News June 25, 2019

‘He’s The Voice’ exhibition celebrates Farnsey as he turns 70

The National Film and Sound Archive (NSFA) has launched a new John Farnham exhibition.

He’s The Voice is a new online-only exhibition, paying tribute to the iconic Aussie artist ahead and coinciding with his 70th birthday (July 1).

Farnham’s debut came in 1967 when ‘Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)’ was released.

Since then he has released the highest selling album in Australia by a local artist, with Whispering Jack going 24x Platinum.

Farnham also holds the record for the most ARIAs won by a solo artist, and is the only Australian artist to have a #1 album in five consecutive decades.

“Few Australian performers have had the stellar highs and sustained success of John Farnham, truly an Icon of Australian popular music who’s songs have helped form the fabric of our culture from the 1960s on,” said NSFA sound curator Thosten Kaeding.

The online exhibition highlights include an early 1968 interview on Network Seven’s 7 Days, Liberace crowning Farnham as King of Pop at the 1971 Australian Pop Music Awards, and a conversation with Sammy Davis Jr on The Don Lane Show (1980).

Also available to view will be footage of Farnham’s acting roles in Division 4, Home and Away, the sitcoms Bobby Dazzler and The Last of the Australians.

“The National Film and Sound Archives collection is a unique cultural treasure which helps tell the story of who we were, are and will be, the items we have in our collection by John Farnham will continue to be available into the future, so people can understand the culture of the times and his place in it,” added Kaeding.