Christie Allen
Christie Allen | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | June Dorothy Allen |
Born | Romford, England, UK | 24 July 1954
Origin | Perth, Western Australia |
Died | 12 August 2008 Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | (aged 54)
Genres | Pop, disco, country |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1962–1998 |
Labels | Mushroom |
Formerly of | Pendulum |
Christie Allen (born June Dorothy Allen; 24 July 1954 – 12 August 2008) was an English-born Australian
Biography
Christie Allen was born June Dorothy Allen on 24 July 1954 in Romford, England to Keith Frederick Allen (1932-2004) and Vera Helen née Kettle (1932-2001). Allen has three brothers, Keith, Stephen and Mark.[1] At the age of eight years, Allen sang "My Johnny's Gone Away" in a talent quest.[2] In 1965, the Allen family migrated to Australia and settled in Perth.[1][3] Allen and her brothers formed a band, Pendulum, where she provided lead vocals.[3]
Whilst performing with Pendulum, Allen contacted UK-born Terry Britten, a songwriter and record producer and was the lead guitarist of Australian rock group, the Twilights, Britten had worked with Cliff Richard for whom he co-wrote "Devil Woman" in 1976 with Kristine Holmes.[3][4] By the mid 1970s, Britten was living in Australia and was impressed by Allen's vocal ability and bubbly personality and began songwriting for her. In 1978, Allen signed a recording contract with Mushroom Records[5] and in September 1978 she released her debut single "You Know That I Love You", which reached the top 100 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart, and attracted some national radio airplay and positive reviews.[3][5][6]
Her next three singles from her debut album,
Allen toured Australia backed by The Hot Band, which was composed of Max Chazan on guitar (Rubes), Greg Cook on guitar (ex-Cam-Pact, the Mixtures, Ram Band, Mondo Rock), Bruce Haymes on organ (Rubes, Richard Clapton Band), Michael Hegerty on bass guitar (Richard Clapton Band), and Rick Puchala on drums (Richard Clapton Band); and later Yuri Worontschak on keyboards: Yamaha CP70B and Minimoog (ex Spitfire).[3]
Allen was voted the 'Most Popular Female Performer' at the Christie Allen gave Countdown something it had been lacking – a local female artist to appeal to the teeny boppers. It is sometimes not appreciated just how successful Christie was.
Besides performing, Allen also appeared on Countdown as a guest host in November 1979 with Russell Hitchcock (Air Supply), and in April 1980 with Molly Meldrum.[10] In the early 1980s Allen supplied the voice-over and sang the jingle 'Come Tarino with Me' for Tarino orange soft drink commercials.
In August 1980, Allen released the singles "Baby Get Away", "Switchboard" and "Don't Put Out the Flame" and her second and final studio album Detour. By the mid-1980s a long illness prevented Allen from adequately promoting her career and she subsequently retired.[3]
Allen and her second husband, Angelo, had a daughter Christaleah. In the 1990s Allen returned to performing as a vocalist, with country music bands.
In 2006, Gudinski asked Allen to participate in the Countdown Spectacular tour; however, due to ill health, she declined. In March 2008 Allen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died at her home in rural Western Australia on 12 August 2008, aged 54.[5][12]
Personal life
Allen had an older brother, Keith, and two younger brothers, Stephen and Mark. With all three brothers, she formed a Perth-based group, Pendulum. In the 1970s, Allen lived with her first husband, Frank Rechichi in Karratha, Western Australia. By the 1990s, with Mark, her domestic partner, Allen had a daughter. In October 1998, Allen married her partner, Mark.
Discography
Albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [6] | |||
Magic Rhythm |
|
59 | |
Detour |
|
96 |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS[6] |
NZ[14] | ||||
"You Know That I Love You" | 1978 | 67 | – | Magic Rhythm | |
"Falling in Love with Only You" | 1979 | 20 | – | ||
" Goosebumps "
|
3 | 37 |
| ||
"He's My Number One" | 1980 | 4 | – |
| |
"Magic Rhythm" | 38 | – | |||
"Baby Get Away" | 38 | – | Detour | ||
"Switchboard" | – | – | |||
"Don't Put Out the Flame" | 1981 | 68 | – | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. |
Award and nominations
TV Week / Countdown Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | herself | Best New Talent | Nominated |
Most Popular Female Performer | Won | ||
"Goosebumps" | Most Popular Single | Won | |
Terry Britten for "He's My Number One" by Christie Allen | Best Recorded Songwriter | Won | |
1980 | herself | Most Popular Female Performer | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b "Item Details for: PP222/6, Allen K – Allen Keith, Vera, Keith, June, Stephen, Mark [Migrant Selection Documents]". National Archives of Australia. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2012. Note: Item barcode is 9875020. User may have to search for: Allen Keith Vera June Stephen Mark
- ^ Brucesmith, Linda (28 May 1980). "Gold for 'Goose Bumps' Christie!". Your TV Magazine. The Australian Women's Weekly. p. 11. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ^ ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the originalon 29 August 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- Australasian Performing Right Association(APRA). Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "'Goosebumps' Singer Christie Allen Dies". News.com.au. Australian Associated Press. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "Countdown Show no.:235 Date: 19/4/1980". Countdown Archives. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
- ^ a b "Countdown Show no.:241 Date: 22/3/1981". Countdown Archives. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
- ISBN 0-7322-6432-4.
- ^ "Rage Goes Retro Part 2". rage. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 10 January 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- Nine Entertainment Co. & Microsoft). Australian Associated Press. 12 August 2008. Archived from the originalon 24 September 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- ^ Cashmere, Paul (13 August 2008). "Christie Allen Dies from Pancreatic Cancer". UnderCover. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- ^ Cash Box. 23 August 1980. p. 37. Retrieved 3 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Christie Allen in NZ Charts". Charts NZ. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- Cash Box. 29 March 1980. p. 94. Retrieved 3 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
- Portable document format (PDF)). Countdown Magazine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC). March 1987. Retrieved 16 December 2010.