Wendy Stapleton

Wendy Anne-Marie Stapleton (born 8 July 1954) is an Australian singer-songwriter, musical theatre performer and television actress and presenter Stapleton has performed as a backing singer, session musician and a solo artist; she fronted various Melbourne-based groups including Wendy Stapleton Band (1976–1978) and Wendy & the Rocketts (1980–1985) which had a top 30 hit single with "Play the Game" in June 1983.

Biography 1954–1978: Early years Stapleton was born in Melbourne, Victoria. At nine years old, Stapleton appeared in J. C. Williamson’s 1963 production of Noël Coward's Sail Away at Her Majesty's Theatre which starred Maggie Fitzgibbon. In the mid-1960s she regularly performed in further J. C. Williamson productions and made weekly appearances on GTV-9's Tarax Show on Melbourne television. From 16 years old, Stapleton was lead vocalist for a succession of bands including Keith McKay Trio (1968), Souled Out (1976–1977), Incession (1979), Southern Transit, Bill Livingstone Trio. Her version did not chart on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. Incredible Penguins also included Donald from an early Wendy & the Rocketts line-up. Other musical theatre appearances include: The Magic Show, Sentimental Bloke and What's Goin' On. Yooralla, a disability support provider, recorded an advertising jingle, "Yooralla People Helping People Achieve" in use during 1993–2007, which featured lead vocals by Venetta Fields and John Paul Young with backing vocals by Stapleton and others. In 1994, Greig, Millikan, Norton and Stapleton formed Hillbilly Moon with Cletis Carr (Big Whiskey) on vocals, guitar and bass guitar; and Peter Wells (Rose Tattoo) on vocals, guitar and bass guitar. They released an album, Volume One, on Pelican Records. She released Li'l Elvis and the TruckStoppers soundtrack in 1998 on ABC Records with eleven tracks. She revived her role as Springfield with another season of I Only Want to Be With You from July 1997, and toured Australia, UK and Europe into early 1998.

In 2001, Stapleton, Debra Byrne and Lisa Edwards toured with Girls, Girls, Girls a tribute show of hits by The Supremes, Cilla Black, Springfield, Patsy Cline and Lulu. After one month, Edwards returned to backing vocals for John Farnham on his The Last Time Tour; Stapleton appeared on film in You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, a short by Terrence O'Connell. Her musical theatre work includes her performance as United Kingdom singer, Dusty Springfield in I Only Want to Be with You in 1995 and 1997–1998.

Released: September 1982 Label: Mushroom Records (L 20019) Mini live album 46

Released: October 1982 Label: Mushroom (L 37994) 26

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions

1982 herself Most Popular Female Performer