John Farnham

John Peter Farnham (born 1 July 1949) is a British-born Australian singer. He was a teen pop idol, billed as Johnny Farnham from 1967 to 1979. Farnham subsequently forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. He mostly performed as a solo artist, although he replaced Glenn Shorrock as lead singer of Little River Band from 1982 to 1986. In November 1986, his solo single "You're the Voice" peaked at No. 1 on the Australian singles charts. The associated album, Whispering Jack, held the number-one position for a total of 25 weeks. Both the single and the album had international top-ten chart success, including the album at No. 6 in the United Kingdom and No. 1 in Sweden. Whispering Jack is the third-highest-selling album in Australian history and remains the highest-selling album in Australia by any Australian artist.

Farnham became one of his country's best-known and most popular performers and is the only Australian artist to have a number-one record (album or single) in six consecutive decades (echoing the achievement of Cliff Richard in the UK), with singles including "Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)" (1967), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1970) and "Age of Reason" (1988) and albums Whispering Jack (1986), Age of Reason (1988), Chain Reaction (1990), Then Again... (1993), 33⅓ (2000), The Last Time (2002) and Two Strong Hearts Live (2015). He has toured with numerous artists, including the Seekers and international acts Stevie Nicks and Lionel Richie. He released collaborative albums with Tom Jones on Together in Concert (2005), Olivia Newton-John on Highlights from The Main Event (1998), Highlights from Two Strong Hearts (2015) and Friends for Christmas (2016).

Farnham has been recognised by many honours and awards, including 1987 Australian of the Year, 1996 Officer of the Order of Australia, and 22 ARIA Music Awards, including his 2003 induction into their Hall of Fame. Starting in 1969, he was voted by TV Week readers as the 'King of Pop' for five consecutive years. Aside from his recording career, Farnham as an actor performed on stage with lead roles in Australian productions of Charlie Girl, Pippin and 1992's Jesus Christ Superstar. He starred in his own TV series and specials, including It's Magic (with Colleen Hewett), Bobby Dazzler, and Farnham and Byrne (with Debra Byrne), and as a guest on numerous other popular shows The Don Lane Show, Countdown and Hey Hey It's Saturday. In August 2022, a cancerous tumour was discovered in Farnham's mouth, which was removed in an operation involving jaw reconstruction. In May 2026 Farnham issued a statement, "because of the surgeries to my mouth and face over the past few years, singing on stage is not something I can consider again". to John Peter Farnham Sr., and Rose (née Pemberton) Farnham. His father worked at Ford's motor assembly plant. He is the eldest of four children, with English-born sisters (Jean and Jacqueline) and an Australian-born brother (Steven). As a six-year-old he was confined to bed with pneumonia and was given a plastic guitar for Christmas to amuse himself. Also migrating aboard SS Orsova were his uncles, Alf and Chris and his paternal grandparents. He attended Yarraman Park State School (now Yarraman Oaks Primary School) in Noble Park East, and Lyndale Primary School (now Lyndale Greens Primary School) and Lyndale High School in Dandenong North. while still attending school. The band had a five-song repertoire and mostly played at school socials. In late 1965, Farnham joined the group, Strings Unlimited, which were looking for a lead singer. the band recorded a three-track demo tape with Farnham on vocals, Joe Cincotta on bass guitar, Mike Foenander on keyboards, Peter Foggie on drums, Stewart Male on lead guitar and Barry Roy on rhythm guitar.

On 29 April 1967, Strings Unlimited performed as a backing band for pop singer, Bev Harrell in Cohuna. Harrell's manager and then-boyfriend, Darryl Sambell, was impressed with Farnham's vocals and offered to become his manager. Initially performing in Sambell's home town of Adelaide, Farnham recorded a light advertising jingle, "Susan Jones" (with the Susan Jones Rock Five) for the airline company Ansett-ANA, and was offered a solo record contract with EMI under house producer David Mackay. Sambell had disliked it, as the lyrics were so persistent. By arrangement with Sambell, Melbourne radio DJ Stan Rofe pretended that he disliked "Sadie" before playing it. Rofe continued the ploy on TV's Uptight and viewers responded with calls to play the song. By shipping 180,000 units in Australia, "Sadie" was the highest-selling single by an Australian artist of the decade and became the biggest-selling single in Australia to that time.

Rofe was also a writer for Go-Set, a teen-oriented pop magazine, his colleague Molly Meldrum, however, praised Farnham's efforts. and "I Don't Want to Love You"/"Jamie"; each reached the Go-Set top 10. Garry Raffaele of The Canberra Times reviewed his debut album, Sadie (April 1968) via Columbia Records and described the "gimmick" singer, "[he] has little wrong with his voice. Slightly nasal, it nonetheless hits each note with a fair degree of accuracy. But he never becomes involved with a lyric." Raffaele praised the album's arrangements by Johnny Hawker and "Friday Kind of Monday" as its best song. Farnham won the King of Pop five consecutive times from 1969 to 1973. and on television variety shows either as a guest performer or as a host. At 22, Farnham was appointed King of Moomba in 1972, The Suns Craig Bellamy described him as "likeable English migrant" who is "King of Pop, King of Kids and today Johnny Farnham was King of Moomba." Former Australian rules footballer, Lou Richards was appointed the Court Jester. The clean-cut pop star issued more albums and singles, but by the mid-1970s his recording output had reduced and he turned to stage musicals and television. and its associated show album, released in 1974. Also in that year, the duo co-hosted a children's TV series, It's Magic on Channel Ten.

Relations with Sambell had become strained and in January 1976 they announced their split. The case was finally dropped in December 1975 with terms not disclosed. Sambell relocated to New Zealand for 12 years. Farnham's singing career became centred on the cabaret circuit and stage musicals. In 1979 he shortened his stage name to John Farnham. The Farnhams sold their holiday farm and family home to clear their debts. Three other solo singles followed in 1981, but none reached the top 50. In February 1982, after Glenn Shorrock left Little River Band, Farnham became their lead vocalist upon recommendations by Goble and Wheatley. which had modest commercial success, but that was not enough to pay back the advances the record company had provided. His first studio album with LRB, The Net, had been already written, so he had no input: except to record his lead vocals. In the US, charting albums with Farnham's vocals were Greatest Hits (1982), The Net (1983) and Playing to Win (1984) on Billboards Billboard 200. While their charting singles were, "The Other Guy", "We Two", "You're Driving Me Out of My Mind" and "Playing to Win". for Savage Streets and it was issued as his solo single in August 1984. as a non-top 50 single for Farnham back in January 1981, "Even though 'Playing to Win', a rocking anthem and a real statement of intent, was John's, by the time it had been through the LRB production blender, every member of the band had a share." Farnham receives 55.5% of the royalties. He left the group following the completion of their seven shows of a short Australian tour in April 1986. Their third studio album, with Farnham as lead vocalist, No Reins, appeared in the following month. He continued soundtrack work with Rad (1986) and Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1987). (while still with LRB) using his backing band: Bruno Di Stanislo on bass guitar and vocals, Brett Garsed on lead guitar, Derek Pellicci on drums and Sam See on guitar. Sound engineer Ross Fraser advised Wheatley that it was time to start work on the album. Wheatley vainly searched for a producer and record label, hence Fraser took on the producer's role while Wheatley provided financial support, after mortgaging his house, and used his own label, Wheatley Records. while "Pressure Down" was provided by Harry Bogdanovs. Another song on offer was "We Built This City" but Farnham knocked it back – it was recorded by US band Starship. Sweden and Australia, No. 6 in his native country, the UK, and No. 6 in Austria. The song was written by Andy Qunta (ex-Icehouse), Keith Reid (Procol Harum), Maggie Ryder and Chris Thompson (ex-Manfred Mann's Earth Band).

Whispering Jack, issued on 29 September 1986, became the highest-selling album by an Australian artist in Australia, at the time, and peaked at number one on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums chart for a total of 25 weeks. The album was internationally released via RCA/BMG and peaked at No. 1 in Sweden, No. 6 in the United Kingdom and No. 12 in Norway. In August 1988 it returned to the Australian Top Ten. It was the first Australian made music CD released in Australia.

Age of Reason and Chain Reaction alt=Statue of Farnham standing with a microphone in left hand at his opened mouth and pointing with right forefinger. Statue is dark grey-black in colour and positioned on a block of stone with cursive lettering: "John Farnham", in front of the feet. Background includes a tiled area, wide footpath, trees and buildings. Farnham's July 1988 single, "Age of Reason", which peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA singles charts, was co-written by Johanna Pigott (Scribble) and her domestic partner Todd Hunter (Dragon). Thereby, Pigott became the first Australian woman to write a number-one single. The album of the same name, produced by Fraser, It was the highest-selling album in Australia from 1988,

Renewed interest in Whispering Jack returned it to the top ten in August 1988, nearly two years after its release. "Age of Reason" was Farnham's last number-one Australian single. Other charting singles from this album are, "Two Strong Hearts" (No. 6) and "Beyond the Call".

Chain Reaction, produced by Fraser, was released in October 1990, and also debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA album charts, it provided three Top Ten hits, "Chain Reaction" (August), "That's Freedom" (September) and "Burn for You" (December). At the 1991 ARIA Music Awards, Farnham won Best Male Artist, Song of the Year for "Burn for You", and Highest Selling Album for Chain Reaction. "Please Don't Ask Me (live)" was released as a single, which reached the top 30. Fellow cast members were Angry Anderson as Herod, Kate Ceberano as Mary Magdalene, Russell Morris as Simon Zealotes, Jon Stevens as Judas and John Waters as Pontius Pilate. which won Highest Selling Album at the 1999 ARIA Music Awards. During April–May 1999, Farnham undertook his I Can't Believe He's 50 Tour, supported by Merril Bainbridge, Kate Ceberano, Human Nature, James Reyne, Ross Wilson, The line-up included James Blundell, Dili Allstars, Gina Jeffreys, the Living End, Kylie Minogue, Doc Neeson and the RMC Band. Tour of Duty was the first of Farnham's concerts to be webcast. The concert had been recorded but the results had been misplaced until re-discovered more than 20 years later, consequently The Tour of Duty Concert for the Troops Live in Dili East Timor 21st December 1999 was finally issued on 25 April 2024 (ANZAC Day). Broadcast of the ceremony was viewed by an estimated 3.5 billion people around the world.

The Last Time to Tom Jones In 2002, Farnham announced he would retire from full-scale national tours after The Last Time Tour, although he would still perform in concerts and record. The Last Time Tour occurred from 6 November 2002 to 15 June 2003.

During July 2003, Farnham worked with Queen to create a new version of their song, "We Will Rock You" for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, which appeared on his greatest hits album, One Voice. Media speculation of Queen asking him to join the band Farnham was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on 21 October with a performance of "You're the Voice" at the 2003 ARIA Music Awards. At that ceremony he also won Best Adult Contemporary Album for The Last Time. The pair performed duets as well as each delivering solo hit songs. The resultant video album, John Farnham & Tom Jones – Together in Concert was issued on DVD in May 2005, which debuted at No. 1 on ARIA Top 40 Music DVDs chart. A CD live album of the same name was released simultaneously and peaked at No. 3 on ARIA Albums chart. The announcement of the Farnham and Jones Together in Concert Tour triggered an unsuccessful claim for damages from a fan, angry that The Last Time Tour was not in fact Farnham's last, as purported in its marketing. Consumer watchdog the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) took no further action on this complaint. Farnham made an appearance during the 2005 Melbourne Music Festival, raising funds for rebuilding after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake at the Tsunami Benefit Concert. These were sponsored by Dairy Farmers and a percentage of revenue received from the I Remember When I Was Young concerts went to the Dairy Farmers "Creating Greener Pastures" program to aid them and their communities. A 2006 DVD by Farnham, John Farnham with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was released, and reached No. 1 on the ARIA DVD chart.

From 18 February 2006, Farnham embarked on a small Australian tour with Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks. Both had equal billing but, unlike the Tom Jones shows, they did not duet together but each performed individually. Both used the same backing singer on the tour. On 26 March, Farnham sang at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, The twentieth anniversary of Whispering Jack in 2006 was marked by an "enhanced" commemorative CD re-release plus a DVD featuring an edited version of the tour, which promoted the album (the full concert was originally released on VHS in 1987). Whispering Jack has re-entered the ARIA Top 50 in December 2006, November 2016 and August 2023.

Jack and The Acoustic Chapel Sessions Farnham singing at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre on 4 October 2009 during the Live By Demand tour. alt=60-year-old Farnham singing into microphone on stage. Behind him are his backing band with various lights directed diagonally down to the left. In front are audience members. On 27 May 2009, Farnham announced a new tour for September and October, John Farnham – Live By Demand. In the next year a new studio album, Jack, was issued by Sony BMG on 15 October 2010. It is Farnham's first studio album in over five years. Jack contains covers of material by Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield and Percy Sledge. It coincided with indoor and outdoor performances, John Farnham Live!, throughout October and November.

Farnham embarked on a nationwide tour of Australia in October and November 2011 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Whispering Jack. Ahead of that tour, on 30 September, Farnham issued a live album, The Acoustic Chapel Sessions, which had been recorded in Melbourne in July at Chapel Off Chapel. It is a two-disc set (CD and DVD) via Sony BMG, which has eleven songs re-recorded acoustically, while the DVD includes eight songs plus interviews with Farnham and the band and behind-the-scenes footage.

Olympics, the Seekers and Olivia Newton-John tours On 27 July 2012, Farnham performed live for the Australian Olympic team in London prior to the 2012 Olympic Games. He performed "Playing To Win", "Pressure Down" and "You're The Voice". Farnham appeared in a one-off show with the Seekers in 2014 as part of the Decades Festival, commemorating the music, fashion and cars of specific era (1960s) and coinciding with the Seekers' golden jubilee year.

In 2015, Farnham re-joined Newton-John on a concert tour, Two Strong Hearts Live, singing hits from her film Grease, popular Farnham tracks and renditions of popular songs, "Over the Rainbow" and "Tenterfield Saddler". A live album, Highlights from Two Strong Hearts and an associated DVD video album, Two Strong Hearts were issued in June 2015 and both peaked at No. 1 on their respective charts. In the following year the pair collaborated for a Christmas-themed, duet album, Friends for Christmas, which was issued in November 2016 and also reached number-one.

, Farnham's band members were musical director and keyboardist Chong Lim, Angus Burchall on drums, Brett Garsed on guitar and Craig Newman on bass guitar. Backing vocalists are Lindsay Field, Lisa Edwards, Susie Ahern and Rod Davies. Previous long-serving members include Venetta Fields and Stuart Fraser. Fraser died on 1 December 2019 after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2016. On 1 June 2023 Farnham performed at Anita's Theatre, Thirroul, New South Wales.

Use of his music In 2015, Farnham and Wheatley spoke out against the use of his iconic signature song, "You're the Voice", being used by Reclaim Australia, an anti-Islamic group, and again in 2020 in regard to its use at anti-lockdown rallies during the stage 4 COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne, which Wheatley described as offensive to Farnham.

From 3 September 2023, with Farnham's support, "You're the Voice" was used to advocate for the "Yes" campaign in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, a vote to change the Australian Constitution to enshrine a Voice to Parliament for Indigenous Australians. The song plays as a soundtrack for a video ad directed by filmmaker Warwick Thornton, which was rolled out on social and other digital media and television. On 10 October 2023, Farnham was one of 25 Australians of the Year who signed an open letter supporting the Yes vote. However, the referendum was defeated.

Other activities Farnham has supported several charities over the years, including "Rwandan refugees, Farm Aid, Community Aid Abroad, and the Starlight Foundation for children with terminal illnesses." He headlined the 2019 Hay Mate series of concerts for Australia's farming community, which raised over 4.4 million dollars. As a writer he won Book of the Year, Audiobook of the Year and Biography of the Year at the 2025 Australian Book Industry Awards for his memoir, The Voice Inside. The autobiography is co-written with Poppy Stockell. Mo Awards and TV Week magazine's King of Pop Awards and their Logie Awards. although he had not yet been naturalised — a hastily organised swearing-in occurred before the honour was conferred. On Australia Day (26 January) 1996, Farnham was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, "In recognition of service to the Australian music industry and to charitable and community organisations, particularly those relating to youth." On 1 January 2001, he was awarded a Centenary Medal, "for outstanding service to Australian music", as part of Australia's celebration of a centenary of federation.

Farnham, along with nine other Australian artists, were declared 2013 Australian Legends of Music by Australia Post in January of that year: each were commemorated with a postage stamp. In 2015, Farnham, along with AC/DC, Newton-John, the Seekers and Indigenous Australian musical artist Archie Roach, was inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame. Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane described him as "the most successful solo artist in the history of Australian rock and pop... [He] has retained an affable sense of humour and a simple, unpretentious 'everyman' charm which also makes him one of the most respected celebrities in Australian entertainment history". It is directed by Poppy Stockell.

On stage On 20 September 2026, 120 local and international artists and musicians will gather at Rod Laver Arena to present The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend, a tribute concert to Farnham and his music. Some of the proceeds will benefit the charity, Head & Neck Cancer Australia.

November 2026 will also see the premiere of Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical, which dramatises his life between 1980 and 1986 and deals with his comeback. The show is written by Jack Yabsley and directed by Mitchell Butel for the Sydney Theatre Company. Australian singer-songwriter Michael Paynter is due to portray Farnham.

Personal life When Farnham performed in the stage musical Charlie Girl, in September 1971, he met Jillian Billman, who was one of the dancers. The singer co-wrote "Jillie's Song" as the B-side of his 1981 single, "Too Much Too Soon". The couple have two sons, Robert and James. Farnham is a supporter of the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. He lives in Wonga Park, Victoria.

Farnham's manager since 1980, Glenn Wheatley died from complications of COVID-19 on 1 February 2022, at the age of 74. Over the years the pair and their respective families had become close friends, "With his passing so many people have lost a part of their lives". In his memoir, The Voice Inside (2024), Farnham alleged that his first manager, Sambell had routinely drugged him with amphetamines and sleeping pills and was frequently "sexually aggressive" with unwanted advances.

Health After years of performing in high-volume concerts, Farnham had developed tinnitus and profound hearing loss; consequently as from 2011 he wears hearing aids. In 2019, Farnham cancelled an Australian and New Zealand tour due to a severe kidney infection and dehydration. By August of that year the singer had returned to performing in Australia and New Zealand.

On 23 August 2022, Farnham issued a statement that he was to undergo immediate surgery after being diagnosed with cancer. He stated, "cancer diagnosis is something that so many people face every single day, and countless others have walked this path before me." The same day, he underwent a nearly twelve-hour surgery to remove a tumour in his mouth, including jaw reconstruction. He was transferred to an intensive care unit (ICU), in a stable condition. It was later announced that the tumour had been successfully removed.

In March 2023, he was hospitalised due to a respiratory infection. On 23 August 2023 Farnham released a statement saying he was cancer-free, and in an interview with Variety Australia published on 5 September, when asked if Farnham would ever tour again or release new material, his sons declared, "Anything's possible... I think he'd like to, and he can definitely still sing".

In May 2026 Farnham issued a statement that he will never sing live again, "Because of the surgeries to my mouth and face over the past few years, singing on stage is not something I can consider again. It's just not possible. We can rule that out".

Discography

Sadie Everybody Oughta Sing a Song Looking Through a Tear Christmas Is... Johnny Farnham Johnny Together Johnny Farnham Sings the Shows Hits Magic & Rock 'N Roll Johnny Farnham Sings Hits from the Movies J.P. Farnham Sings Uncovered Whispering Jack Age of Reason Chain Reaction Then Again... Romeo's Heart 33⅓ The Last Time I Remember When I Was Young Jack Friends for Christmas