Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John was born in England on September 26, 1948. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Australia where she remained for most of her childhood. Olivia dropped out of high school after winning a talent contest that returned her to England where she joined the group Tomorrow and was in a science fiction movie of the same name. Olivia sang back up and harmony on many of the songs of the soundtrack.

In 1971, Olivia released her first album in England, If Not For You. Olivia went on to release several more British albums including Olivia, Banks of the Ohio, Music makes my day, Long live love, and First impressions.

In 1974, Olivia released the album If you love me (let me know). This album was a huge success and contained Olivia's first number one hit anywhere in the world, ‘I love you, I honestly love you.’ The album also contained the title track ‘If you love me (let me know)’ which made the top five, and ‘Changes,’ which hit the top 30.

In 1975 she had her first number one album. ‘Have you never been mellow’ was also her second number one hit. ‘Please Mr. please’ just missed the top of the charts. Olivia had another album released that year, Clearly love, which contained the hits ‘Something better to do,’ and ‘Let it shine.’

In 1976, Olivia released two albums, Don't stop believin' and Come on over. With top 40 singles ‘Come on over,’ ‘Don't stop belevin',’ and ‘Sam’, 2 more albums followed in 1977 with Making a good thing better, and literally weeks later, Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits followed.

In 1978 Olivia starred next to John Travolta in Grease, which was nominated for five Oscars (with two wins).

In 1979 Olivia changed her music style from pop to rock and released Totally Hot. This album yielded ‘A little more love,’ ‘Deeper than the night,’ ‘Totally hot,’ and ‘Dancin' 'round and 'round’. In 1980 Olivia returned to the big screen with the film flop Xanadu. But success followed with the movies soundtrack, with singles ‘Magic,’ ‘Xandau,’ and ‘Suddenly’.

In 1981 she released ‘Let's get physical’ which was number 1 for ten weeks and became an international hit.

In 1983, Olivia starred with John Travolta in Two of a Kind. More hits followed with the soundtrack: ‘Twist of fate’, and ‘Livin' in desperate times’.

By the end of 1984, Newton-John had married actor Matt Lattanzi. The following year, she released the Physical clone Soul Kiss, which produced only one minor hit with its title track.

In 1986, she had a daughter named Chloe and opened a clothing store chain called Koala Blue. Newton-John attempted to launch a comeback in 1988 with The Rumour, but the album was ignored.

She signed with Geffen the following year, releasing the children's album Warm and Tender. During the late 80s and 90s, she devoted herself to her family and business as well as several environmental activist organizations.

In 1992, Koala Blue folded and Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer. Over the next year, she successfully underwent treatment for the disease.

In 1994, she returned to recording with the independently released and self-produced album Gaia. Back with a heart, a return to Nashville, followed in 1998. One Woman's Journey was issued two years later.

In 2002, Olivia was inducted into the  Australian Music Hall Of Fame at the 16th Annual Aria Awards. Her latest honours include receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award by friend John Travolta at the G’Day L.A. Ball in 2006.

Olivia was also appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia by the Queen for her “service to the entertainment industry as a singer and actor, and to the community through organizations supporting breast cancer treatment, education and training research, and the environment.”
 

Links:
http://www.olivianewton-john.com/