Modest Manner Typifies Nominee
By Monte Christensen
Olivia Newton-John, appearing at Harrah’s Tahoe South Shore Room through Feb. 2 and up for Grammy Awards in three categories, says she’ll be delighted with the outcome of the awards regardless of who wins.
“I love every one of the persons also nominated they’re all fantastic people, personally as well as professionally, so I’ll be happy any way it goes.”
Such is typical of the modest manner of this Welsh/German girl who grew up in Australia and has fairly suddenly risen to stardom.
With such hits as “I Honestly Love You,” “Have You Never Been Mellow,” “Let Me Be There,” and “If You Love Me, Let Me Know,” Miss Newton-John has every right to be other than modest.
Though now a star in her own right, she admires many others in her profession and spends hours listening to their records.
“Two of the greats I still look forward to meeting in person,” she admits, “are Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Frank follows me by just a couple weeks at Harrah’s, and I’d love to come back and see him. He and Elvis both have something electric about them.”
In accounting for her success, the Grammy award winner feels it’s the combination of things - right song at the right time, good music and good producer.
“I ALWAYS have the right producer he’s John Farrar, the husband of one of my closest friends and former singing partner, Pat Carroll. John also wrote my latest song, “Have You Never Been Mellow?”
Her hit record that invokes both tears and tears - on the heart-strings and tears in the eyes - “I Honestly Love You,” is typical of her approach to any song she records.
“Each time I sing I approach and interpret the song in a different way,” she admits. Which, incidentally, might be one reason why she has such a compelling hold on her audiences.
Her biggest thrill, she notes, is each new hit record.
“Each time it happens, it’s an enormous joy to me. And, each one seems to surpass the last -I just hope it continues.”
About any big goals in her life, she simply answers, “I’d just like to keep making really good records… and maybe someday write some as well.”
The Welsh-born singer spends her spare time riding, listening to records and being anywhere there’s sun.
“That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about appearing at Harrah’s. Everyone tells me Lake Tahoe is absolutely beautiful and I’ve heard nothing but raves about the way Harrah’s treats their guests.”
“I’d like to arrive a few days before my opening (she’s co-headlining with comedian Don Rickles) to really have a chance to experience Tahoe Harrah’s.”