Peter Allen (musician)

For other people named Peter Allen, see Peter Allen.

Peter Allen
Allen in 1967
Background information
Birth namePeter Richard Woolnough
Born(1944-02-10)10 February 1944
Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia
Died18 June 1992(1992-06-18) (aged 48)
San Diego, California, U.S.
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • entertainer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active1959–1992
Labels
Formerly ofThe Allen Brothers
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1967; div. 1974)​

Peter Allen (born Peter Richard Woolnough; 10 February 1944 – 18 June 1992) was an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer, known for his flamboyant stage persona, energetic performances, and lavish costumes. Allen's songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, including Newton-John's first chart-topping hit "I Honestly Love You", and the chart-topping and Academy Award-winning "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" by Christopher Cross.

In addition to recording many albums, Allen enjoyed a cabaret and concert career, including appearances at the Radio City Music Hall riding a camel. His patriotic song "I Still Call Australia Home", has been used extensively in advertising campaigns, and was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry in 2013.[1]

Allen was the first husband of Liza Minnelli. They met in October 1964, were engaged on 26 November 1964, married on 3 March 1967, formally separated on 8 April 1970, and divorced on 24 July 1974.[2][3][4] Allen had a long-term partner, model Gregory Connell. They met in 1973 and were together until Connell's death in 1984.[5][6] Allen and Connell died from AIDS-related cancer eight years apart, with Allen becoming one of the first well-known Australians to die from AIDS. Allen remained ambiguous about his sexuality in that he did not pretend to be heterosexual after divorcing Minnelli, but never publicly came out as gay either.[7]

In a 1991 interview with the gay newspaper New York Native, Allen said, "I was 'out' on stage years before anyone else. But I think outing is limiting. I don't feel like I should be labeled."[8] Despite Allen's outgoing persona, he was an intensely private man who shared little about his personal life even with those close to him. Few people knew Allen had HIV/AIDS, partly in fear of alienating his conservative, heterosexual fans and thinking audiences would not want to see a performer they knew was sick.[7] In 1998, a musical about his life, The Boy from Oz, debuted in Australia. It ran on Broadway and earned Hugh Jackman a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

  1. ^ "The complete list". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference AllMusic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Liza Minelli Engaged". The New York Times. 27 November 1964. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Liza Minnelli, Husband Separate". The Toronto Daily Star, 9 April 1970, p. 27.
  5. ^ Angly, Patricia (26 February 1980). "People". The Bulletin. Sydney, N.S.W. p. 44.
  6. ^ Barnard, Loretta (21 August 2019). "Peter Allen: The Boy from Oz". australia-explained.com.au. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b " 'The Boy from Oz' Celebrates Allen". Today. Associated Press. 17 October 2003. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  8. ^ Alexander, Yale. "Peter Allen on Judy, Liza, Legs, and the Queen." New York Native, 16 September 1991, p. 26.