Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Artists - L to Z»Artists - P
    Artists - P Music - 1970s 2 Mins Read

    Peter Allen

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Born Peter Woolnough in Tenterfield, NSW, Australia in 1942, vocalist/pianist Peter Allen began his musical career at the age of nine, playing the piano in a pub in his home town.

    He first gained local Australian fame when he formed The Allen Brothers with Chris Bell in 1959. The duo performed around Australia, and eventually in the Far East.

    Judy Garland saw the duo perform at the Hong Kong Hilton, and convinced them to move to the US and open for her in Miami, Las Vegas and other shows around America.

    In 1967, soon after they arrived, Peter married Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli. The Allen Brothers broke up in the 70s (as did Peter and Liza’s marriage) and Peter continued on as a solo act, concentrating on his cabaret show.

    Encouraged to compose his own music by Minnelli, Allen wrote songs for many artists, including Olivia Newton-John (I Honestly Love You), Rita Coolidge (I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love), Melissa Manchester (Don’t Cry Out Loud) and enjoyed a number of hits himself with I Go To Rio, I Still Call Australia Home and Tenterfield Saddler.

    He recorded throughout the 70s and co-composed the number one single Arthur’s Theme for Christopher Cross.

    Allen garnered rave reviews for his performances during the late 70s and in January 1981 he was booked for three shows at New York’s Radio City Music Hall (using the Hall’s orchestra in addition to his own band of six musicians) where capacity audiences forced the management to add four more performances.

    During these shows, Allen became the first entertainer to dance and kick with the legendary Rockettes.

    The impact of the Radio City shows was such that “sold out” signs resulted at shows across the USA and Canada, and a September 1982 return engagement topped even the 1981 spectacular.

    Branching out into acting, Peter Allen took on the role of the pirate king in a British TV production of The Pirates of Penzance.

    He returned to Australia for successful tours in August 1988, January 1990 and January 1992.

    Soon after the last tour, he was diagnosed with cancer. He died on 19 June 1992.

    “I used to dance on pianos and be thrown out of parties – now I dance on pianos and they put me on Broadway”
    Peter Allen. 1980

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Thunderbirds, The
      Thunderbirds, The
      Melbourne (Australia) band The Thunderbirds signed to Festival Records in 1959, releasing two EP's and two singles. Laurie Bell left…
    • Laughing Clowns
      Laughing Clowns
      As co-founder of The Saints, Ed Kuepper was the musical backbone of the group that was playing punk music in…
    • Colleen Hewett
      Colleen Hewett
      Colleen Hewett was born on 16 April 1950 in Bendigo, Victoria (Australia). She began her music career at the age…
    • Story of Peter Grey, The
      Story of Peter Grey, The
      1 9 6 1 - 1 9 6 2 (Australia) 164 x 15 minute episodes ATN7 (Australia) produced this daytime…
    • View From Beyond
      View From Beyond
      1 9 7 0 (Australia) Picture an 80-year old Cleopatra and Beethoven as a honky-tonk barroom pianist banging out Stardust -…
    • Tonight Live With Steve Vizard
      Tonight Live With Steve Vizard
      1 9 9 0 - 1 9 9 3 (Australia) This live Australian comedy chat show was broadcast on the Seven…
    • Jeff St John and The ID/The Copperwine
      Jeff St John and The ID/The Copperwine
      Jeffrey Leo Newton was born on 22 April 1946 in Sydney. He began his singing career by joining a church…
    • Peter Sarstedt
      Peter Sarstedt
      Peter Sarstedt was born in Delhi, India in 1941, as one of six siblings, to Albert and Coral who were…

    Australia
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticlePhoebe Snow
    Next Article Peter Doyle

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Carry On Follow That Camel (1967)
      When Sergeant Bilko was demobbed, Phil Silvers came to England […]
    • Sherlock Holmes
      1 9 5 4 – 1 9 5 5 (USA) 39 x 30 minute episodes Ronald […]
    • Spy in the Green Hat, The (1966)
      Created to cash in on the 1960s spy craze, The Man from UNCLE TV […]
    • My Friend Flicka
      1 9 5 5 – 1 9 5 8 (USA) 39 x 30 minute episodes This […]
    • Roustabout (1964)
      Charlie Rogers (Presley) is a leather-clad carnival singer, […]
    • Ian & The Zodiacs
      Relatively few Britons had heard of a place called Crosby, eight […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    edition.cnn.com/2023/01/30/entertainment/cindy-williams-dead/index.html

    More sad news 😢
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    'Laverne & Shirley' star Cindy Williams dead at 75 | CNN

    edition.cnn.com

    Cindy Williams, the dynamic actress known best for playing the bubbly Shirley Feeney on the beloved sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," has died, according to a statement from her family, provided to CNN by a...
    5 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid 😂

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear 😥 rest in peace 🙏 🕊 xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Hi everyone. Were in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes.

    Hi everyone. We're in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes. ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    Ironically, this post has jumped off the page at me. You'll probably get most traffic today because everyone will want to see what they might be missing!

    Martin Platt

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.