was recorded after Helen had released her autobiography so plenty of great stories are fresh in her mind. Included is the amazing tale behind her hit "I Am Woman". If you haven't heard Part 1 as yet you can find that here.
Over the years many New Zealand born performers have moved to Australia in order to further their careers, but in the 60's one of the very first to do so was Max Merritt. In the 70's he then left for the UK before settling in the USA. Max recalls some of his earlier hits as well as the massive chart success of "Slipping Away".
One of Australia's most quirky and creative musicians would have to be Spectrum's Mike Rudd. At one stage he had two bands simultaneously and the other was named by spelling "Spectrum" backwards! Whilst he also found some chart success with his band called Ariel, without doubt his greatest musical legacy will continue to be the 70's classic "I'll Be Gone".
Singer/songwriter Nick Gilder first found fame in his native Canada as the lead singer of a "glam rock" band. Despite that band's success, Nick departed to chase the international fame he found with his song "Hot Child In The City". Nick reveals the meaning of "Hot Child" and tells about the huge hit he co-wrote for another band.
It can be quite difficult to predict which songs are going to be hits and which aren't. Toto's Bobby Kimball admits he's not good at it and has a great example to prove it! Bobby also has an amazing story about how he secretly sang part of the lead vocal on someone else's hit. It was so secret that even the artist probably doesn't know!
"Heart-throb" and "guitar hero" were common descriptions for Peter Frampton in the 70's. He also created the biggest selling "live" album of the decade! Here Peter recalls the day he wrote two of his biggest hits, how he recorded with George Harrison on the epic "All Things Must Pass" plus tells what led to him playing on a famous movie theme.
In Part 1 Justin Hayward explains how he began his professional career and signed a contract which gave someone else the rights to some of his best known songs. You'll hear the stories behind many of the Moody Blues hits and you'll also want to listen to Part 2 to hear about his involvement with "Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds".
