Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John AC DBE (1948–2022) was born in Cambridge, England and was five when her family moved to Melbourne. She formed an all-girl group with three friends in the early 1960s and at fifteen she came first in a talent contest on the television show Sing, Sing, Sing. The prize was a trip to London. She cut her first single there in 1966, and achieved her first big hit in 1971 with a cover of Bob Dylan's 'If Not For You'. Her US album debut, Let Me Be There, produced a smash single of the same name which won her the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. She achieved her first US pop number 1 – and another two Grammys – with 'I Honestly Love You' in 1974, the year she represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest. She relocated to Los Angeles in 1975. The title single from her next album Have You Never Been Mellow went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her first forays into film, however, had been less successful, and when, aged 29, she secured the lead role in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Grease, Newton-John was initially doubtful as to how convincingly she could portray a naïve, straitlaced adolescent.

By contrast, Gary Heery's photograph of her, taken in 1978 – when Grease was released – precisely evokes the appeal and versatility that made Newton-John's performance in the film so memorable. Sydney-born, Heery moved to the USA in 1974 and by 1976 was in Los Angeles, where he photographed album covers for Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Ray Charles, BB King and Joe Cocker; and portraits for magazines including Life, Esquire, Rolling Stone and Interview. Newton-John's performance in Grease not only secured her international stardom, but delivered further chart success with 'Hopelessly Devoted To You' – one of three songs she recorded for the soundtrack. She subsequently sold more than 100 million albums; had ten number one singles, including 'Xanadu' (1980) and the saucy 'Physical' (1981); had more than fifteen top ten singles; and won numerous industry awards. In addition to recording, touring, filming and performing, Newton-John established a number of successful businesses and devoted much of her energy to humanitarian, environmental and children's causes. First diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, she went on to raise millions of dollars for education, treatment, training and research, founding the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne in 2012 and the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund. Her contributions to music, charity and cancer research were recognised in 2019 when she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a Companion of the Order of Australia.

Purchased 2017
© Gary Heery