Remembering Jon English - Behind Dark Eyes (26 March 1949 – 9 March 2016)

Behind Dark Eyes
The True Story of Jon English
By: Jeff Apter

Jon English was the original multitasker. He was the pop star with the raccoon eyes who sang such hits as 'Hollywood Seven', 'Six Ribbons' and 'Hot Town', and the rocker in leather duds who packed beer barns across Australia. 

Jon was also the swashbuckling Pirate King in the hugely successful Pirates of Penzance, and, in the words of Tim Rice, 'a brilliantly judged and truly exciting' Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. And on the small screen he was as 7 no role, or song, was beyond his reach. 

But there was a lot more to Jon English. 

He was a proud father of four who married his high school sweetheart Carmen when he was barely out of his teens. 

He was such a diehard fan of rugby league's Parramatta Eels that he wrote their team song. And Jon was also a composer whose rock opera, Paris, proved to be the biggest creative and personal challenge of his life. 

This authorised biography, written with the full support of Jon's family, friends and peers, Behind Dark Eyes tells   the complete Jon English story, swinging from the massive highs of Jesus Christ Superstar and pop stardom to his struggles with alcohol and depression, and his tragic, untimely death in 2016 at the age of 66.

https://www.booktopia.com.au/behind-d...

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Jon English.
Jonathan James English "Jon" English (26 March 1949 – 9 March 2016) was an English-born Australian singer, songwriter, musician and actor.

He emigrated from England to Australia with his parents in 1961.
He was an early vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Sebastian Hardie but left to take on the role of Judas Iscariot in the Australian version of the stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar from May 1972, which was broadcast on television.

English was also a noted solo singer; his Australian top twenty hit singles include "Turn the Page", "Hollywood Seven", "Words are Not Enough", "Six Ribbons" and "Hot Town".

Born - Jonathan James English, 26 March 1949,
Hampstead, London, UK
Died - 9 March 2016 (aged 66)
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
School - Cabramatta High School
Occupation - Singer, actor, musician, songwriter
Years active1970–2016.

Known for:
Jesus Christ Superstar
"Turn the Page"
Against the Wind
"Six Ribbons"
The Pirates of Penzance

Spouse - Carmen Sora (1969–2006)
Partner - Coralea Cameron (2006–2016, his death)
Children - 4
Website - www.jonenglish.com.au

English was acclaimed for his starring role in the 1978 Australian TV series Against the Wind – he won the TV Week Logie Award for 'Best New Talent in Australia'. He also co-wrote and performed the score with Mario Millo (ex-Sebastian Hardie).
The series had international release, known as Mot alla vindar (1980) in Swedish, where "Six Ribbons" was released as a single, both single and the soundtrack album peaked at No.1 on the Norwegian charts; the first single, "Six Ribbons" and the album, peaked at No.4 on the Swedish charts.

From 1983 to 1985, English won four Mo Awards with three consecutive 'Entertainer of the Year' awards and a further 'Male Vocal Performer' in 1985.

English has performed in Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore from 1984.

Performances of Essgee Entertainment's productions of the Gilbert and Sullivan trilogy from 1994 to 1997 were broadcast on Australian TV. They were all released on VHS and subsequently on DVD.