Little Pattie

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Pattie Amphlett

Background information
Birth name Patricia Thelma Amphlett
Also known as Little Pattie
Born March 17, 1949 (1949-03-17) (age 59)
Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
Origin Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genre(s) Surf music
Occupation(s) Singer
Instrument(s) Singing
Years active 1962—present
Label(s) EMI

Patricia Thelma "Little Pattie" Amphlett OAM (born March 17, 1949) in Paddington, Sydney, is an Australian singer.

Contents

[edit] Beginnings

Pattie was educated at King Street Primary School[1] and Sydney Girls High School.[2] At the age of 11 she commenced singing lessons with Gwen Parsons, who also taught Noeleen Batley - Australia's top female singing artist of the time. They persuaded her to audition for TCN 9's TV teen show Saturday Date hosted by Jimmy Hannan, where she was a hit.[3] She first appeared as a singer on the television series Opportunity Knocks at the age of 13. At age 14 as a third year high school student, she performed weekly at the Bronte Surf Club as lead singer of The Statesmen (with Duncan McGuire, Mark Rigby, Peter Walker, Nev Jade and Peter Maxworthy) and was signed to a recording contract by EMI.

[edit] Teenage Singing Star

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, (and backed with Stompin' at Maroubra), the song was released in November 1963 when Pattie was aged 14. It reached number two on the Australian music charts (the number one spot being held by The Beatles' I Want to 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.

In 1966, at the age of 17 and the height of 4' 10", she became both the youngest and the shortest person to entertain troops during the Vietnam War. Performing in Nui Dat, Vietnam, and backed by The Joy Boys, Pattie was performing on stage when Battle of Long Tan began.[1] Although organisers had promised her safety, she was evacuated from the area before the completion of her scheduled performances.[4] In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam.[5]

She subsequently appeared on several TV shows in America, the most notable being the Ed Sullivan show, and during the election campaign of November 1973 she appeared with other entertainers such as Col Joye and Judy Stone in the Labor Party's It's time TV commercial, which also starred Gough Whitlam.

[edit] Later career

1998 Australia Post stamp commerating "He's my Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy" released 35 years earlier.
1998 Australia Post stamp commerating "He's my Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy" released 35 years earlier.

As Little Pattie entered her twenties, she continued her career moving into the adult entertainment world. She continues 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. More recently, Amphlett has taught at a number of Sydney high schools.[6]

In 2002 she appeared across Australia in the successful Long Way To The Top rock tour. In 2004, General Peter Cosgrove invited her to be patron of FACE, (Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment), and she was invited to go to Iraq to perform for Christmas 2005 and New Year 2006. She 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 (as National President) to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance and (as vice-president) to Actors' Equity.[7] She has also been on the Federal Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. In 2000 the Sydney Morning Herald included her on a list of the 'century's most loved faces', and she was included in a 1998 issue of Australian stamps featuring Australian bands.[4]

[edit] Recordings

In 2001 EMI released a Little Pattie CD - "20 Stompy Wompy Hits", a compilation of her early records. To quote from the packaging:

20 Stompie Wompie Hits features all the classic tracks from Australia's own Little Pattie including the 1963 big hit He's My Blond Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy, We're Gonna Have A Party Tonight, He's My Boy, Sunshine Boy and many others!
Track listing
  1. He's My Blonde Headed Stompie Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy
  2. Stompin' At Maroubra
  3. Surfin' Time Again
  4. Drag Race Johnny
  5. We're Going To Have A Party Tonight
  6. He's My Boy
  7. Love Is A Happy Thing (Duet With Grantley Dee)
  8. Dear Judy
  9. Pushing A Good Thing Too Far
  10. Dance Puppet Dance
  11. I'll Eat My Hat
  12. Off & Running
  13. I Knew Right Away
  14. Let Me Down Lightly
  15. Let Me Dream
  16. The Thrill Is Gone
  17. Sunshine Boy
  18. You're Losing
  19. Mama's Little Baby
  20. The Penthouse

[edit] Personal

In 1973 she married Joy Boys bassist and record producer/manager, Keith Jacobsen,[8] but they parted ways in 1984.

She subsequently married Laurie Thompson, and they have been together for 20 years.[1]

She is the cousin of Divinyls lead singer Chrissie Amphlett.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Talking Heads, ABC TV, 12 Feb 2007.
  2. ^ Distinguished Old Girls. The History of Sydney Girls High School. Sydney Girls High School. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  3. ^ Long Way to the Top ABC TV.
  4. ^ a b 9991810 Patricia Thelma 'Little Pattie' Amphlett, OAM Australian War Memorial "Who’s who in Australian Military History" entry.
  5. ^ Timeline: 9991810 Patricia Thelma 'Little Pattie' Amphlett, OAM Australian War Memorial "Who’s who in Australian Military History" entry.
  6. ^ Stomper wows real gone girls, but she's just Pattie, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 December 2002.
  7. ^ It's an Honour - Medal of the Order of Australia - 09 June 2003.
  8. ^ Keith is the brother of Colin (Col Joye) and Kevin Jacobsen.

[edit] External links