The Vegas Voice 3-21

Helen Reddy
By: Yvonne Cloutier / Musical Moments
Helen Maxine Lamond Reddy was born on
October 25, 1941, in Melbourne, Australia,
the only child of Max Reddy, a writer, producer,
actor; and actress Stella Lamond Reddy. Her parents performed on the
Australian vaudeville circuit. Helen joined them at age 4.
She had a big music reputation on Australian TV before being known
primarily for her hit song, I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar. The song
becoming the feminist anthem of the 70s, along with her becoming an
international star.
She originally won a trip to the US along with a record-company
audition in 1966
for winning a talent
contest sponsored
by Bandstand. The
audition did not work
out but started a slow
but always uphill
career.
After making
records for 27 labels
that rejected her,
Capitol Records signed
her in 1970. She and
her new husband /manager lived on a “shoestring”, but as she wrote
“had spaghetti and a little money left over for cockroach spray.”
Gradually becoming successful, she continued with two more songs
in the 1970s, Delta Dawn and Angie Baby, both ranking Number 1
on the Billboard charts. Three others: You and Me Against the World,
Leave Me Alone, and Ain’t No Way to Treat a Lady, reached the Top
10.
Helen made her screen debut with Airport 1975. She then starred in
a Disney movie, Pete’s Dragon.
In the 1980s, Reddy did many appearances on variety, music talk
shows, and Vegas shows. She also did two shows a night, seven nights
a week in Las Vegas.
Her last song to make the American charts was in 1981 I Can’t Say
Goodbye to You. More than 30 years later, she was declared queen of
70’s pops.
Though retired in 2002, like many entertainers, she announced her
comeback. In 2012, she made several concert appearances. Helen also
returned to school, learning clinical hypnotherapy at UCLA.
She also practiced as a therapist and motivational speaker. She was a
believer in past regressions.
Reddy married 3 times and had two children, one each by the first
two husbands.
Helen Reddy died at age 78 on Sept 28, 2020.
Yvonne Cloutier, a former teacher/principal, with a music
background, specializes in ragtime piano. She researches and
reports about music on SCA-TV.com/Anthem Alive! You can
contact her at www.mytimeisragtime.com.
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