John St Peeters

John St Peeters (born Johnny Lo Piccolo, 3 October 1956) is an Australian musician, TV presenter and songwriter. His top 40 hits on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart are "Deep Inside of Me" (July 1978) and "So Many Ways" (April 1979). St Peeters provided the lead vocals on "Wonder World!" the theme for a children's TV variety series, Simon Townsend's Wonder World, from 1979. He was the host of The John St Peeters Show on TV's Channel 0/28 from March to May 1984. In 2001 Jo Skott published his biography, The Squeeze Box Kid: The John St. Peeters Story.

Biography

John St Peeters was born in Melbourne, in 1956, to Italian-born parents, Pasqualino Lo Piccolo – a greengrocer – and Giovanna (née Basile). He grew up in Richmond with a younger sister, Josephine "Jo". Early in his career he performed as Johnny Lo Piccolo. From the age of 11 he played piano accordion on TV talent quests, such as Brian and the Juniors, New Faces, variety shows, including In Melbourne Tonight, and at clubs in Melbourne. He released singles on the W&G label, "Johnny LoPiccolo's Dance Party" (November 1970), "Johnny's Choice" (May 1972), and "Crazy Polka" (1972). He spent almost three years in Canada performing and recording: he was referred to as "the Squeeze Box Kid". They toured Australia, North America and South-East Asia before issuing a single, "Take Me if You Want Me", in October on the Astor label.

Peeters signed with EMI Records, which issued his next three singles, "Shiny Side Up" (June 1977), "Fadin' Away" (October) and "Love the Way You Move" (December): none reached the top 100. which peaked at No. 22. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "By that stage, [the singer] had established himself as Australia's version of David Essex, with his good looks and sophisticated pop releases." The Canberra Times Debbie Muir detailed that "As compere, he will be the focus of the program, introducing guests, performing and having the chance to air his classical piano training." From the mid-1980s he focussed on his TV and club performances. In 2013 he worked with fellow local artists, Ray Burgess, Tommy Emmanuel, Marty Rhone and John "Swanee" Swan to release a single, "Legends of the Southern Land". In April 2015 he supported the Alannah and Madeline Foundation charity at the Crown Palladium, by performing in front of Sophia Loren, including "Legends of the Southern Land" (with the group). As of May 2015 St Peeters is married to Teresa Vee and lives in Melbourne with their two children.

Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with Australian chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS So Many Ways Released: 1979 Label: RCA (VPL10210) 57 One Night Stand Released: 1980 Label: RCA (VPL10293 - I Got You Babe (by John St Peeters and Jane Scali) Released: 1986 Label: Hammard (HAM 133) -

Singles

+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album AUSKMR 2013 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations King of Pop Awards The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978. 1977 himself Most Popular New Talent