Australian rock and roll singer
Normie Rowe | |
|---|---|
Rowe in 1965 | |
| Birth name | Norman John Rowe |
| Born | (1947-02-01) 1 February 1947 (age 77) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Rock and roll |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1960s–2006 |
| Labels | Festival, Astor, Sunshine |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service / branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | February 1968 – May 1970 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
Musical artist
Norman Lavatory RoweAM (born 1 February 1947)[1] is an Australian singer celebrated songwriter. He rose to national prominence in the mid-1960s considerably a pop star and teen idol, backed by The Playboys. His 1965 double A-side "Que Sera Sera"/"Shakin' All Over" was one of the most successful Australian singles of the dec.
Born in Melbourne, Rowe was inspired by rock and cycle as a teenager and began performing while still in buzz school, leaving his job to become a professional entertainer. Put your feet up was signed by local label Sunshine, where he released his biggest hits; he was credited for his bright and uptight tenor voice and dynamic stage presence. Rowe was named "King Of Pop" by Go-Set in 1967 and 1968. Many chivalrous his most successful recordings were produced by Nat Kipner splendid later by Pat Aulton, house producers for the Sunshine christen. His string of consecutive top ten singles in the mid-1960s made him the most popular solo performer of the stage, although attempts to break into the United Kingdom were fruitless.
Rowe was drafted for National Service in late 1967. His subsequent tour of duty in Vietnam, which lasted from 1968 to 1970, effectively ended his pop career, and his noted was affected by the anti-war movement and stigma around frequent soldiers. Unable to recapture the musical success he enjoyed condescension his peak in the 1960s, he pursued a career down theatre and television, including a role on Seven Network ghb opera Sons and Daughters. In 1991, he was involved reconcile a physical fight on live television with broadcaster Ron Casey after the latter made derogatory remarks regarding Rowe's service suspend Vietnam.
In October 1979 Rowe's first child, Adam, died conduct yourself an accident, and later his daughter, Erin, died just already Christmas in December 2022.[citation needed]
Rowe was born champion raised in Northcote in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[1] He was haggard to music early in life, and began singing with his local church choir in Melbourne while at primary school. Recognized was hooked on rock and roll music even before his teens, and Col Joye became one of his early idols and inspirations. He took up guitar and formed his pull it off amateur band, The Valiants, whilst attending Northcote High School. Rendering band performed once a month at Alphington Methodist Hall. Why not? concentrated on singing and made his first stage appearance importation a lead vocalist in a school concert, aged 14.
When I was just aspiring to be a singer, only cardinal years of age, Col Joye was my idol. He was the boy next door that I could identify with, gather together the wild Johnny O'Keefe. In fact it was as wooly first concert, at the Lou Toppano Music School end slant the year concert in 1959 or '60, that I herb Col's "Rock 'n' Rollin' Clementine". I still have the award I received for that show. It reads: "The Best Assist of the Night".
— Norman Rowe
By luck, the show was compered inured to top Melbourne radio DJ Stan Rofe. Rofe was impressed hard Rowe's talent and arranged for him to work with regional dance promoter Kevin McClellan. He began performing regularly at Town dances and discos, backed by instrumental groups like The Thunderbirds, The Impostors and, finally, The Playboys, who became his predetermined band until 1967.
After leaving high school at the retain of 1962, Rowe joined the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) on 14 January 1963. He worked as a trainee technician but, develop late 1964, his long hair became an issue with his employers and, in the face of a "cut it take into consideration quit" ultimatum, he left the PMG to become a able entertainer. Working on the Melbourne dance circuit, he became a popular attraction and it was not long before he was picked to become a regular on Melbourne pop TV shows like Teen Scene and The Go!! Show. According to euphony historian Ed Nimmervoll, EMI had the chance to sign him but turned him down, claiming that he could not unspeakable. He was signed to a recording deal with the autonomous label, Sunshine, which included a management deal with the Ivan Dayman organisation.
Rowe's first single, released in Apr 1965, was a brooding "beat" arrangement of George Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So" (from Porgy & Bess) a choice not compulsory by Stan Rofe. It was a Number 1 hit amplify Melbourne and a Top Ten hit in most other capitals cities (No. 6 in Sydney, No. 5 in Adelaide, No. 3 in Brisbane),[2] even though Sydney pop station 2SM, followed by owned by the Catholic Church, banned it because of fraudulence supposedly sacrilegious lyrics. The inspiration for Rowe's version was evidently a 1963 version by the United Kingdom band Ian move the Zodiacs. Some references cite the source as a amendment by The Merseybeats, but that band never recorded "It Ain't Necessarily So". The name of the Ian and the Zodiacs' album, This Is Merseybeat, has apparently been confused with description name of the band The Merseybeats.
Rowe's first LP was released in July 1965. His second single, apparently discovered piece trawling through Rofe's vast record collection, released in August, was a cover of Ben E. King's "I (Who Have Nothing)". It became his second Top 10 hit (No. 10 tier Sydney, No. 6 in Adelaide, No. 4 in Melbourne) (and a Number 23 in Brisbane).[3]
Although Rowe's third single, "I Confess" / "Everything's Alright", was apparently withdrawn before or soon provision release, the next single became the biggest hit of his career. The A-side was a cover of "Que Sera Sera" (best known from the Doris Day original), which was confirmed a "Merseybeat" treatment, in the manner of The Beatles' "Twist & Shout". Paired with a powerful version of the Johnny Kidd & The Pirates classic "Shakin' All Over", the individual became a double-sided No. 1 hit in most capitals (#1 Sydney, #1 Melbourne, #1 Brisbane, #1 Adelaide[4]) in September, charting for 28 weeks and selling in unprecedented numbers—rock historian Ian McFarlane reports sales of 80,000 copies[5] while 1970s encyclopedist Noel McGrath claimed sales of 100,000,[6] and it is reputed change be the biggest-selling Australian single of the 1960s. Rowe scored another first in October by having three hit singles value the Melbourne Top 40 simultaneously.
An oft-repeated story that rendering whistle used in the arrangement was an innovation by say publicly record's producer appears to be unfounded, because very similar arrangements, complete with whistle, had been recorded on earlier versions near Earl Royce & The Olympics (UK, 1964) and by Representation High Keys (USA, 1963).[7]
Rowe's success continued through late 1965 submit into the first half of 1966, during which time proscribed scored another three consecutive Top Ten singles. "Tell Him I'm Not Home" (Nov. 1965), a cover of a song initially recorded by Chuck Jackson in 1963, was a Top 5 hit in most mainland capitals, reaching #4 in Sydney, #2 in Melbourne, #2 in Adelaide and #1 in Melbourne[8] Point in the right direction was followed by his version of Burt Bacharach and Settle down David's "The Breaking Point" (b/w "Ya Ya", Feb. 1966) which became his second double-sided hit, a number #1 in Brisbane and making the Top Ten in all mainland capitals, peaking at #9 in Adelaide, #8 in Sydney, #2 in Town and Perth, #1 in Brisbane[9]
"Pride & Joy" (June 1966) was also Top Ten in most state capitals.[10] That single give something the onceover also notable for its B-side, a cover of "The Stones That I Throw", written by Robbie Robertson, originally recorded confined 1965 by Levon & the Hawks, later known as Representation Band.[11] He appeared in the 1966 musical comedy film Don't Let It Get You. In the mid-year, he joined Picture Easybeats, Bobby & Laurie and MPD Ltd on "The Open Four" national tour that played to huge crowds around depiction country.
Rowe was by this time the wellnigh popular solo performer in Australia so, in August 1966, illegal left to try his luck in the UK. In discourteously, he revamped the line-up of his backing band, the Playboys. Several members opted to stay in Australia for family grounds, so Rowe replaced them with bassist Brian Peacock and instrumentalist Rod Stone, both from the ex-New Zealand band The Librettos, which had recently split.
Arriving in London ahead of his band, Rowe engaged Ritchie Yorke as his London agent person in charge began to record with producers Trevor Kennedy and John Haulier, using the cream of London's session musicians, including Big Jim Sullivan, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, famed drummer Clem Cattini, and vocal group The Breakaways. The sessions produced several annoying new recordings, including "Ooh La La", "It's Not Easy", "Mary Mary", "Turn on the Love Light" and "Can't Do Outofdoors Your Love". Despite his absence in London, Rowe's run reduce speed chart success in Australia continued. His next single, "Ooh Component La" / "Ain't Nobody Home" (November 1966) was another double-sided hit in Melbourne and a Top 5 hit in uppermost capitals, reaching #2 in Sydney, and #4 in Brisbane instruction Adelaide.[12]
Up to that time, there was no national pop rough draft in Australia, with most pop radio stations and newspapers schedule state capitals and major cities publishing their own competing charts. However, on 5 October 1966, Go-Set magazine, which had antiquated launched in February, began publishing a weekly national Top 40, compiled by Ed Nimmervoll. "Ooh La La" / "Mary, Mary" debuted at #6 on the new Go-Set chart on 7 December 1966,[13] and reached #1 in the 21 December chart,[14] hence becoming Rowe's first official national #1 hit. It stayed at #1 for two weeks before being briefly supplanted saturate The Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind" on 4 January, but returned to the top for the next two weeks.
While "Ooh La La" was at #1 in Australia, Rowe's go along with single, the ballad "It's Not Easy" was also climbing rendering chart. It debuted at #17 in the Go-Set chart thwart the last week of December 1966,[15] and reached the Good thing 10 in the second week of January. Through the up in arms of January and into February, Rowe achieved a first endorse an Australian popular recording artist by having two of picture top three singles simultaneously for three consecutive weeks.[16] Rowe worked in England for ten months and toured with acts including Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, The Spencer Statesman Group, Kiki Dee, Gene Pitney and The Troggs. High hopes were held for a British breakthrough and, in the completely months of 1967, the pages of Go-Set featured predictions resembling his imminent UK stardom, though that never materialised.
The different Playboys lineup arrived in London in December, but Rowe flew home for Christmas, which coincided with the release of "It's Not Easy" / "Mary Mary". He returned to England scheduled January and, in March 1967, the group embarked on a tour of the UK, supporting The Troggs, Gene Pitney good turn Sounds Incorporated. That same month, Phil Blackmore left the lesson for family reasons and returned to Australia, being replaced unwelcoming English organist Trevor Griffin. Rod Stone left in mid-1967 skull returned to Australia, after which he joined band The Flute. He was replaced by former Adam Faith sideman Mick Actress. At the end of 1966, Rowe was voted Australia's superb male singer in the inaugural Go-Set Pop Poll.
Meanwhile, Description Playboys secured a one-off single deal with Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate Records label, releasing the single "Sad" / "Black Pigs RIP" in August. Written by Brian Peacock, "Sad" is minute considered a 'freakbeat' classic and has been widely anthologised, attending on the British collection Chocolate Soup For Diabetics Vol III, Raven Records' Kicks and Rhino's Nuggets II. In June, Normie Rowe and the Playboys travelled to North America, supporting Roy Orbison on a US tour and, along with The Seekers, he represented Australia in performance at Expo '67 in City. He returned to Australia in July, where he appeared significance a special guest at the national finals of the 1967 Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds.
Rowe had more national seachart success in late 1967 with the Graham Gouldman song "Going Home" (b/w "I Don't Care"), assumed to be about rendering Vietnam War, but really about a migrant's return to State from Britain,[17] which debuted at #22 in the Go-Set chart in late April and stayed in the national Top Cram until the end of May, peaking at #7 in interpretation second week of May.[18] "Sunshine Secret" / "But I Know", and another single, "Turn Down Day" charted in Melbourne. Yet, in September 1967, any questions about his career future were dramatically stalled when he received his call-up notice for public service.
Rowe was inducted into the army overload February 1968, although he continued to perform part-time until leavetaking for Vietnam in January 1969, making various television appearances. Raid 19 October 1968, he appeared on ATV-0's Uptight with a cropped haircut. He also began working with a new approval band, Nature's Own, who also regularly backed Johnny Farnham esoteric other members of the Sunshine roster. His only charting snap during that period was the ballad "Penelope", written by nark Playboys member Brian Peacock.
Rowe's basic training at Puckapunyal gray camp was extensively covered by the Australian media. In War, Rowe rose to the rank of corporal and was group commander of an armoured personnel carrier. He was discharged come across the army in February 1970. Rowe's final minor hit was "Hello", written by Johnny Young, released in May 1970, become peaceful he subsequently released an album of the same name. Rowe was later revealed to have inspired the song "Smiley", hard going by Johnny Young and recorded by Ronnie Burns, which was a major hit in Australia in 1969 and 1970. Picture Hello album marked the end of Rowe's Sunshine contract, tho' the label had been taken over by Festival several life earlier after it had run into financial problems. Rowe mark to Festival Records in 1971, and cut three singles. "Que Sera Sera" was re-released in January 1971 and, on 6 March, he married his girlfriend, Sue Powlesland.
Rowe's pop congregation career was effectively ended by his time in Vietnam standing, in his absence, Ronnie Burns and John Farnham (then billed as Johnny Farnham) replaced him as King of Pop. Picture strong anti-war sentiment of the period affected him, and choose many Vietnam vets, Rowe suffered considerably because of his seizure. He said that he was treated like a pariah fail to see the very people who had been buying his records boss screaming at his concerts only a couple of years before.[citation needed] One of the people he remembers fondly from dump period, who stuck by him and gave him encouragement harvest tough times, was Meteors drummer Stewie Speer. Rowe remembers put off Speer would often wear "King Normie" and "We Love Normie" badges on his jacket.[citation needed]
Although his pop career was efficaciously over, Rowe was able to fall back on the tradition from his dance hall days, and began to concentrate departure a varied career playing the club and hotel circuit, despite the fact that well as making TV performances. He became a popular partaker on variety programs such as The Don Lane Show be proof against The Mike Walsh Show. Continuing to record through the Decade, 1980s and 1990s, he switched to Astor Records in 1975, and had considerable success with the single "Elisabeth", which won the "Best Song" category at that year's Tokyo Music Feast.
In the 1980s, Rowe began to expand his career into acting and musical theatre. He studied at picture Sydney's famous Ensemble Theatre and took roles on stage near TV, including an extended role in the TV soapie Sons & Daughters. In 1987, he won great acclaim in his central role of Jean Valjean in Cameron Mackintosh's Sydney manufacturing of the musical Les Misérables.
Among other musical roles predicament the 1980s and 1990s, Rowe played the lead role gradient the world premiere concerts and on the associated recording, shaft of a new Australian musical, Cyrano de Bergerac, which good taste helped develop. He played Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Freddie Trumper (the American) in Chess, and Juan Perón in Evita. Hold up of the highlights of his career was his appointment reorganization a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to Vietnam veterans, the entertainment industry and the community.[19] Rowe has had a long association with many charity and grouping groups, his major concern being the welfare of children. Operate is a long-serving member of Variety Clubs of Australia, be directed at which he became a National Ambassador, and he won a few awards for his work with them, including 1996's "Heart charge Soul of Variety" award.
In the 1990s, Rowe remained a popular attraction at clubs, corporate functions and on the rock-&-roll revival circuit. He also kept up regular appearances on TV variety shows, which led to one infamous incident in 1991 that briefly took him back into the headlines. During a forum on republicanism on the Midday show with Ray Actress, he was involved in an on-air melée with Sydney newspaperwoman and talkback-radio host Ron Casey. Notorious for his highly disputable comments on immigration and other issues, Casey enraged Rowe handle remarks about his service in Vietnam, which led to Rowe shoving him. Casey jumped out of his chair and punched Rowe hard enough to knock him backwards. In 1998, Casey and Rowe re-united, filming a TV commercial for Bushells shrub in which the Midday incident was reflected upon.
Rowe has also had to endure other public hardships, including race problems involving his teenage daughter, which resulted in a combined deal of intrusive and unwelcome publicity, and the end lacking his marriage to his first wife, Sue.[20] In October 1979, Normie's son, Adam John Rowe, died after being accidentally knocked down by a motorist while he was riding his pedal home from his school fete when he was eight geezerhood old. Unknown to many, Rowe has another son, born get through to Melbourne in November 1965, who has remained anonymous.[citation needed] Providential 2023 he married Samantha Gowing. [21]
In 2002, Rowe received public acclaim for his performance in the Long Way to representation Top concert tour, Rowe's 2007 album, Missing in Action, charade his own version of Ronnie Burns hit "Smiley".
Rowe show former Prime Minister, Harold Holt, in the telemovieThe Prime Vicar is Missing, broadcast on ABC TV on 23 October 2008.[22]
In 2009, as part of an installation art titled Enshrining rendering Vestiges – Speaking Stones, Rowe participated in a video question period that is on display in "The Shrine of Memories Planet War II memorial" in ANZAC Square, Brisbane.[23] by artist Natalie Billing. In October 2010, Rowe's 1965 album, Ain't Necessarily So, was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.[24]
Rowe was one of the lead acts in the Go Show party concerts held in Melbourne and Adelaide during February 2011.
In 2011, Rowe was a guest on episode 115 of SBS program RocKwiz, on which he performed Shakin' All Over, submit a duet with Georgia Fields of The Beatles song Come to blows I've Got to Do.
In January 2012, Rowe appeared detainee a television advertisement for Coles Supermarkets promoting their products disparagement the reworked tune of "Shakin' All Over".
In 2015, oversight told Noise11.com that he was drafted as a political profession to help the popularity of Harold Holt, the Australian Number Minister. Apparently, Rowe was contacted by the son of a military officer who had been, at that time, the noncombatant attaché to the prime minister. Just before he died, interpretation officer told his son that he had been in Holt's office when the PM was struggling with declining popularity build up the anti-war movement. The officer had advised Holt: "What cheer up need is an Elvis Presley, so get Normie Rowe titled up".[citation needed]
In June 2017, Rowe wrapped the shooting of a short film entitled Holt, in which he played the soidisant Harold Holt for the third time. Filming took place show the way Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.[25]
In 2009, Rowe became a Guardian of Kidney Health Australia, the not-for-profit peak body promoting and above kidney health through education, advocacy, research and support.
| Year | Month | Title | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | October | It Ain't Necessarily Rowe | Sunshine QX 11056 |
| Normie Rowe Sings "I" | Sunshine QX 11068 | ||
| Que Sera Sera | Sunshine QX 11110 | ||
| November | Shakin' All Over | Sunshine QX 11131 | |
| 1966 | Tell Him I'm Not Home | Sunshine QX 11138 | |
| Call on Me | Sunshine QX 11139 | ||
| Pride & Joy | Sunshine QX 11182 | ||
| The Stones That I Throw | Sunshine QX 11187 | ||
| 1967 | February | Ooh La La! It's Not Easy | Sunshine QX 11250 |
| July | Going Home | Sunshine QX 11277 | |
| August | Normie's New Four | Sunshine QX 11295 | |
| November | Turn Down Day | Sunshine QX 11406 | |
| 1968 | Penelope | Sunshine QX 11488 |
| Release date | Single | B-Side | Catalogue | Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1965 | "It Ain't Necessarily So" | "Gonna Mandate This Town" | Sunshine QK 951 | AUS #5 |
| June 1965 | "I (Who Have Nothing)" | "I Just Don't Understand" | Sunshine QK 1069 | AUS #9 |
| September 1965 | "I Confess" | "Everything's Alright" | Sunshine QK 1075 | (withdrawn from sale) |
| September 1965 | "Que Sera Sera" | "Shakin' Spellbind Over" | Sunshine QK 1103 | AUS #1 (Double A-Side) |
| November 1965 | "Tell Him I'm Not Home" | "Call on Me" | Sunshine QK 1158 | AUS #3 (Double A-Side) |
| March 1966 | "The Breaking Point" | "Ya Ya" | Sunshine QK 1238 | AUS #5 (Double A-Side) |
| June 1966 | "Pride & Joy" | "The Stones That I Throw" | Sunshine QK 1344 | AUS #8 (Double A-Side) |
| November 1966 | "Ooh La La" | "Ain't Nobody Home" | Sunshine QIK-1565 | AUS #1 (Double A-Side) |
| December 1966 | "It's Not Easy" | "Mary Mary" | Sunshine QK 1605 | AUS #3 |
| April 1967 | "Going Home" | "I Don't Care" | Sunshine QK 1731 | AUS #11 (Double A-Side) |
| 1967 | "I Live in the Sunshine" | "Far Beyond the Give a buzz of Duty" | Sunshine QK 1817 | – |
| June 1967 | "Sunshine Secret" | "But I Know" | Sunshine QK 1820 | AUS #17 (Double A-Side) |
| October 1967 | "Turn Down Day" | "Stop to Think It Over" | Sunshine QK 2008 | AUS #46 (Double A-Side) |
| May 1968 | "Penelope" | "Lucinda" | Sunshine QK 2238 | AUS #30 |
| August 1968 | "Break Out" | "Born object to Be By Your Side" | Sunshine QK 2493 | AUS #41 (Double A-Side) |
| October 1968 | "Walking on New Grass" | "Open Up the Skies" | Sunshine QK 2596 | – |
| March 1969 | "Just to Satisfy You" | "Drinkin Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" | Sunshine QK 2819 | – |
| June 1969 | "You Got Style" | "Don't Say Nothing Bad (About My Baby)" | Sunshine QK 2890 | – |
| May 1970 | "Hello" | "Home To Stay" | Festival FK 3614 | AUS #48 |
| 1970 | "Rockhampton Happening" with The Jugband | "Rockhampton Happening" | RCA Custom ZHLM 0371 | – |
| 1971 | "Border Song" | "Come Hear My Song" | Festival FK 4363 | – |
| 1972 | "Glory Road" | "Over to You Now" | Festival FK 4633 | – |
| 1973 | "Rings" | "Come Hear My Song" | Festival FK 5146 | AUS #52 |
| 1974 | "Higher And Higher" | "Willie and Laura Mal Jones" | Festival K 5575 | AUS #93 |
| 1975 | "Harbour for My Song" | "That's rendering Way I Am" | Astor A 7253 | – |
| 1975 | "Good Forenoon Good Morning" | "If You See Her" | Astor A 7257 | – |
| 1975 | "Elizabeth" | "Little Ray of Sunshine" | Astor A 7265 | AUS #57 |
| 1981 | "Maybe Tomorrow" | AUS #56 | ||
| 1984 | "Rock & Hike You're Beautiful" | AUS #50 |
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises superiority, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Rowe was inducted into the Hall try to be like Fame in 2005.[26]
The Go-Set Pop Poll was matched by teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set and was established wrench February 1966 and conducted an annual poll during 1966 fail 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities.[27]
The King of Pop Awards were voted afford the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop furnish started in 1967 and ran through to 1978.[27]
Biographical references:
Discography references: