Wendy Matthews | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Wendy Joan Matthews |
| Born | (1960-01-13)13 January 1960 (age 65) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, performer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | wendymatthews.com |
Wendy Joan Matthews (born 13 January 1960) is a Canadian-born Australian singer-songwriter who has been a member ofModels andAbsent Friends and is a solo artist. She released Top 20 hit singles in the 1990s including "Token Angels", "Let's Kiss (Like Angels Do)", "The Day You Went Away" and "Friday's Child" with Top 20 albums,You've Always Got The Blues (duet album withKate Ceberano),Émigré,Lily,The Witness Tree and her compilation,Stepping Stones. She has won sixAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)Awards. According to rock music historian,Ian McFarlane she provides "extraordinary, crystal-clear vocals [...] a soulfulness that was the mark of a truly gifted singer".[1]
Matthews appeared on three series ofIt Takes Two—an Australian TV celebrity singing competition—partnered withRichard Champion (2006),Russell Gilbert (2007) andJohn Mangos (2008). On 27 October 2010, Models were inducted into theARIA Hall of Fame by Matthews.
Wendy Joan Matthews[2] was born in 1960 inMontreal, Quebec, Canada, withAbenaki (First Nations tribe), Spanish and Scottish ancestry. Peter and Joan Matthews already had a son, Gary born a year earlier and another son, Glenn followed a year after Matthews.[3] She listened and sang along toJoni Mitchell,Linda Ronstadt andBarbra Streisand records. Her parents separated when she was 14, Peter became aVancouver advertising executive and Joan took up yoga instructing nearQuebec.[3] At the age of 15 Matthews joined friends in the Little Benny Blues Band (named after Little Benny Park where they hung out). She left school at 16 and wentbusking across North America including south to Mexico with friends. By 1978, she was in Los Angeles where she busked, made jewellery and worked as a session singer.[1][4] In February 1981, Matthews sang lead vocal for "Willow Pattern" onOsamu Kitajima's albumDragon King (1982). She met Japanese musician,Hiroshi Sato, and travelled to Japan to record lead vocals for his fourth album,Awakening, which was released in June onAlfa Records.[5]
Back in Los Angeles, Australian singerGlenn Shorrock (ex-Little River Band) asked her to provide backing vocals on his solo albumVillain of the Peace (1982) and to join him on his subsequent six-week tour of Australia in 1983.[1][3] Matthews decided to stay inSydney at the tour's completion and found herself in demand as a session vocalist and singing jingles. She sang on albums byJimmy Barnes,Richard Clapton,Tim Finn andIcehouse.[6] After singing backing vocals onModels' 1985 albumOut of Mind, Out of Sight, she became a regular vocalist for the band.[6][7] Matthews and Models' guitarist and vocalist,Sean Kelly, had an 11-year personal relationship.[4] Other backing singers for Models includedKate Ceberano andZan Abeyratne, both members ofI'm Talking – the two bands often toured together.[8] In 1986, Matthews joinedPeter Blakeley and The Resurrection, with Blakeley (ex-Rockmelons) on lead vocals,Chris Abrahams on bass guitar and piano (ex-The Benders), Jim Benjamin on drums and Mark Punch on guitar (Renée Geyer Band).[6] Her second album with Models,Models' Media appeared in December which reached the top 30.[7][9]
In 1985, Matthews recorded vocals for the soundtrack ofAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV seriesDancing Daze (1986) with musical production byMartin Armiger.[10] Her tracks were, "Dancing Daze" (duet withJenny Morris), "Dare to Be Bold", "Might Have Been" (trio with Morris andMark Williams) and "Lost in a Dancing Daze".[10] First three of her tracks were released as singles but neither they nor the related album,Dancing Daze – Rock reached the top 50.[9][10] ABC-TV and Armiger asked Matthews to sing with Ceberano on the soundtrack to the seriesStringer in 1987. The soundtrackYou've Always Got The Blues was released as a duet album by Ceberano and Matthews in April 1988 and reached No. 4 on the AustralianKent Music Report Albums Chart.[9]
Matthews was a member of Noel's Cowards, a short term project, including ex-Split Enz membersNoel Crombie on drums,Nigel Griggs on bass guitar andPhil Judd on guitar.[11] Noel's Cowards, with Matthews on lead vocals, provided six tracks for the Australian movieRikky and Pete (1988).[11] She was featured vocalist on the single "Jump" released in October from Rockmelons' debut albumTales of the City.[1]Tales of the City peaked at No. 14 on theARIA Albums Chart.[12] At theARIA Music Awards of 1989, Rockmelons won 'Breakthrough Artist – Album' andStringer won 'Best Original Soundtrack / Cast / Show Recording'.[13]
Matthews joined the Australian supergroup,Absent Friends, in 1989 with Kelly andJames Valentine of Models,Garry Gary Beers ofINXS,Roger Mason and Mick King.[14] She sang lead vocals on "I Don't Want to Be with Nobody but You" which reached No. 4 on the ARIA Singles Chart; the related album,Here's Looking Up Your Address peaked at No.7.[15] The band toured Australia and then supported INXS on a European tour.[14] During this period, Matthews continued her session work, singing on theCher albumHeart of Stone in 1989 and on Blakeley's solo albumHarry's Café De Wheels in 1990.[1] Absent Friends disbanded and Matthews pursued her solo career.[14]
In 1990, Matthews recorded her debut solo albumÉmigré with the assistance of Absent Friends members, Beers, Kelly, King, Mason, Valentine, Francois andAndrew Duffield as well as Tim Finn and Blakeley.[1] It was produced byRicky Fataar and released on therooArt label owned by INXS manager,Chris Murphy;Émigré became a hit, being certified platinum.[1] She won the AustralianRolling Stone magazine award for best female vocalist in 1990 for her debut album and her work with Absent Friends.[16]
At theARIA Music Awards of 1991, "I Don't Want to Be with Nobody but You" won theARIA Award for Single of the Year for Absent Friends; while Matthews won twoARIA Awards,ARIA Award for Best Female Artist andARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Token Angels", which hit No. 18.[17][18] Subsequent hits from the album were "Woman's Gotta Have It" (No. 34) and "Let's Kiss (Like Angels Do)" (No. 14).[18] Her touring band included Ron François on bass guitar (ex-Teardrop Explodes),Amanda Brown on oboe and violin (ex-The Go-Betweens), Robbie James on guitar (Ganggajang), King on guitar (Absent Friends),Lisa Maxwell on backing vocals, Mark Meyer on drums (Moving Pictures), Mark O'Connor on keyboards and Valentine on saxophone.[1] On 31 May, she performed at Dallas Brooks Hall, Melbourne which was released as the live albumThe Way It Has to Be in October. She also supported theNeville Brothers on their Australian tour.[1]
In February–March 1992 Matthews recorded her second solo studio albumLily in Los Angeles withT-Bone Burnett producing, it was released on 28 September while she was on tour supportingSimply Red.[1] Her album peaked at No. 2 and achieved double-platinum in Australia selling over 140,000 copies.[1][18] The lead single "The Day You Went Away" hit No. 2 while the album spawned two further hits in "Friday's Child" (No. 15) and "If Only I Could" (No. 41).[18] At theARIA Music Awards of 1992, Matthews was nominated for Best Female Artist.[19] The Canadian CD release ofLily included a French-language version of "The Day You Went Away".[6] Matthews toured internationally in 1993 including gigs in London, Montreal and New York.[3] She won 'Best Female Artist' forLily and both 'Best Single' andARIA Award for Highest Selling Single for "The Day You Went Away" at theARIA Music Awards of 1993.[20] Matthews had a film role as anightclub singer inFlynn (1993) which starredGuy Pearce as Australian-born actorErrol Flynn.[21]
Matthews released her next albumThe Witness Tree on 14 November 1994, featuring the Top 40 hit "Standing Strong". The album went platinum selling 100,000 copies and she won her third ARIA award for Best Female Artist at theARIA Music Awards of 1994 for "Friday's Child".[22] In 1995, Matthews became an Australian citizen. Her single "Standing Strong" won 'Most Performed Australian Work' at theAPRA Awards of 1995.[23] She returned to Canada for a visit before the release of her next albumGhosts in 1997. The single "Beloved" from the album peaked at No. 49 on the Australian charts.[18] In 1999, Matthews releasedStepping Stones, a greatest hits package which hit No. 4, earning her another platinum certification.[24] According to rock music historian,Ian McFarlane in hisEncyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop, Matthews provides "extraordinary, crystal-clear vocals [...] a soulfulness that was the mark of a truly gifted singer".[1]
In 2000, Matthews joined the cast of a new Australian musical theatre production ofGodspell alongsideAngry Anderson,Jimmy Barnes,Debra Byrne, Marie Wilson,Fiona Horne,Belinda Emmett,Paul Mercurio andTerence Trent D'Arby.[1] In February, with rehearsals commencing, Matthews released her cover of "Day by Day" but financial difficulties prevented the musical from being staged.[1] She contributed "Pure Inspiration" toOlympic Record – an album for theSydney Olympics by various Australian artists.[25]
In 2001, Matthews relocated from Sydney to a property nearCoffs Harbour on theMid North Coast of New South Wales.[26] Her solo album,Beautiful View, was released on 17 July and made the Top 40.[18] Produced by Michael Szumowski, it was her first withBMG records, and included three singles, "Free", "Beautiful View" and "Like the Sun" which did not reach the top 50.[18] A limited edition ofBeautiful View included a bonus six-track disc.
In 2003, Matthews sang a duet withRod Stewart on the track "My Heart Stood Still" on the Australian release of his albumAs Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II. She released her own covers album,Café Naturale in May 2004.[26] Matthews explained why she recorded it acoustically, "To keep creative you have to break down your own personal barriers. With this record that meant moving away from pop and crafting something instrument-driven, something that feels like me playing live".[27] The album includes acoustic versions ofU2's "One" from theAchtung Baby andMassive Attack's "Protection" from the album of the same name. The first single "All I Need" is a version of theAir song from theMoon Safari album. Matthews' album debuted in the top 50 of the ARIA charts.
Matthews embarked on the national Fallen Angels Tour during May–June 2008 and then co-headlined withIan Moss in October–November. On 8 November, Matthews released the albumShe on her own independent record label, Barking Bear. The album is a personal collection of favourite songs by women who have inspired her,Bonnie Raitt,Aretha Franklin,Emmylou Harris,Chrissie Hynde,Joni Mitchell,Buffy Sainte-Marie,Lucinda Williams andJane Siberry. In June 2010, she combined with country musician,Adam Harvey for the Both Sides Tour.[28] In October 2010, Matthews performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Alice Springs Masters Games. On 27 October, her former band, Models were inducted into theARIA Hall of Fame by Matthews.[29] The line-up of Duffield, Ferrie, Kelly, Mason, Price and Valentine performed "I Hear Motion" and "Evolution".[30][31] Matthews recalled meeting the group for the first time at a recording session – she was due to provide backing vocals but they were busy playing indoor cricket in the studio.[32]
Matthews independently releasedBillie and Me: The White Room Sessions on 27 July 2015. The live album, available through her official website only, was recorded in the winter of 2012 with Brendan St Ledger on piano and Greg Royal on standup bass. The album celebrates the centenary year birth of Billie Holiday, who Matthews describes Holiday as an "iconic woman whose soul and music has been long admired."[33]
In November 2016, Matthews featured on theCatherine Britt single, "F U Cancer" alongsideKasey Chambers,Beccy Cole,Lyn Bowtell,Josh Pyke andWes Carr.[34]
Matthews has appeared on three series ofChannel Seven's celebrity singing competitionIt Takes Two. The first series premiered on 28 May 2006, she was partnered by formerAustralian Rules footballer,Richard Champion, they were voted off in week six. On 1 May 2007, ahead of the second series, Matthews,David Hobson andTroy Cassar-Daley sang "Got to Get You into My Life" on celebrity dancing competitionDancing with the Stars grand final, which was won by Ceberano and her professional dance partner John Paul Collins.It Takes Two second series premiered on 8 May, where Matthews was paired with comedianRussell Gilbert, they were voted off in week four of the competition. The third series commenced on 12 February 2008 withJohn Mangos, news reader forSky News Australia, and Matthews being voted off in week two. Matthews appeared on the TV showRocKwiz on 1 November 2008, she performed Toto's "Hold the Line" as a duet with Johnny Galvatron fromThe Galvatrons.
TheAPRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by theAustralasian Performing Right Association (APRA).[35]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Standing Strong" – (Wendy Matthews, Glenn Skinner) | Most Performed Australian Work[23] | Won |
TheARIA Music Awards are presented annually from 1987 by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Matthews has won six awards from twenty-two nominations as a solo artist.[36][37]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "Dancing Daze" | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1989 | You've Always Got The Blues (with Kate Ceberano) | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| Best Adult Contemporary Album | Nominated | ||
| Best Jazz Album | Nominated | ||
| 1991 | Émigré | Best Female Artist[17] | Won |
| Breakthrough Artist – Album | Nominated | ||
| "(I Don't Want to Be With) Nobody but You – (Absent Friends featuring Wendy Matthew) | Single of the Year[17] | Won | |
| Breakthrough Artist – Single | Nominated | ||
| "Token Angels"[17] | Won | ||
| 1992 | "Let's Kiss (Like Angels Do)" | Best Female Artist[19] | Nominated |
| 1993 | Lily | Album of the Year[20] | Nominated |
| Highest Selling Album | Nominated | ||
| Best Female Artist[20] | Won | ||
| "The Day You Went Away" | Single of the Year[20] | Won | |
| Highest Selling Single[20] | Won | ||
| 1994 | "Friday's Child" | Best Female Artist[22] | Won |
| Lily | Highest Selling Album | Nominated | |
| 1995 | The Witness Tree | Best Adult Contemporary Album[38] | Nominated |
| The Witness Tree | Highest Selling Album | Nominated | |
| 1997 | "Then I Walked Away" | Best Female Artist[39] | Nominated |
| 1998 | Ghosts | Best Adult Contemporary Album[40] | Nominated |
| Ghosts except "Halcyon Days" – Tony Espie | Engineer of the Year[40] | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Beautiful View | Best Adult Contemporary Album[41] | Nominated |
Matthews has also won awards as a member ofRockmelons[42] and projects (Stringers soundtrack album,You've Always Got the Blues – Songs from the ABC TV Series "Stringer").[43]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Tales of the City | Breakthrough Artist – Album[13] | Won |
| Stringer various Australia (Kate Ceberano, Matthews,Martin Armiger,Joy Smithers)[44] | Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show Album[13] | Won |
TheCountry Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, inTamworth, New South Wales, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. Matthews has won one awards from one nominations.[45]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "F U Cancer"(Catherine Britt with Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Lyn Bowtell, Josh Pyke and Wes Carr) | Vocal Collaboration of the Year | Won |
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as theMo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Wendy Matthews won one award in that time.[46]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Wendy Matthews | Female Rock Performer of the Year | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Wendy Matthews | Best Female Vocalist | Won |
| International | |
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| Artists | |
