Although still a young woman, Olivia Newton-John is already a show business veteran of long standing. She’s been involved in music, striving for perfection in her career since her early teen years, yet she always retains her gentle manner.
Born in Cambridge, England and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Livvy first became interested in singing and dancing in her early school years. With three girl friends, she formed a group but finally disbanded it when eight parents all screamed that the music was disrupting homework and studies. This didn’t discourage Livvy who decided to pursue her musical career fulltime instead of attending college.
As a result of winning a talent contest at 16, she was awarded a trip to England. For the next two years she performed as half of a duo with another girl, Pat Carroll. They appeared in nightclubs, restaurants, and many TV shows.
When Pat’s visa expired she returned home, but Livvy kept on as a single. By that time she was also gaining a name as a record artist and her first smash single, “If Not For You,” (the Bob Dylan song) made her name a household word. From that time on her records sold like the proverbial hotcakes and she landed a spot on TV on the Cliff Richard Show. She also toured with his company. The music awards and best selling records came fast and furiously.
Best known of her U.S. releases was in 1973 and the song, “Let Me Be There,” racked up sales in the millions.
Since then, her list of awards has multiplied each year, with two more Grammys in 1974, a total of eight American Music Awards since 1974, and multiple honors from Record World, The Country Music Association, AGVA, ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), the People’s Choice, just to mention a few.
However, Olivia has managed to keep a steady balance in her life, in addition to her hard work and the accolades which she has received. She has settled in Malibu, California where she can relax with her one cat, four dogs and five horses, because next to her love for music is her interest and love of animals.
As a child, she once thought of becoming a veterinarian because of her devotion to animals, and one of her greatest priorities today, is her involvement with animal care and preservation of endangered species.
Last year has already been a very busy one for Olivia, having completed a critically acclaimed SRO tour of the eastern and Mid-west areas of the United States, which culminated in her New York City debut appearance at the prestigious Metropolitan Opera House.
With the cheers for this concert still ringing in her ears, Olivia was immediately off to conquer the hearts of the European television audiences. She completed a six week TV tour which included her own BBC special in London, a special guest appearance on the Silver Jubilee television show, honoring Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II’s 25th year of her reign, her own TV special in Cologne, Germany, and guest appearances in Paris, Hamburg, and in London on the Val Doonican Show.
In between all this frantic scheduling, Olivia was still able to record her current seventh MCA album, Makin’ A Good Thing Better, again produced by the able John Farrar.
In the future are plans for a movie debut, preferably in a film which will utilize her flair for musical comedy, another television special as a follow-up to her highly successful TV special on ABC in 1976, extensive tours of the Far East and Australia, and if there is any time left over, perhaps some quiet relaxation surrounded by good friends at home.
Yes sir, there is only one Olivia Newton-John-say, would you call her an endangered species?