A living treasure of Australian music, John Farnham AO will narrate the audiobook edition of his upcoming memoir, 'The Voice Inside', co-written with Poppy Stockell.
"I've just finished narrating my audiobook," John says. "It was a bit of a roller-coaster ride. There were more than a few laughs, and some tears, but it made me realise how lucky I've been."Arguably the greatest singer to ever emerge from Australia, Farnham has had a legendary career that started in the late '60s after he abandoned his plumbing apprenticeship to pursue a full-time job in entertainment (something that was totally unheard of at the time – his parents were not pleased).
After becoming a mainstream sensation with his 1967 debut single, the novelty song 'Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)', John's meteoric rise saw him crowned the King Of Pop (in Australia) five years running between 1969-1973.
What followed were Farnham's lean years, as the pop singer's career began to fade in the late '70s amidst the emerging crop of pub-rock icons that had begun taking over the radio waves at pop's expense.
A rebirth with his own band covering The Beatles' 'Help' in 1980 led to his recruitment into The Little River Band, where he toured America and beyond extensively until the mid-80s when he again went solo, releasing the seminal masterpiece 'Whispering Jack' that cemented his place as one of the greatest singers of his generation lauded by the likes of Olivia Newton-John, Celine Dion, Chris Martin and Tom Jones as 'The Voice'.
After being diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2022, John retreated from public life with his wife of 50-plus years, Jill, to fight the disease. Then last year, the documentary 'Finding The Voice' returned John to the mainstream spotlight, the doco becoming the the highest grossing Australian-made film in 2023, while the soundtrack received an ARIA Award.
'The Voice Inside' will also feature two chapters written by Jill, who will narrate both for the audiobook.
"I don't enjoy talking about myself, I really don't. Don't get me wrong, I'm an ego-maniac, but dredging up the past and checking through what has and hasn't been is just something I've really never enjoyed," John says.
"I will try to share as much as I can, but that's not easy because I've never really been that open. I guess there are reasons for that, reasons for my reluctance."
Adds Vanessa Radnidge, Head of Literary at Hachette Australia: "Earlier this year when we announced John Farnham was writing his memoir with the help of Poppy Stockell, many fans eagerly asked if he would record the audiobook himself.
"At the time, we could not provide an answer, and I honestly did not think it would be possible; but John is a born entertainer, and he never wants to disappoint his fans.
"Despite the challenges posed by surgery and radiation, John dedicated many hours in the studio to record his book in his own voice. Now, I cannot imagine anyone else narrating it.
"Listening to him is such a delight – the heart, emotion, and showmanship are all there. So are the laughs, the giggles, and the tears. John feels lucky to have lived the life he has, and I know we are all incredibly lucky to have John Farnham share the voice inside with all of us."
The audiobook, e-book and hardback editions of 'The Voice Inside' will be available from 30 October, 2024. Pre-order it.
