Peter Allen

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Martin Francis

JosslynMartinArt.com

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Peter Allen Born 10th February 1944 in Tenterfield, Australia had a diverse career as a singer-songwriter, performer, and entertainer. He gained international fame for his flamboyant stage presence, catchy tunes, and heartfelt songwriting.

From a young age, Peter showed an interest in music. He learned to play the piano and began performing locally as a teenager. By the age of 15, he had moved to Surfers Paradise in Queensland, where he performed in pubs and clubs. In the early 1960s, Peter teamed up with Chris Bell to form a music duo called The Allen Brothers. They became quite popular in Australia, performing pop music and appearing on television shows.

The turning point in Allen's early career came in 1964 when he was discovered by Judy Garland, the legendary American singer and actress. She saw him perform during one of her Australian tours and invited him to open for her in the United States. This was the beginning of his international career. Through Garland, Allen met her daughter, Liza Minnelli, and the two were married in 1967. Though their marriage ended in divorce in 1974, their relationship helped establish Allen in the entertainment world.

Once in the United States, Peter Allen’s solo career began to develop. He initially performed in cabarets and nightclubs, building a reputation as a dynamic live performer with his high-energy, piano-driven performances. His songwriting played a key role in Allen’s success. Some of his notable works include "I Honestly Love You" (1974), "Don’t Cry Out Loud" (1978), and "Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (1981). Allen released a series of albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but he is best remembered for a few iconic songs: "I Go to Rio" (1976), "Tenterfield Saddler" (1972), and "I Still Call Australia Home" (1980). His albums, including "Tenterfield Saddler" (1972) and "I Could Have Been a Sailor" (1979), received critical acclaim. However, he never achieved the same commercial success as a recording artist as he did as a songwriter and live performer.

Peter Allen was known for his dynamic, theatrical live shows, often incorporating flashy costumes, dancing, and dramatic flair. This led him to success on Broadway: "Legs Diamond" (1988) and "The Boy from Oz" (premiered in 1998).

Though married to Liza Minnelli in the late 1960s, he came to terms with his sexuality and lived openly as a gay man by the 1970s. He became an icon within the LGBTQ+ community for his unapologetic embrace of his true identity during a time when it was still stigmatized.

One of Allen's songs "I Still Call Australia Home" has become a second anthem for the country and has been used extensively in advertising.

Allen passed away from an AIDS-related illness on June 18, 1992, at the age of 48. He remains an important figure in Australian and international music and theatre, celebrated for his energy, songwriting, and unique ability to connect with audiences. Peter Allen's career blended showmanship, personal expression, and musical talent making him a beloved figure in both the entertainment world and LGBTQ+ history.

"He really was an amazing little boy, so full of energy … we always knew he was going to be a huge star,"

Eileen Kelly Armidale, Allen grew up as Peter Woolnough, and learned how to tap dance at Eileen's late mother Claire Napier's dancing school.

Peter Allen, an Australian icon, came from a modest background. His father, Dick Woolnough, was a soldier who unfortunately turned to drink after returning from the First World War. His mother, Marion, worked hard to support the family. Their relationship was troubled, and Peter's father tragically took his own life when Peter was just 14 years old.

“Forgiveness is a funny thing, it warms the heart and cools the sting.”

Peter Allen

The site of Claire Napier's dancing school. 2024

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