| Christie Allen | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | June Allen |
| Born | 12 September 1954 England, UK |
| Origin | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 12 August 2008 (aged 53) Western Australia |
| Genres | pop, disco, country |
| Occupations | singer |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Years active | 1979–1998 |
| Labels | Mushroom Records |
Christie Allen (12 September 1954 – 12 August 2008[1]) was an English-born pop singer who had a successful career as a recording artist in her adopted homeland Australia.[2]
Contents |
Christie Allen was born, June Allen, on Sunday 12 September 1954, in the United Kingdom, before moving with her family to Perth, Western Australia. Whilst performing in a band, Pendulum, with her brothers in Perth she came to the attention of songwriter and record producer Terry Britten after virtually knocking on his door, according to an interview she gave on Sounds. Britten, a former member of The Twilights, had previously worked with Cliff Richard (with whom he co-wrote "Devil Woman"). Impressed by Allen's vocal ability and bubbly personality, he began working with her and a recording contract with Mushroom Records resulted. She released her first single "You Know That I Love You", which although it wasn’t a major hit (reaching #67 on the Australian singles charts[3]), did attract enough airplay and positive reviews to indicate bigger things for the future.
Her next three singles from her debut album Magic Rhythm were substantial hits. The first single was a ballad "Falling In Love With Only You", which reached #20 in April 1979.[3] Her next two singles were strongly influenced by the popular disco style - "Goosebumps" reached #3 in September 1979,[3] and "He's My Number One" reached #4 in 1980.[3] With sales of 60,000,[2] "Goosebumps" would be Allen's greatest success and was one of Mushroom Record's highest selling singles at that time. When "Goosebumps" took off, she toured with The Hot Band which comprised Greg Cook (guitar; ex-Cam-Pact, Mixtures, Ram Band, Mondo Rock), Max Chazan (guitar; ex-Rubes), Michael Hegerty (bass; Richard Clapton Band), Rick Puchala (drums; Richard Clapton Band) and Bruce Haymes (organ; ex-Rubes, Richard Clapton Band) and later Yuri Worontschak (keyboards: Yamaha CP70B and Mini Moog; ex Spitfire).[2]
Allen was voted the 'Most Popular Female Performer' at the TV Week/Countdown Music Awards for 1979 and 1980.[4][5] At the 1979 awards ceremony, broadcast by Countdown on 19 April 1980, Allen performed, "He's My Number 1".[4] Allen won the 1980 award, broadcast on 22 March 1981, against nominees, Annalise Morrow of The Numbers and Lynda Nutter of The Dugites.[5]
Christie Allen gave Countdown something it had been lacking – a local female artist to appeal to the teeny boppers. It is sometimes not appreciated just how successful Christie was.
Allen was the voice over and sang the jingle for the Tarino orange soft drink commercials.
In 1980 and 1981, Christie Allen released a handful of singles - "Baby Get Away", "Switchboard" and "Don't Put Out The Flame" - from her second and final album Detour, produced by John Hudson, but they were only mildly successful. Terry Britten had now moved on and was having success with Tina Turner writing her hits "What's Love Got to Do with It" and "We Don't Need Another Hero" and also writing songs for The Pirate Movie starring Kristy McNichol. A long illness prevented Allen from adequately promoting her career and she subsequently retired.[2]
After starting a family, the 1990s saw Christie Allen return to music, albeit in a low profile capacity, performing as a vocalist with country music bands.[2] In 1998, Michael Gudinski sought her out via an appeal on national radio to perform at a televised tribute concert for the 25th anniversary of Mushroom Records[7] and she retired following that performance, singing her hit "Goosebumps", before a huge crowd at the MCG on 14 November 1998.
In 2006, Gudinski asked Christie to participate in the Countdown Spectacular tour, however due to her ill health, she had to decline.
Allen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2008 and died at her home in country Western Australia on Tuesday 12 August 2008, aged 53.[8]
Allen had three brothers: Keith, Steve and Mark. Together with her husband Mark (whom she married in 1998) she had a daughter Christa Lea, and a granddaughter Ashlee.