Little Pattie
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Patricia Thelma "Little Pattie" Amphlett (born March 17, 1949) in Paddington, Sydney, is an Australian singer.
Pattie first appeared as a singer on the television series Opportunity Knocks at the age of 13. For the next couple of years she sang with a band, most notably as lead singer of The Statesmen when she was signed to a recording contract by EMI.
Her first single for the label, was influenced by the surf music craze. Titled He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy, the song reached number two on the Australian music charts, and was only kept from the number one position by The Beatles' I Wanna Hold Your Hand. By 1965 a string of successful singles saw her voted as Australian Female Singer of the Year, and she appeared regularly on television variety programs.
At the age of 17, she entertained troops during the Vietnam War. Performing in Nui Dat, Vietnam, Pattie was heard by soldiers before they embarked on the Battle of Long Tan. Although organisers had promised her safety, she was evacuated from the area before the completion of her scheduled performances. In belated recognition, she received medals in 1994 for her service to the Australian Defence Forces.
As Little Pattie entered her twenties, she attempted to continue her career, but her popularity had faded, even though she sang the popular jingle "It's Time" for the Labor parties' sucessful push to power in 1972. She continued to perform on television and in clubs, and became a vocal teacher, notably coaching Nikki Webster before her performance at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She recently performed at the "Salute to Vietnam Veterans" held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on 19 August 2006.
In addition to her music career, Pattie was a member of the Council for the Australian War Memorial from 1995 until 1998, and received an Order of Australia Medal in 2003 for her services to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance and Actors' Equity.
She is the cousin of Divinyls lead singer Christina Amphlett.