|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZREDDY, Helen(b Helen Maxine Lamond Reddy, 25 October 1941, Melbourne, Australia; d 29 September 2020, Los Angeles) Singer. A favourite on FM radio while pop music went through a sedate period, she had 14 top 40 hits in USA '71-7. From a show business family, she made her stage debut at age four, left school at 15; work with a travelling show led to a TV series; she won a talent contest '66 and the prize was a trip to the USA. Met booking agent Jerry Wald NYC, married him; had TV exposure; first top 20 hit was 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' from Jesus Christ Superstar. Her own composition 'I Am Woman' made no. 1 '72 (adopted by the burgeoning women's movement); other chart- toppers were 'Delta Dawn' '73, 'Angie Baby' '74. Top 20 LPs I Am Woman '72, Long Hard Climb '73, Love Song For Jeffrey and Free And Easy '74, No Way To Treat A Lady (and Greatest Hits) '75, Music, Music '76. LP Ear Candy '77 might have been named after the FM programming she was (perhaps unfairly) identified with; Lust For Life was on Pair '86. As the hits stopped she also worked as a TV actress. She was heard on film soundtrack Pete's Dragon '77. |