Jeff St John

Jeff St John (born Jeffrey Leo Newton; 22 April 1946 – 6 March 2018), was an Australian musician known for his local hit singles, "Big Time Operator", "Teach Me How to Fly" (1970) and "A Fool in Love" (1977). He was born with spina bifida and was an advocate for disabled people, he died in 2018, aged 71.

Early life St John was born Jeffrey Leo Newton on 22 April 1946, in Newtown, Sydney. By the late 1960s, after surgeries and further mobility loss he used a wheelchair.

Music career St John was lead vocalist for various soul, R&B and rock bands in Sydney during the late 1960s and early 1970s: the Syndicate the Wild Oats (1965), (1966–67) with Bob Bertles (tenor sax 1967), Jeff St John & Yama (1967–68), Jeff St John & Copperwine (1969–72), with Harry Brus (bass 1970–72) and Wendy Saddington (co-lead vocals 1970–71), Jeff St John Band (1972–73) and Red Cloud (1975–76).

St John's first recording was the Id's debut single, "Lindy Lou", which was issued in February 1966 via Spin Records, but it did not chart. The Id's rendition peaked at No. 12 on the Go-Set National Top 40 in March 1967, and No. 11 on the Kent Music Report (KMR) singles chart (retro-calculated in 1993). Jeff St John & Copperwine's version was issued in November 1970 and reached No. 16 on Go-Set National Top 60 and No. 11 on KMR. In 1983 he announced his retirement from live performances. He portrayed a hospital patient who performs a charity concert at the local club.

In 1988, as part of Australian Bicentenary celebrations along with many other Australian celebrities, St John took part in a video shoot at Uluru (once called Ayers Rock), Celebration of a Nation. In the late 1990s he relocated to Perth, Western Australia and resumed his singing career by 1999. and a song written for the opening ceremony, "The Challenge". In the early 2000s he fronted Jeffrey St John & the Embers with Bill Blissett on keyboards and vocals, Ace Follington on drums, Peter Slatter on bass guitar and vocals and Russell Smith on guitar and vocals. The group issued an album, Will the Real Jeff St. John Please Stand Up. in 2001.

Death Jeff St John died on 6 March 2018, at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, Western Australia. His death was caused by a bacterial infection following surgery.

Discography Albums + List of albums, with Australian chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS Joint Effort (as Jeff St John's Copperwine) Released: 1971 Format: LP Label: Spin (SEL-933742) - The Best of Jeff St. John Released: 1972 Format: LP Label: Spin (SEL-934500) - Jeff St. John Live Released: 1974 Format: LP Label: Infinity (L 35083) - Survivor 1965-75 Released: 1977 Format: LP Label: Infinity (L 36478) - So Far So Good Released: 1978 Format: LP Label: Asylum Records (600037) 66 Will the Real Jeff St. John Please Stand Up. (with the Embers) Released: 2001 Format: CD Label: Asylum Records (600037) -

Extended plays

Singles Year Title Peak positions AUSGo-Set AUSKMR 1966 "Lindy Lou" – – "The Jerk" – – "Black Girl" – – "Big Time Operator" 12 11 1967 "You Got Me Hummin'" – – "Nothing Comes Easy" – –1970 "Cloud Nine" – – "Teach Me How to Fly" 16 11 1971 "Hummingbird" – – 1972 "Yesterday's Music" – – 1973 "Yesterday's Music" 1975 "Mr Jones" – "Blood Brother" – 1977 "A Fool in Love" 10 "Rock 'n' Roll Man" 81 1978 "Starbrite" 85