Melanie Parry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melanie Parry was (born 23 November 1959) in Sydney, Australia and is an Australian (trained coloratura soprano) show singer and actress.
| Melanie Parry | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Margaret Jayne Fletcher |
| Born | November 23, 1959 |
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genre(s) | Cabaret, Musicals, Showtunes, Adult Contemporary, Traditional Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Actress |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Website | Official Website Details[1] |
She started in show business at the age of eleven by appearing on the Nine Networks as part of a well known children's song and dance troupe whilst also studying drama at the renowned Edith De Paul Studios. Between 1980 - 1983 she toured Australia and overseas as a children's entertainer and ventriloquist performing with her character "Willy the Crocodile" on national TV shows, such as Johnny Youngs 'Young Talent Time' making guest appearances.
Descending from a prominent showbusiness family, she was inspired to make her mark in the world of entertainment when at only six years of age she met her cousin Robie Porter (known as "Rob E.G"). Porter was a young steel guitar prodigy and performer with Festival Records. Porter was to become a record producer and manager and in the 1970's he became instrumental for producing a number of LP's for Rick Springfield, Daddy Cool, & Marcia Hines, under his label Wizard Records. Porter was also responsible for the band Air Supply getting their first break in America with Arista Records releasing their hit song 'Lost in Love'.
Her first professional engagements on the Australian cabaret scene were then secured for her by her first manager Jan Murphy, the mother of Chris Murphy, who was later to become the manager and the man instrumental in the success of the world famous rock group Inxs.
After a time performing on the Australian circuit, Parry then decided to leave Australia in 1983 for career opportunities overseas and much of her early adult career was spent performing in the theatres and cabaret rooms of United Kingdom and Europe from 1983 - 1994. There she studied singing in Wales with the celebrated Welsh operatic Tenor, Allun Davies. In late 1994 she returned to Australia to re-establish her career back home.
In 1999 she created and produced the now acclaimed theatre show, 'Judy', The Judy Garland Story In Song which also includes film clips and narratives of Judy Garlands life and career. Releasing the CD "Melanie Parry sings Judy Garland" in the same year. Performing this show twice at the prestigious Monte Carlo Casino Resort in Las Vegas in 2001 & 2002. She still performs this show nationally and internationally to the present day.
In 2007 she scripted and produced her new show entitled to Hal & Bach, a musical tribute to one of the finest song writing teams in pop music history, Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Releasing the Cd to "Hal & Bach" in the same year. This show is now touring nationally in Australia.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
1992 Corner of the Sky, released in Wales UK
1999 Melanie Parry sings Judy Garland
2003 The Magic of Dame Vera Lynn
2007 To Hal & Bach A tribute to the Music of Burt Bacharach & Hal David
[edit] Australian and New Zealand Theatre Appearances
Bendigo Regional Arts Centre, Parramatta Riverside Theatre, The Laycock St Theatre, Gosford, The Cairns Civic Theatre, Cairns, The World Theatre - Charters Towers, Gladstone Entertainment Centre, Caloundra Cultural Centre, The Brogla Theatre, Maryborough, Mackay Entertainment Centre, Townsville Civic Centre, Boonah Cultural Centre, The Manning Entertainment Centre, Taree, Proserpine Cultural Centre, The Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton, Griffith Regional Theatre, Marion Cultural Centre, Adelaide, Royal Wanganui Opera House, Rotarura Civic Theatre, Waipukurau Civic Theatre
[edit] Australian Film & TV
Young Talent Time – Guest Artist
Undercover – (Australian Movie)
Waterloo Station – Reg Grundy (Nine Network)
[edit] Wales Film and Television, United Kingdom
“Pobly-Com” – BBC, “Dinas” – HTV Network, “Halen –Yn-Y-Gwaud” – Welsh Movie, “Tell Tale” – HTV
