Jon English | |
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![]() English performing at Celebrate Australia! on Australia Day 2010 | |
Born | Jonathan James English 26 March 1949 |
Died | 9 March 2016 Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | (aged 66)
Alma mater | Cabramatta High School |
Occupation(s) | Singer, actor, musician, songwriter |
Years active | 1970–2016 |
Known for | Jesus Christ Superstar "Turn the Page" Against the Wind "Six Ribbons" The Pirates of Penzance |
Spouse | Carmen Sora (1969, separated 2006) |
Partner | Coralea Cameron (2007–2016, his death) |
Children | 4 |
Website | www |
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,[1] which was broadcast on television.[2] 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".[3][4]
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'.[4] He also co-wrote and performed the score with Mario Millo (ex-Sebastian Hardie).[4] The series had international release, known as Mot alla vindar (1980) in Swedish, where "Six Ribbons" was released as a single, both single and the soundtrack album peaked at No.1 on the Norwegian charts;[5] the first single, "Six Ribbons" and the album, peaked at No.4 on the Swedish charts.[6]
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.[7][8][9] English has performed in Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore from 1984.[10][11] 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.[11]