Date of Birth: 9th April, 1957 Date joined YTT: 1971 Date left YTT: 1972 Occupation now: Professional Entertainer - Singing, Guitar and Acting Teacher - Director Of The Australian Showbusiness Academy - Television Producer Back in the '70s, an amazing young superstar by the name of Jamie Redfern burst onto Australian TV screens, capturing the heart of a nation and taking the world by storm. Jamie Redfern was an original member of the Young Talent Team. He began his TV career -like several of h...
Date of Birth: 9th April, 1957
Date joined YTT: 1971
Date left YTT: 1972
Occupation now: Professional Entertainer - Singing, Guitar and Acting Teacher - Director Of The Australian Showbusiness Academy - Television Producer
Back in the '70s, an amazing young superstar by the name of Jamie Redfern burst onto Australian TV screens, capturing the heart of a nation and taking the world by storm.
Jamie Redfern was an original member of the Young Talent Team. He began his TV career -like several of his other YTT co-stars - on "Brian and the Juniors".
Jamie was born in Liverpool England, a place renowned for producing entertainers. It was here that Jamie made his debut as a singer.
In the late 60's and early 70's a young Liverpudlian who had become an Australian became an International superstar.
When Jamie was three years of age, he used to go down the street and sing for the ladies and they'd offer him an ice-cream. And so if he sang anything else, like more than one song, his brothers and sisters would get ice-creams too. So he was a professional at three.
Shortly after his first paid gig, the family moved to Australia where the young Jamie really found his voice.
There was an audition for a show called 'Brian and the Juniors' formerly 'Swallows Juniors', and his Dad said, "You want to go audition for that?" Jamie said, "Yeah." And so he did.
Jamie took the show by storm and so started his remarkable career. After 'Brian and the Juniors', Jamie moved on seamlessly to 'Young Talent Time'.
Something he is extremely proud of is that Jamie was the only member of the Young Talent Team who didn't have to audition. Jamie had been working with Johnny Young on TV - 'Happening '70', '71', and John's own morning show. Jamie had done this a number of times, and so when it came to the concept of 'Young Talent Time', it was just a natural thing for John to host and Jamie to be the very first child selected.
Jamie's career took off soon after starting Young Talent Time so he was only with the show for around 10 months. He released a single "The Little White Cloud That Cried" in July 1971 that went #1 in Melbourne and Top 20 nationally. In August of 1971 Jamie was crowned King of Pop for 'best newcomer'
It was at these awards when he was presented the King of Pop award by Liberace that his life changed forever.
LIBERACE said to Johnny Young: "Incidentally, Johnny, I've been watching the show and I've enjoyed all the performers who have been on and that little boy, that Jamie, he's fantastic. He really... I'd like to take him back to the States.
JOHNNY YOUNG (and everyone else concerned) thought he was only joking and, a few days later, they got a call from Seymour Heller who was also managing Shirley MacLaine and Debbie Reynolds and a whole lot of other people in America. He rang and said, "Look, we really would like to take Jamie to America and have him star as a special guest on Liberace's program."
And so it was that Jamie and his father were whisked off to America on a tour that would see him achieve what all artists dream of.
Some of Jamie's fondest memories of touring with Liberace would have been many things. Meeting some of the world's greatest entertainers and sitting on Ginger Rogers's knee. Meeting Jack Benny not long before he died, and Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, who were just hilarious. And meeting the Jacksons. He remembers that...Michael Jackson wanting to meet him. And Molly Meldrum ringing him up and saying, "Michael wants to meet you. Would you like to meet him?" Jamie said, "What are you talking about, 'Would I like to meet him?'" Jamie taught Michael Jackson tenpin bowls at the Southern Cross Hotel which housed Melbourne's premier bowling venue.
Jamie enjoyed success that hadn't been seen before, especially in one so young. But, despite the record sales that were racking up, he didn't make the bundles of money that you would associate with superstardom. And, after a dispute over a recording contract, his career ground to a halt. He was left in the wilderness. But rather than feeling bitter, he used past adventures as just that. And the memories are there forever.
Elvis was the king of rock'n'roll and sent Jamie a floral guitar...when they opened in Las Vegas. It was a floral guitar to say congratulations. They were supposed to have a jam session. And there was a phone call when they were in Memphis at Liberaces gig and Liberace called Jamie over and put him on the phone. Elvis apologised and said that Lisa Marie had taken ill and he had to take off. "But we'll jam some other time." Jamie said, "OK." To make up for that, Elvis let Jamie borrow his limousine for two weeks, which was, as Jamie remembers, unbelievable.
These days, Jamie and his wife run the Australian Showbusiness Academy, passing on the skills and knowledge that made him an international superstar. He has recently successfully returned to showbusiness performing to sell out audiences across Australia and is singing and performing better than ever. What does the future hold for Jamie? Jamie believes a lot of happiness, a lot of happiness. He's crazy about his gorgeous little girls, Hayley & Taylah and his wife and the business that they're running - which is really building.
From:
http://www.youngtalenttime.net/jamieredfern.html
Debbie B
Website Owner
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