Neil Finn, Jimmy Barnes, Montaigne to honour Jenny Morris OAM

Support Act will honour beloved musician and humanitarian Jenny Morris OAM at its annual fundraising event, Music in the House. Jenny will be presented with Support Act’s Excellence in the Community award in recognition of her invaluable services, not only to the music industry but also to the wider Australian community. This year’s Music in the House lunch will be held on Wednesday, 17 May at the Ivy Ballroom, Sydney.

Hosted by Rachel Ward, artists Neil Finn, Jimmy Barnes, Diesel, Montaigne and Shanley Del will perform tributes to Jenny over a delightful lunch at the fabulous Ivy Ballroom in Sydney.

The focus of Music in the House is to honour members of the music industry who, by their tireless efforts and charitable works, have made a difference and enriched the fabric of the broader Australian community. Previous recipients of the Excellence in the Community award have been Paul Kelly, John Butler, The Sapphires, Jimmy Barnes, Glenn Shorrock, Don Spencer, Richard Clapton, John Paul Young and Russell Morris.

Jenny Morris was born in New Zealand where she entered the music business, first performing in the all-girl group The Wide Mouthed Frogs before joining The Crocodiles in 1980, with whom she scored a Top 20 hit in New Zealand with Tears.

Jenny embarked on a solo career, singing the title track for the film Puberty Blues, in 1981 before forming QED in 1983. Jenny’s next single proved to be her solo breakthrough: You’re Going To Get Hurt hit #24 in August 1986, finally establishing her as a serious singer/songwriter.

In July 1987, Jenny released her first solo album, Body and Soul, produced by Mark Moffatt and Ricky Fataar, selling over 70,000 copies in Australia and spawning a number of singles, the biggest of which, You I Know (written by Neil Finn) reached #13, going on to ARIA Award wins for Most Popular Female Performer in 1987 and 1988.

For the next 20 years, Jenny had a slew of hits including She Has To Be Loved (Shiver), Piece of my Heart and Break in the Weather and toured extensively in Australia and overseas, first with Tears for Fears, then Prince, INXS and Paul McCartney.

In November 1992, The Story So Far, a best-of compilation was released which included Jackson, a song performed as a duet with Michael Hutchence and originally performed as the finale of the Countdown music show with INXS in 1987.

In August 1995, Jenny released her 5th solo album Salvation Jane. This produced some of her strongest vocal work, including the languid Rhythm and Flow, with its Aboriginal influences. Produced by Steve Balbi and Justin Stanley it was an adventurous and uninhibited collection of songs. This was followed up in 2002 with Hit & Myth.

Jenny’s commitment to humanitarian causes began in 1991 when she acted as World Vision ambassador in Kenya. From 2009 – 2013 she performed for Australian troops in Afghanistan, Kuwait and East Timor but it is her tireless work for music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, which demonstrates her extraordinary commitment to the community: for the past 12 years Jenny has been the driving force behind the Art of Music events which have raised $1 million for the charity.

In 2004 Jenny joined the Board of APRA AMCOS as a songwriter representative and in 2013, she became the first female Chair of the organisation.

Joanna Cave, CEO of Support Act said: “We knew Music in the House had to be extra special this year as it marks Support Act’s 20th anniversary. There is no more fitting recipient of our Excellence in the Community award than Jenny Morris. She is an extraordinary musician and an exemplary humanitarian.”

If you love Australian music and care about the people who make it, do not miss this incredible line up at one of Sydney’s most prestigious venues. Don’t delay – last year tickets sold out very quickly!

Can’t attend but still want to help the cause? Buy a ticket via our website in our limited edition, luxury raffle. Only 500 tickets are available giving great odds of winning our incredible first prize of a 5 night holiday + Qantas flights for two to Lord Howe Island OR our second prize of a fabulous short break to Byron Bay.

Tickets are $50 each or 3 for $100.

All proceeds from ticket sales will help artists and music workers in crisis.

MUSIC IN THE HOUSE

Wednesday, 17 May 2017 12 noon to 3.00pm The Ivy Ballroom, Sydney

Event and raffle tickets on sale from 21 March 2017 via www.supportact.org.au

Tickets must be paid for in advance and can be booked until 5.00pm on Friday 12 May. Please note tickets will not be available on the day.

Event tickets cost $180.00 single ticket /$1,600.00 per table of 10 which includes all booking fees, performances, a two course meal, drinks and coffee.