Jon English

Jonathan James English (26 March 1949 – 9 March 2016) was an English-born Australian singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He emigrated from England to Australia with his parents in 1961. He was an early vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Sebastian Hardie but left to take on the role of Judas Iscariot in the Australian version of the stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar from May 1972, which was broadcast on television. English was also a solo singer; his Australian top twenty hit singles include "Turn the Page", "Hollywood Seven", "Words are Not Enough", "Six Ribbons" and "Hot Town".

For his starring role in the 1978 Australian TV series Against the Wind he won the TV Week Logie Award for 'Best New Talent in Australia'. the first single, "Six Ribbons" and the album, peaked at No.4 on the Swedish charts.

From 1983 to 1985, English won four Mo Awards with three consecutive 'Entertainer of the Year' awards and a further 'Male Vocal Performer' in 1985. English has performed in Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore from 1984. Performances of Essgee Entertainment's productions of the Gilbert and Sullivan trilogy from 1994 to 1997 were broadcast on Australian TV. They were all released on VHS and subsequently on DVD.

Ford founded Sebastian Hardie Blues Band in 1967 with Lillico and new band members. They played R&B and soul covers but disbanded by early 1968. When Ford reformed the band later in 1968, he recruited English and Peter Plavsic again, Anatole Kononewsky on keyboards and Peter's brother Alex Plavsic on drums.

Also attending Cabramatta High School, but one year lower was Carmen Sora; Sora and English married in September 1969 when she was 19 and he was 20. to take the starring role of Judas Iscariot alongside fellow stars Trevor White (ex-Sounds Unlimited) as Jesus Christ and Michele Fawdon as Mary Magdalene.

From the soundtrack, "Six Ribbons" was released as a single by English and Millo. It peaked at No.5 on the National singles charts and the soundtrack peaked at No.10 on the National albums charts. English won the 'Most Popular Male Performer' award at the 1979 TV Week/Countdown Music Awards.

He released his first compilation album English History in August, which peaked at No.4 on the national albums charts Singles success with "Get Your Love Right", which peaked at No.27 and "Hot Town", which peaked at No.11; Success in Scandinavia included the soundtrack peaking at No.1 on the Norwegian Albums charts and double-A sided single, "Mot alla vendor"/"Six Ribbons" peaked at No.1 on the Norwegian Singles charts.

English took on the role of Pirate King for the first time in the 1984 production of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Pirates of Penzance alongside June Bronhill and fellow actor/singer Simon Gallaher as Frederic. English estimates he has performed his favorite role of Pirate King over 1,000 times.

From 1997 to June 1998, English toured his own musical show, Turn the Page. Later in 1998, English toured the Michael Frayn show Noises Off. In 1999, English toured Australia and New Zealand performing in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

2000s In 2000, English finished another musical project called Buskers and Angels, which toured September and October 2000 to warm reviews, and subsequently releasing a CD of the same name. At the Gimme Ted benefit concert on 10 March 2001, English was backed by his former band, Sebastian Hardie, for two of his songs. He released the amateur rights to his rock opera Paris and it was first performed in 2003 in Sydney and Gosford, New South Wales, with English assisting in the direction of the production and appearing as the Fisherman in one performance at Gosford.

The piece was revived in Melbourne in 2004 Also in 2008, a re-worked version was performed in Sydney, with English as Menelaus. This revised production was met with generally positive reviews, but a few months later, English and Mackay completely updated the show.

In 2004, English appeared as Sergeant Wilson in stage productions of Dad's Army touring through Australia and New Zealand. a revue featuring classic rock music of the '60s and '70s, including songs by the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Deep Purple, Elton John and other high-profile musicians of those decades. It was conceived by "Paris" collaborator and director Stuart Smith with musical director Isaac Hayward. In 2010 "The Rock Show" made two appearances in Tasmania in support of the "Save the Tasmanian Devil" breeding programme. The Rock Show toured until 2013, with a CD/DVD released in 2012. In 2010, English played the title role in The Removalists by David Williamson at the Perth Theatre Company.

In 2012, English returned to Tasmania, working with Encore Theatre, for a revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, with English in the role of Pilate. Funds raised at each performance and at the Launceston preview were donated to the programme.

In March 2026, Jokers and Queens and Six Ribbons – The Ultimate Collection is to be re-released alongside a new Rarities album.

Death

In late February 2016, English was hospitalised due to "unexpected health problems" and was forced to cancel several scheduled performances due to planned surgery for an aortic aneurysm. He died following post-operative complications in the late evening hours of 9 March 2016, seventeen days short of his 67th birthday.

A public memorial service commemorating his life was held at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney on the evening of 4 April 2016. The memorial took the form of a tribute concert and included performances by the Foster Brothers, John Paul Young, Simon Gallaher and John Waters among others.

Interests outside the arts English described himself as a "passionate" supporter of the Australian rugby league team Parramatta Eels.

Discography

Solo albums

Wine Dark Sea (1973) It's All a Game (1974) Hollywood Seven (1976) Minutes to Midnight (1977) Words Are Not Enough (1978) Calm Before the Storm (1980) In Roads (1981) Jokers and Queens (with Marcia Hines) (1982) Some People... (1983) Dark Horses (1987) The Busker (1988)

Soundtrack albums Against the Wind aka Mot alla vindar (with Mario Millo) (1978)

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 Touch and Go Frank Butterfield Film 2000 Walk the Talk Phil Wehner Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1972 Jesus Christ Superstar Judas Iscariot TV broadcast 1975 Matlock Police Quinlan Episode: "The Grass is Greener" 1976 Homicide Gordon Haynes / Musician Pilot episode & episode 504 1978 Against the Wind Jonathan Garrett Miniseries, 13 episodes 1988 Rafferty's Rules David Anson Season 2, episode 2 1991–1993 All Together Now Bobby Rivers 101 episodes 1994 The Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King Broadcast of theatre production from Essgee Entertainment 1995 Frontline Himself Episode: "Let the Children Play" 2000 Pizza 1 episode 2006 Countdown Spectacular Performer 2008 Time Trackers Old Troy 2011 RocKwiz Christmas Special Performer

Stage Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1972–1978 Jesus Christ Superstar Judas Iscariot Australia & New Zealand tour with Harry M. Miller Attractions; 700+ performances 1974 The Bacchoi Nimrod Theatre Company Don’t Dress for Dinner 2012 Jesus Christ Superstar Pontius Pilate

Awards Year Work Award Category Result Ref.1979 Against the Wind TV Week Logie Awards Best New Talent in Australia Jon English TV Week Countdown Awards Most Outstanding Achievement Most Popular Male Performer 1980 Most Popular Male Performer 1983 Jon English Mo Awards Entertainer of the Year 1984 Entertainer of the Year The Pirates of Penzance Green Room Awards Green Room Award for Male Actor in a Leading Role (Music Theatre) 1985 Jon English TV Week Countdown Awards Male Vocal Entertainer of the Year Entertainer of the Year 1991 Paris (with David Mackay) ARIA Music Awards Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album Best Adult Contemporary Album 2011 Jon English (The Rock Show) Mo Awards Best Rock Band or Performer of the Year 2012 Jon English Band Best Rock Act of the Year The Rock Show ARIA Music Awards Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album