Peter Allen:

The man behind the story of The Boy From Oz.
 

Picture Gallery below!
 
    Peter Allen was born Peter Allen Woolnough on February 10, 1944 in Tenterfield, NSW, Australia.  His father committed suicide when he was a small boy, and he was raised by his mother.  Peter learned to play the piano at an early age and started entertaining people at a local pub soon after. 
    In 1959, Peter traveled to Sydney, NSW, Australia, where he met Chris Bell.  The two formed a successful act known as the Allen Brothers.  While appearing at a hotel in Hong Kong, they were seen by superstar American performer Judy Garland, who was very impressed.  She made the Allen Brothers her opening act in London, and introduced Peter to her daughter Liza Minnelli, whom Peter later married (and divorced in 1974).
    Allen became involved in the New York City music and theatre scene, growing disenchanted with the ordinary show business world of his wife and professional partner.  He wrote songs for Off-Off-Broadway productions, preformed solo acts at NYC nightclubs and even made his Broadway debut in Soon in 1971.
    In the 1970s and 1980s, Allen became more well-known as an amazing singer-songwriter, penning songs for others, while also managing to release 21 of his own albums (8 of which were released after his death, including the cast recordings of the original BFO in Australia).  Such hits include "I Honestly Love You", "I Go To Rio", "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love", the theme from Arthur (for which he won an Academy Award), "Don't Cry Out Loud" and the auto-biographical "Tenterfield Saddler."
    Those who weren't particularly keen on his music cannot deny his presence onstage.  Where he was an amazing singer-songwriter, Peter Allen was a master performer.  A true "performer" in every sense of the word, his bold style captivated audiences around the world.  In the 1980s, Allen headlined his own runs at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, dancing with the Rockettes and riding a camel during "I Go To Rio".  He toured extensively in the U.S., with a sold-out run at Carnegie Hall in NYC.
    Allen died on June 18, 1992 of complications from AIDS, after returning to his home country and performing his last concerts in Sydney, Australia.
    The memories of those who had the privilege to see Allen perform, along with The Boy From Oz, are enough to keep his memory alive.  The Boy From Oz was originally performed at Her Majesty's Theatre in Sydney, Australia to rave reviews and immense popularity.  Beginning in Fall 2003, it will make it's Broadway debut as the first-ever Australian show to come to Broadway.  Australian triple-threat Hugh Jackman will play the role of Peter Allen, and will without a doubt carry this show to mega-hit (and hopefully Tony Award winning) status during its year-long run on Broadway.  Break a leg!
 

Here's to the the man who started it all.... 

R.I.P. Peter!
 
Picture gallery courtesy of a Internet user who will remain anonymous...copyright unknown.
 
 
 
Lyrics to justly represent Peter Allen's work
 
I Still Call Australia Home - Lyrics
 

I've been to cities that never close down,  from New York to Rio and old London town,
 but no matter how far or how wide I roam,  I still call Australia home.

 

I'm always trav'lin, I love being free, and so I keep leaving the sun and the sea,
 But my heart lies waiting over the foam,  I still call Australia home.
 

All the sons and daughters, spinning 'round the world,  away from their family and friends,
But as the world gets older and colder,  it's good to know where your journey ends.
 

But some day we'll all be together once more,  when all of the ships came back to the shore,
       I realise something I've always known,  I still call Australia home.
 

But no matter how far or how wide I roam, I realize something I've always known,
 I still call Australia, I still call Australia,
I still call Australia Home.
 
I Go To Rio - Lyrics
 

When my baby,

When my baby smiles at me I go to Rio De Janeiro,
My-oh me-oh
I go wild and then I have to do the samba
Then la bamba
Now I'm not the kind of person with a passionate persuasion for dancin' or romancin'
But I give in to the rhythm and my feet follow the beat of my heart
 
When my baby,
When my baby smiles at me I go to Rio De Janeiro
I'm the salsa fellow
When my baby smiles at me and shines the lanterns of my life
And I am free at last,
What a blast!
 
Whoa
When my baby, when my baby smiles at me
I feel like Tarzan of the jungle
There on the hots head
And in the bungalow while monkeys play above-a
We'll make love-a
 
Now I'm not the type to let vibrations
Tickle my imagination easily
You know that's just not me
But I turn into a tiger every time I'm beside the one I love
 
Whoa
I go to Rio...
....etc.
 

Tenterfield Saddler - Lyrics (Auto-biographical)
 
Late George Woolnough
Worked on High Street
Lived on manners
52 years he sate on his veranda
And made his saddles
And if you had questions 'bout sheep
Or flowers or dogs
Just ask the saddler
He lived without sin
They're building a library for him
 
(Chorus)
Time is a traveler
Tenterfield Saddler
Turn your head
Ride again jackaroo
Think I see a kagaroo up ahead
 
The son of George Woolnough
Went off and got married
And had a war baby
Somethin' was wrong
And it's easier to drink than go crazy
And if there were question about why
The end was so sad
Well George had no answers
'Bout why a son ever had need of a gun
 
(Repeat Chorus)
 
The grandson of George
Has been all 'round the world
And lives in no special place
Changed his last name and he married a girl
With an interestin' face
He'd almost forgotten them both
Because in the life that he leads
There's nowhere for George and his library
Or the son with his gun to belong
Except in this song
 
(Repeat Chorus)
 
Time is a meddler
Tenterfield Saddler
Make your bed
Fly away cockatoo
Emu up ahead
Time is a tale-teller
Tenterfield Saddler
Turn your head
Ride again jackaroo
Think I see a kangaroo up ahead