Biography

Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England on September 26, 1948 to Brin and Irene Newton-John. When Olivia was 5 years old her family moved to Australia where her father accepted a job as the dean at Melbourne's Ormond College. Despite having an academic background, Olivia was showing interest in singing. It wasn't to long before Olivia formed her own band. They called themselves the Sol Four.

Olivia started a career early on, playing a role in the not so popular movie "Funny Things Happen Down Under". Her sister also entered her in a talent contest with the prize being a trip to England. Olivia won the prize with the song "Everything's Coming Up Roses". She also released her first single, "Till You Say You'll Be Mine", with Decca Records.

Olivia wasn't happy in England with her then boyfriend, Ian Turpie still in Australia. Things soon improved though when her friend Par Carroll arrived. Fantasizing about stardom the two played pubs as a vocal duo called "Pat and Olivia". Pat and Olivia didn't always get booked in the best of places. One example would be when the performed at Paul Raymond's Revue bar. They were somewhat in shock when they realized later on (after not being asked back) that they had performed in a strip joint.

In December of 1969 Pat's visa expired and she returned home, but for Olivia the movie industry was calling. Olivia was featured in a British film called "Toomorrow" which she appeared in in 1970, but the public wasn't impressed so the movie closed quickly, leaving Olivia to focus on her solo music career. Olivia was invited to be a star on Cliff Richards successful TV show in 1972.

Olivia's association with Cliff Richard and the Shadows brought her music to a wide audience, and released her first albums, Olivia Newton-John in 1971, Olivia in 1972, and Music Makes My Day in 1973.

Olivia had her first taste of success with a cover of Bob Dylan's "If Not For You". Olivia spent the next two years looking for another hit which came in 1973. "Let Me Be There" which charted at # 6 in America.

1974 was a big year for Olivia too. She had her first # 1 hit with "I Honestly Love You". She also released "If You Love Me, Let Me Know" which went to # 5. Olivia was growing more popular in America and with that came the decision to move.

In 1975 Olivia Newton-John moved from England to America. Olivia also had her second number one hit in 1975 entitled "Have You Never Been Mellow" which toped the country and pop charts. Her next single "Please Mr. Please reached # 3.This was just a start for Olivia who continued throught the seventies with a string of gold albums in the US. Olivia was also becoming a regular on shows like the Midnight Special, and in 1976 ABC gave Olivia her own TV special called "A Very Special Olivia Newton-John.

By now all of the world was in love with Olivia, and since she was well off by now she fufilled a childhood ambition by keeping dogs, cats, horses and other animals on her farm in Malibu.

It seemed that Olivia had everything by now, popularity, money, awards, animals, and a house in Malibu, but little did she know what lie ahead. In Los Angeles, Allan Carr, a producer, was looking for a female lead to star with John Travolta in the movie "Grease". Olivia and Allan were both at Helen Reddy's dinner party when he offered her the part of Sandy. Olivia though, wasn't sure if she could do it after making the flop "Toomorrow", so she asked for a screen test. "Grease" was released in June of 1978 and became the biggest movie musical of all time. The soundtrack album stormed up the charts around the world, and it became one of the top 10 soundtracks of all time.

Like Sandy in "Grease", Olivia changed, and in 1978 she released her first rock album entitled "Totally Hot" which was very successful. She also toured America, Japan, and Europe with it.

In 1980, Olivia did a follow up movie to "Grease" called "Xanadu". Olivia played a muse who was sent by her father Zuse, to aid a struggling artist. Although "Xanadu" flopped, the soundtrack was a major success with songs like "Magic", Suddenly", and the title track "Xanadu", topping the charts. Not everything about "Xanadu" was bad. Olivia met her future husband "Matt Lattanzi, who was a dancer in "Xanadu".

When it seemed Olivia couldn't top the success of "Grease"she turns around and does it again. In the winter of 1981 she releases the million-selling title track, "Physical". "Physical" went straight to # 1 and stayed their for a record breaking two and ahalf months.

With an aerobic's vibe to mellow the riskey lyrics, Olivia released a music video to "Physical". Not only did Olivia release the "Physical" music video, but she also made a full-length videogram for the whole album, which was unusual at the time when videos were normally for an individual song. Since "Physcial" was so successfull (it is the biggest selling single of the 80's) she toured the country with it playing to sell-out audiences.

Trying to reproduce the success of "Grease", Olivia and John Travolta were cast in the movie "Two of A Kind". It didn't exactly set the world on fire, but the soundtrack once again was a hit.

In December of 1984, four years after they met, Olivia and Matt Lattanzi were married. They spent their sorrel honeymoon in Paris. Two years after Matt and Olivia were married, their first and only child, Chloe Rose Lattanzi was born. Since Olivia was a mother now, the period from 1986 to 1992 was a slow one for her career. To develope her business career she opened a chain of very successful stores called Koala Blue. Unfortunatly, Olivia and her partner, Par Farrar, who Olivia started out singing with in the sixties, had to file for bankruptcy in the early ninties.

Although Olivia's music career had slowed down, she didn't abandon it totally. In 1988 Olivia released "The Rumour" and also released a videogram with it. "Warm and Tender" was her next project which was released in 1989. An album of childern's songs and lullabies, which was really meant for Chloe. It was Olivia's first real musical indulgence, which was release on the Geffen label after MCA refused to market it.

In 1992, Olivia also release "Back to Basics, The Essential Collection" on the Geffen label. This was to be Olivia's comeback featuring her hits from the70's and 80's with 4 new songs. Reheasing to go on tour in the late summer with her new album, Olivia's life was about to be turned upside down.

The news came on July 2, Olivia Newton-John had breast cancer. On the same day Olivia was diagnosed with breast cancer her father died of cancer. Olivia was taken to the hospital where she had surgery and then she would undergo a period of chemotherapy. After her bout with cancer, Olivia wrote her most personal album to date. "Gaia: One Woman's Journey" was wrote during her period of illness and recovery.

After the death of her godchild, Colette Chuda, and her father, and her ordeal with cancer you would think that she had gone through all a person could, but in 1995 rumors started to circulate that Olivia and Matt were having marriage problems. After struggling to keep the marriage together they finial called it quit. They were divorced that same year.

After two years of trying different things with her career, Olivia signed with MCA in 1997. After a year of hard work, Olivia's album, "Back With A Heart" was release in May of 1998. This was to be Olivia's return to country music. Olivia also toured with Cliff Richard in the spring. The end of 1998 saw Olivia with two other fellow Australians on the Main Event tour, which became so hot that extra dates were added by popular demand. Of course the Americans were not forgot.

In 1999 Olivia did a sell-out tour here in the States. She also stared in the independent movie "Sordid Lives". The new millennium brought another sell-out American tour in the spring and early summer. In the fall of 2000, Olivia was to perform at her most special occation yet. With fellow Austrailan John Farnham by her side, they sang "Dare to Dream" at the opening of the Olympics.

In 2001 Olivia did another sell-out tour to celebrate her 30 years of music. She is also released her first solo Christmas album. Olivia was also the star in the new Del Shores movie "The Wilde Girls" which also features Chloe.

In 2002 Olivia teamed up with Pat Farrar and Sean Neylon to launch her very own wine, Koala Blue. Sean and his team are working tirelessly to get Koala Blue in stores around the world. Olivia hit the road again this year with "The Heartstrings Tour". Since the tour Olivia released a new album which deputed at # 5 on the Australian charts and went gold the first day. (2), is an album of duets which feature some of Australia's biggest stars.


	home Biography Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England on September 26, 1948 to Brin and Irene Newton-John. When Olivia was 5 years old her family moved to Australia where her father accepted a job as the dean at Melbourne's Ormond College. Despite having an academic background, Olivia was showing interest in singing. It wasn't to long before Olivia formed her own band. They called themselves the Sol Four. Olivia started a career early on, playing a role in the not so popular movie "Funny Things Happen Down Under". Her sister also entered her in a talent contest with the prize being a trip to England. Olivia won the prize with the song "Everything's Coming Up Roses". She also released her first single, "Till You Say You'll Be Mine", with Decca Records. Olivia wasn't happy in England with her then boyfriend, Ian Turpie still in Australia. Things soon improved though when her friend Par Carroll arrived. Fantasizing about stardom the two played pubs as a vocal duo called "Pat and Olivia". Pat and Olivia didn't always get booked in the best of places. One example would be when the performed at Paul Raymond's Revue bar. They were somewhat in shock when they realized later on (after not being asked back) that they had performed in a strip joint. In 1968 Olivia met Bruce Welch and they became engaged. There was a little problem though. Bruce at the time was already married. In December of 1969 Pat's visa expired and she returned home, but for Olivia the movie industry was calling. Olivia was featured in a British film called "Toomorrow" which she appeared in in 1970, but the public wasn't impressed so the movie closed quickly, leaving Olivia to focus on her solo music career. Olivia was invited to be a star on Cliff Richards successful TV show in 1972. Olivia's association with Cliff Richard and the Shadows brought her music to a wide audience, and released her first albums, Olivia Newton-John in 1971, Olivia in 1972, and Music Makes My Day in 1973. Olivia had her first taste of success with a cover of Bob Dylan's "If Not For You". Olivia spent the next two years looking for another hit which came in 1973. "Let Me Be There" which charted at # 6 in America. 1974 was a big year for Olivia too. She had her first # 1 hit with "I Honestly Love You". She also released "If You Love Me, Let Me Know" which went to # 5. Olivia was growing more popular in America and with that came the decision to move. In 1975 Olivia Newton-John moved from England to America. Olivia also had her second number one hit in 1975 entitled "Have You Never Been Mellow" which toped the country and pop charts. Her next single "Please Mr. Please reached # 3.This was just a start for Olivia who continued throught the seventies with a string of gold albums in the US. Olivia was also becoming a regular on shows like the Midnight Special, and in 1976 ABC gave Olivia her own TV special called "A Very Special Olivia Newton-John. By now all of the world was in love with Olivia, and since she was well off by now she fufilled a childhood ambition by keeping dogs, cats, horses and other animals on her farm in Malibu. It seemed that Olivia had everything by now, popularity, money, awards, animals, and a house in Malibu, but little did she know what lie ahead. In Los Angeles, Allan Carr, a producer, was looking for a female lead to star with John Travolta in the movie "Grease". Olivia and Allan were both at Helen Reddy's dinner party when he offered her the part of Sandy. Olivia though, wasn't sure if she could do it after making the flop "Toomorrow", so she asked for a screen test. "Grease" was released in June of 1978 and became the biggest movie musical of all time. The soundtrack album stormed up the charts around the world, and it became one of the top 10 soundtracks of all time. Like Sandy in "Grease", Olivia changed, and in 1978 she released her first rock album entitled "Totally Hot" which was very successful. She also toured America, Japan, and Europe with it. In 1980, Olivia did a follow up movie to "Grease" called "Xanadu". Olivia played a muse who was sent by her father Zuse, to aid a struggling artist. Although "Xanadu" flopped, the soundtrack was a major success with songs like "Magic", Suddenly", and the title track "Xanadu", topping the charts. Not everything about "Xanadu" was bad. Olivia met her future husband "Matt Lattanzi, who was a dancer in "Xanadu". When it seemed Olivia couldn't top the success of "Grease"she turns around and does it again. In the winter of 1981 she releases the million-selling title track, "Physical". "Physical" went straight to # 1 and stayed their for a record breaking two and ahalf months. With an aerobic's vibe to mellow the riskey lyrics, Olivia released a music video to "Physical". Not only did Olivia release the "Physical" music video, but she also made a full-length videogram for the whole album, which was unusual at the time when videos were normally for an individual song. Since "Physcial" was so successfull (it is the biggest selling single of the 80's) she toured the country with it playing to sell-out audiences. Trying to reproduce the success of "Grease", Olivia and John Travolta were cast in the movie "Two of A Kind". It didn't exactly set the world on fire, but the soundtrack once again was a hit. In December of 1984, four years after they met, Olivia and Matt Lattanzi were married. They spent their sorrel honeymoon in Paris. Two years after Matt and Olivia were married, their first and only child, Chloe Rose Lattanzi was born. Since Olivia was a mother now, the period from 1986 to 1992 was a slow one for her career. To develope her business career she opened a chain of very successful stores called Koala Blue. Unfortunatly, Olivia and her partner, Par Farrar, who Olivia started out singing with in the sixties, had to file for bankruptcy in the early ninties. Although Olivia's music career had slowed down, she didn't abandon it totally. In 1988 Olivia released "The Rumour" and also released a videogram with it. "Warm and Tender" was her next project which was released in 1989. An album of childern's songs and lullabies, which was really meant for Chloe. It was Olivia's first real musical indulgence, which was release on the Geffen label after MCA refused to market it. In 1992, Olivia also release "Back to Basics, The Essential Collection" on the Geffen label. This was to be Olivia's comeback featuring her hits from the70's and 80's with 4 new songs. Reheasing to go on tour in the late summer with her new album, Olivia's life was about to be turned upside down. The news came on July 2, Olivia Newton-John had breast cancer. On the same day Olivia was diagnosed with breast cancer her father died of cancer. Olivia was taken to the hospital where she had surgery and then she would undergo a period of chemotherapy. After her bout with cancer, Olivia wrote her most personal album to date. "Gaia: One Woman's Journey" was wrote during her period of illness and recovery. After the death of her godchild, Colette Chuda, and her father, and her ordeal with cancer you would think that she had gone through all a person could, but in 1995 rumors started to circulate that Olivia and Matt were having marriage problems. After struggling to keep the marriage together they finial called it quit. They were divorced that same year. After two years of trying different things with her career, Olivia signed with MCA in 1997. After a year of hard work, Olivia's album, "Back With A Heart" was release in May of 1998. This was to be Olivia's return to country music. Olivia also toured with Cliff Richard in the spring. The end of 1998 saw Olivia with two other fellow Australians on the Main Event tour, which became so hot that extra dates were added by popular demand. Of course the Americans were not forgot. In 1999 Olivia did a sell-out tour here in the States. She also stared in the independent movie "Sordid Lives". The new millennium brought another sell-out American tour in the spring and early summer. In the fall of 2000, Olivia was to perform at her most special occation yet. With fellow Austrailan John Farnham by her side, they sang "Dare to Dream" at the opening of the Olympics. In 2001 Olivia did another sell-out tour to celebrate her 30 years of music. She is also released her first solo Christmas album. Olivia was also the star in the new Del Shores movie "The Wilde Girls" which also features Chloe. In 2002 Olivia teamed up with Pat Farrar and Sean Neylon to launch her very own wine, Koala Blue. Sean and his team are working tirelessly to get Koala Blue in stores around the world. Olivia hit the road again this year with "The Heartstrings Tour". Since the tour Olivia released a new album which deputed at # 5 on the Australian charts and went gold the first day. (2), is an album of duets which feature some of Australia's biggest stars.