Anthony Callea
Encyclopedia
Anthony Cosmo Callea is an Australian singer-songwriter
who rose to prominence in the 2004 season of Australian Idol
when he became runner up. He was signed to Sony Music Australia until 2009 and is now an independent artist. Callea's debut single "The Prayer" is the fastest selling single by an Australian artist, held the No.1 spot on the ARIA charts
for a five week run, a record for the debut single from an Australian Idol contestant It was the second highest selling Australian single of the last decade. Callea has accumulated a string of awards including an ARIA Music Award, Channel V Artist of the Year, Pop Republic Artist of the Year, MTV Viewers' Choice Award, Variety's Young Entertainer of the Year, MO Award and a Gospel Music Award and is known for his powerful trained voice and his versatility in a range of genres in releases and live performances. All but one of the tracks on his second album A New Chapter
were co-written by Callea.
October 2011 saw Callea release his first new music in four years "Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh" This was self funded released and distributed as a fully independent venture through his own production company, Vox Enterprises. The dance/pop track was co-written in LA with two times Grammy nominated and official DJ for the Black Eyed Peas "Poet Name Life" It signals a departure from the ballads for which he is known and was released in digital format only.
His albums, DVD and singles have all debuted in the ARIA Charts
Top 20 with the exception of "Oh Oh Oh Oh" released 7 October 2011. However, this track debuted at No.6 on the Official Independent Music Charts AIR Charts
, and in its first week was No.17 on the Aria Top 20 Australian Singles Chart.
, "The Wrong Side of the Tracks", in 1995.
. He auditioned and was selected for the final 30 in the television series Australian Idol
in 2004. Based on viewer votes, he did not make it through the first round of competition, but was invited back as a "Judge's Choice Wildcard", where his performance earned him a place in the final twelve.
Over the weeks of the competition, his popularity with the Australian public grew. During his run on the show, he gave several performances that earned him high praise from the judges, including his rendition of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water
", Foreigner
's "I Want to Know What Love Is
" and Andrea Bocelli
and Céline Dion
's duet "The Prayer." Judge Ian 'Dicko' Dickson said Callea's performance of the latter was the finest he had seen during his two years with the show. The competition concluded in November 2004 with Callea finishing as runner-up to Casey Donovan
. He cited Cosima De Vito
as his favourite contestant of the first series of Australian Idol. Callea was the first idol contestant in the competition that had never been included in the bottom three for the contestants who had the lowest votes each week.
" was released in December 2004. It debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart
at number one, and remained there for five consecutive weeks. Within seven weeks, it was certified four times platinum
, selling in excess of 280,000 copies. In 2010 ARIA named it as the second highest selling single of the last decade, which also made it the second highest selling Australian artist song of that decade. His next single, the double A-side "Rain / Bridge over Troubled Water
" spent two weeks at number one. His self-titled album Anthony Callea (album)
debuted at number one on the week of 4 April 2005, and remained at the top of the chart for three weeks. His third single "Hurts So Bad" debuted at number ten on the ARIA Charts, while the album's final single, "Per Sempre (For Always)" debuted at number five.
Callea's DVD Live in Concert was released on 7 November 2005. It debuted at #3 in the ARIA DVD Chart and awarded Platinum status.
Callea released the single "Live for Love
" on 4 November 2006, the first from his second album A New Chapter
, the only song on the album which he did not co-write. Both the single and the album, released on 25 November 2006, debuted at number 9. The album contains a mix of genres characteristic to Callea, including power ballads and more up-tempo songs.
Callea also contributed his version of the Brian McKnight
song, "Home", to the compilation album Home: Songs of Hope & Journey
, which was released in order to raise funds for BeyondBlue, an anti-depression organisation.
The second single "Addicted to You
" debuted at no. 19 when released in February 2007.
, but has reached No.17 on the Australian Singles Chart which is for Australian artists only.
. More recently, Callea was the ambassador for the 2007 Perth Telethon for the Royal Children's Hospital and in November 2007 was appointed the official ambassador for Vision Australia
. For the second year Anthony has been appointed the official ambassador for 2009's Vision Australia
's Carols By Candlelight
. This will be the sixth year in a row Callea has performed at this event and cites this as one of the highlights of the year.
. From July to September 2007, Callea embarked on his A New Chapter tour with his four-piece band. Callea performed the songs in his album A New Chapter
as well as some of his classic songs, playing eighteen shows across the country.
On 6 December 2008, Anthony Callea took a night off from his successful run in Wicked and returns to the music stage for an exclusive Australian show at The Palms at Crown in Melbourne.
Festival which is the largest Pride celebration in the Nordic region where he will also sample new music.
Callea and several other leading Australian performers have been invited to perform with the Sydney Symphony at the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House
. The performance has been described as a tribute to the greatest film songs ever written and is scheduled from 7 to 10 May 2008.
's I Love You
2006 tour, Callea performed as her support act. During the Australian leg of Westlife
's Face to Face Tour
, Callea performed as their support act, Westlife's Arena Tour in February 2007. On 26 March 2008, Celine Dion
commenced the Australian leg of her Taking Chances
world tour. Callea performed as the special guest support act.
Anthony Callea had been announced as the special guest of the Australian leg of Whitney Houston
's Nothing but Love World Tour opening in Brisbane on 22 February 2010. The arena tour played in Brisbane, Hope Estate Hunter Valley, Sydney, Melbourne, and finishing in Adelaide.
's weekly musical competition program, It Takes Two, in which celebrities from non-musical fields were teamed with professional singers to perform a duet each week. Callea was paired with radio DJ Jo Stanley
and finished in second place, competing against Jolene Anderson
and David Campbell
at the finals.
's weekly musical competition program, It Takes Two, in which celebrities from non-musical fields are teamed with professional singers to perform a duet each week. Callea's partner for season three was ironwoman Candice Falzon
. The third series began airing on 12 February 2008. Callea and Falzon were eliminated in week seven, finishing in fifth place.
Ultimate School Musical: Fame features school children attempting to put on a professional musical in just six weeks. Callea is the series' voice coach.
After an extensive audition process across high schools throughout Australia, the students of Essendon Keilor College in Melbourne won the much sought after opportunity to be cast in Ultimate School Musical: Fame, a 10-part series to premiere exclusively on FOX8 under the guidance of director Eddie Perfect,theatre producer John Frost, choreographer Kelley Abbey
and singer Callea.
, the true story of Sister Helen Prejean
, an unconventional nun, who accompanies murderer Joe de Rocher to his death by execution. It explores the opposing desires for vengeance and forgiveness in this extreme situation, and the commitment required to love or to hate a fellow human being.
.
This was Callea's second musical production. He starred alongside his now-partner, Tim Campbell.
in the Australian premiere production of the Broadway
musical Wicked
, which opened in July 2008 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne
. Callea played his final performance 11 January 2009.
by issuing a statement confirming his sexuality and thanking his fans and his then-partner, Paul.
On 30 March 2007, Michael Kirby, then a judge of the High Court of Australia
, described Callea as an "admirable Australian" for coming out. Justice Kirby added, "In terms of influencing popular culture and understanding of the reality of human sexual diversity, I would trade ten judges for one popular singer."
Callea has also admitted to suffering from depression in his teenage years, saying, "I went through major depression. I hated myself. I had to see a psychologist. I wasn't talking to anybody. My parents didn't know what was wrong with me." Callea has since supported beyondblue
, an Australian initiative against depression, by contributing his version of a Brian McKnight
song, "Home", to a compilation album, Home: Songs of Hope & Journey
by various Australian artists to raise funds and bring attention to the organisation and its cause.
In February 2008 he and actor/singer Tim Campbell confirmed that they were in a relationship.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who rose to prominence in the 2004 season of Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
when he became runner up. He was signed to Sony Music Australia until 2009 and is now an independent artist. Callea's debut single "The Prayer" is the fastest selling single by an Australian artist, held the No.1 spot on the ARIA charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
for a five week run, a record for the debut single from an Australian Idol contestant It was the second highest selling Australian single of the last decade. Callea has accumulated a string of awards including an ARIA Music Award, Channel V Artist of the Year, Pop Republic Artist of the Year, MTV Viewers' Choice Award, Variety's Young Entertainer of the Year, MO Award and a Gospel Music Award and is known for his powerful trained voice and his versatility in a range of genres in releases and live performances. All but one of the tracks on his second album A New Chapter
A New Chapter
A New Chapter is the second album from Australian pop singer Anthony Callea. It features the singles "Live for Love" and "Addicted to You", both of which Callea performed at popular morning show Sunrise. Callea co-wrote fourteen of the fifteen songs over a year...
were co-written by Callea.
October 2011 saw Callea release his first new music in four years "Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh" This was self funded released and distributed as a fully independent venture through his own production company, Vox Enterprises. The dance/pop track was co-written in LA with two times Grammy nominated and official DJ for the Black Eyed Peas "Poet Name Life" It signals a departure from the ballads for which he is known and was released in digital format only.
His albums, DVD and singles have all debuted in the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
Top 20 with the exception of "Oh Oh Oh Oh" released 7 October 2011. However, this track debuted at No.6 on the Official Independent Music Charts AIR Charts
AIR Charts
The AIR Charts are the official sales charts for Australian independent music released by Australian owned, independent record labels. Presented by AIR, the Australian Independent Record Labels Association, the charts are calculated according to official sales figures provided by the ARIA Charts,...
, and in its first week was No.17 on the Aria Top 20 Australian Singles Chart.
Early years
In his first venture into television Anthony Callea, credited as Anthony De Fazio, appeared in an episode of Funky SquadFunky Squad
Funky Squad was a short-lived 1995 Australian comedy television series which satirised '70s-era U.S. police television dramas, such as The Mod Squad. Only 7 half-hour episodes were produced, which were broadcast on the ABC...
, "The Wrong Side of the Tracks", in 1995.
Australian Idol
Anthony Callea began entering talent contests as a child and trained with the Johnny Young Talent SchoolJohnny Young
Johnny Young is an Australian singer, composer, record producer, disc jockey, television producer and host. Originally from Netherlands, his family settled in Perth, Western Australia in the early 1950s...
. He auditioned and was selected for the final 30 in the television series Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
in 2004. Based on viewer votes, he did not make it through the first round of competition, but was invited back as a "Judge's Choice Wildcard", where his performance earned him a place in the final twelve.
Over the weeks of the competition, his popularity with the Australian public grew. During his run on the show, he gave several performances that earned him high praise from the judges, including his rendition of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water
Bridge over Troubled Water
Bridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel. Released on January 26, 1970 on both Quadraphonic and Stereo formats, it reached No. 1 on Billboard Music Charts pop albums list...
", Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
's "I Want to Know What Love Is
I Want to Know What Love Is
"I Want to Know What Love Is" is a 1984 power ballad recorded by the British-American rock band Foreigner. The song hit #1 in both the UK and the U.S. and is the band's biggest hit...
" and Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
and Céline Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
's duet "The Prayer." Judge Ian 'Dicko' Dickson said Callea's performance of the latter was the finest he had seen during his two years with the show. The competition concluded in November 2004 with Callea finishing as runner-up to Casey Donovan
Casey Donovan (singer)
-Australian Idol :Donovan transferred to the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney's Surry Hills in 2004 and it was in this year that her stepfather encouraged her to audition for the second season of Australian Idol...
. He cited Cosima De Vito
Cosima De Vito
Cosima De Vito , also known simply as Cosima, is an Australian singer-songwriter. She rose to fame as a contestant of the original Australian Idol series in 2003...
as his favourite contestant of the first series of Australian Idol. Callea was the first idol contestant in the competition that had never been included in the bottom three for the contestants who had the lowest votes each week.
Australian Idol performances
- Melbourne Auditions: "Wishes" by Human NatureHuman Nature (band)Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was...
- Top 30: "Angels" by Robbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
- Wildcard: "The ReasonThe Reason (Hoobastank song)"The Reason" is the 2004 hit single by the modern rock band Hoobastank, off their album The Reason. The song is Hoobastank's most commercially successful single, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart , and #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks. In addition, it topped the singles charts in both...
" by HoobastankHoobastankHoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They... - Top 12: Australian Made - "Heaven KnowsHeaven Knows (Rick Price album)Heaven Knows is the 1992 debut album by Rick Price. The second single Heaven Knows charted in many countries in Europe and Asia.-Track listing:#"What's Wrong With That Girl?"#"Not a Day Goes By"#"A House Divided"#"Walk Away Renee"#"Heaven Knows"...
" by Rick PriceRick PriceRick Price is an Australian singer and songwriter.-Early life:Price was born in Beaudesert, a small country town near Brisbane, Queensland. He began playing music at the age of nine appearing with his family band "Union Beau". "It was kinda weird I guess... - Top 11: Pop Night - "Ignition" by R. KellyR. KellyRobert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
- Top 10: 60s Night - "Gimme Some Lovin'Gimme Some Lovin'"Gimme Some Loving" is a song written by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood, and originally performed by The Spencer Davis Group. The basic riff of the song was borrowed from the Homer Banks song " A Lot of Love", written by Banks and Willie Dean "Deanie" Parker. The song was a UK #2 in...
" - Spencer Davis GroupSpencer Davis GroupThe Spencer Davis Group was a mid-1960s British beat group from Birmingham, England, formed by Spencer Davis with Steve Winwood and his brother Muff Winwood... - Top 9: Disco Night - "Car WashCar Wash (song)"Car Wash" is a 1976 soul music single by Rose Royce for MCA Records, the group's debut single and one of the most notable successes of the disco era. Written and produced by the band's main producer Norman Whitfield, "Car Wash", the theme of the 1976 film Car Wash, was Rose Royce's most successful...
" by Rose RoyceRose RoyceRose Royce is an American soul and R&B band. The group is best known for several hit singles including "Car Wash," "I Wanna Get Next to You," "Wishing on a Star", "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" and "I'm Going Down".-Career:... - Top 8: Idol's Choice - "The Prayer" by Andrea BocelliAndrea BocelliAndrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
and Céline DionCeline DionCéline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record... - Top 7: Beatles Night - "I Saw Her Standing ThereI Saw Her Standing There"I Saw Her Standing There" is a song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, and is the opening track on The Beatles' debut album, Please Please Me, released in the United Kingdom by Parlophone on 22 March 1963....
" by The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr... - Top 6: 80's Night - "I Want to Know What Love IsI Want to Know What Love Is"I Want to Know What Love Is" is a 1984 power ballad recorded by the British-American rock band Foreigner. The song hit #1 in both the UK and the U.S. and is the band's biggest hit...
" by ForeignerForeigner (band)Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm... - Top 5: R'n'B Night - "Back at OneBack at One (song)"Back at One" is a song written and recorded by American R&B singer Brian McKnight, and released as a single from his 1999 album Back at One. "Back at One" was a #2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. Later that same year country music singer Mark Wills released a cover version of the song,...
" by Brian McKnightBrian McKnightBrian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet.... - Top 4: Big Band Night - "Fever" and "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66Route 66 (song)" Route 66", often rendered simply as "Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961, The Rolling...
" by Nat King ColeNat King ColeNathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres... - Top 3: 70s Night - "Hold the LineHold the LineHold the Line is a song written by David Paich and recorded by the American rock group Toto. The song was the band's first single, and was featured on their debut eponymous album...
" by TotoToto (band)Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
and "Bridge over Troubled WaterBridge over Troubled Water (song)"Bridge Over Troubled Water" is the title song of Simon & Garfunkel's album of the same name. The single was released on January 26, 1970, though it also appears on the live album Live 1969, released in 2008. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and stayed at...
" by Simon and GarfunkelSimon and GarfunkelSimon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the... - Top 2: "Listen with Your Heart" (Winner's Single) by Diane WarrenDiane WarrenDiane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
, "Walking AwayWalking Away (Craig David song)"Walking Away" is a song by British singer Craig David, written by David and Mark Hill for his debut album Born to Do It . It reached number one in New Zealand where it became the number one song of 2001, combining both sales and airplay....
" by Craig DavidCraig DavidCraig Ashley David is an English singer and songwriter. He has released five studio albums: Born to Do It, Slicker Than Your Average, The Story Goes..., Trust Me, Signed Sealed Delivered and a Greatest Hits album...
and "Glory of LoveGlory of Love"Glory of Love" is a 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit song written by Peter Cetera, David Foster and Cetera's wife at the time, Diane Nini, and recorded by Cetera shortly after he left the band Chicago to pursue a solo career. The song was Cetera's first hit single and was included on his 1986 album,...
" by Peter CeteraPeter CeteraPeter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career... - Grand Final: "The Prayer" by Andrea BocelliAndrea BocelliAndrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
and Céline DionCeline DionCéline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
2005–2006: Anthony Callea
Callea was immediately signed to Sony/BMG Records, and his first single,"The PrayerThe Prayer
"The Prayer" is most commonly known as a duet between Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. This duet is the second single from Dion's Christmas album These Are Special Times and first from Bocelli's album Sogno, and was released as a promotional single on March 1, 1999."The Prayer" won the Golden Globe...
" was released in December 2004. It debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
at number one, and remained there for five consecutive weeks. Within seven weeks, it was certified four times platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
, selling in excess of 280,000 copies. In 2010 ARIA named it as the second highest selling single of the last decade, which also made it the second highest selling Australian artist song of that decade. His next single, the double A-side "Rain / Bridge over Troubled Water
Rain / Bridge over Troubled Water
In early 2006, Swedish singer Ola Svensson covered the song and released it as his debut single. Following his participation in Idol 2005, the single debuted at #1 on the Swedish singles chart and remained there for three consecutive weeks.-Chart positions:...
" spent two weeks at number one. His self-titled album Anthony Callea (album)
Anthony Callea (album)
Anthony Callea is the debut album of Anthony Callea. It was released on 25 March 2005.His debut single, "The Prayer" was released in December 2004 and debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number one, remaining at the top spot for five weeks straight. It was certified four times platinum, selling in...
debuted at number one on the week of 4 April 2005, and remained at the top of the chart for three weeks. His third single "Hurts So Bad" debuted at number ten on the ARIA Charts, while the album's final single, "Per Sempre (For Always)" debuted at number five.
Callea's DVD Live in Concert was released on 7 November 2005. It debuted at #3 in the ARIA DVD Chart and awarded Platinum status.
2006–2007: A New Chapter
Live for Love
"Live for Love" is a pop rock ballad by Anthony Callea from his second album A New Chapter , and the first single released from the album. Anthony performed the song live at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Melbourne on November 9, and also on Australian Idol 2006 elimination night on November 6...
" on 4 November 2006, the first from his second album A New Chapter
A New Chapter
A New Chapter is the second album from Australian pop singer Anthony Callea. It features the singles "Live for Love" and "Addicted to You", both of which Callea performed at popular morning show Sunrise. Callea co-wrote fourteen of the fifteen songs over a year...
, the only song on the album which he did not co-write. Both the single and the album, released on 25 November 2006, debuted at number 9. The album contains a mix of genres characteristic to Callea, including power ballads and more up-tempo songs.
Callea also contributed his version of the Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
song, "Home", to the compilation album Home: Songs of Hope & Journey
Home: Songs of Hope & Journey
Home: Songs of Hope & Journey is a compilation album by various Australian artists to raise funds and bring attention to beyondblue, an Australian initiative against depression. Part of the proceeds of the album will go to the charity...
, which was released in order to raise funds for BeyondBlue, an anti-depression organisation.
The second single "Addicted to You
Addicted to You (Anthony Callea song)
"Addicted to You" is the second single by Anthony Callea from his second album A New Chapter. The single was released on radio on 12 December 2006. "Addicted to You" has a more contemporary pop-rock sound which Callea explores in his second album, and is very different from the ballad sound in his...
" debuted at no. 19 when released in February 2007.
2012: Third studio album
Callea is no longer with Sony and will release his third album as an independent artist. The first single is called "Oh Oh Oh Oh", and was released on 7 October 2011. It has not as yet charted in the ARIA Top 100ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, but has reached No.17 on the Australian Singles Chart which is for Australian artists only.
Charity work
Callea has been involved with many charities. He was part of the Tsunami Relief Telethon and was invited to perform at the Red Cross Ball in the presence of Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark. Callea has worked with The Starlight Foundation, the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital, The Mirabel Foundation and The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. More recently, Callea was the ambassador for the 2007 Perth Telethon for the Royal Children's Hospital and in November 2007 was appointed the official ambassador for Vision Australia
Vision Australia
Vision Australia is a not-for-profit organisation and Australia's largest provider of services for people with blindness and low vision.-Vision and Mission:...
. For the second year Anthony has been appointed the official ambassador for 2009's Vision Australia
Vision Australia
Vision Australia is a not-for-profit organisation and Australia's largest provider of services for people with blindness and low vision.-Vision and Mission:...
's Carols By Candlelight
Carols by Candlelight
Carols by Candlelight is an Australian Christmas tradition that originated in southeastern Australia in the 19th century and was popularised in Melbourne in the 1930s. The tradition has since spread around the world. It involves people gathering, usually outdoors in a park, to sing carols by...
. This will be the sixth year in a row Callea has performed at this event and cites this as one of the highlights of the year.
Headlining tours
In July 2005, Callea embarked on an extensive east coast of Australia tour adding dates along the way during his Anthony Callea Tour 2005. Supporting Callea on tour was Tina CousinsTina Cousins
Tina Cousins is an English singer-songwriter and former fashion model. She has had five singles in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others. She has also achieved popularity in Australia. She started her career as a model...
. From July to September 2007, Callea embarked on his A New Chapter tour with his four-piece band. Callea performed the songs in his album A New Chapter
A New Chapter
A New Chapter is the second album from Australian pop singer Anthony Callea. It features the singles "Live for Love" and "Addicted to You", both of which Callea performed at popular morning show Sunrise. Callea co-wrote fourteen of the fifteen songs over a year...
as well as some of his classic songs, playing eighteen shows across the country.
On 6 December 2008, Anthony Callea took a night off from his successful run in Wicked and returns to the music stage for an exclusive Australian show at The Palms at Crown in Melbourne.
Overseas concert
In August 2011 Callea will be a headline act performing at the Stockholm PrideStockholm Pride
Stockholm Pride is an annual gay pride festival held in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. Since the start in 1998, Stockholm Pride has grown....
Festival which is the largest Pride celebration in the Nordic region where he will also sample new music.
Musicians combined tours
At the Tattoo Spectacular 2007, Callea performed his songs with accompaniment by the massed bands and the Tattoo Choir. The event combined a cast and crew of almost 900 musicians, performers, dancers and singers.Callea and several other leading Australian performers have been invited to perform with the Sydney Symphony at the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
. The performance has been described as a tribute to the greatest film songs ever written and is scheduled from 7 to 10 May 2008.
Supporting tours
During the Australian leg of Diana RossDiana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
's I Love You
I Love You (Diana Ross album)
I Love You is Diana Ross' latest album, released in the United Kingdom and some parts of Europe on October 2nd 2006. Diana was inspired to release an album of love songs after she had been looking through a family photo album and wanted to base her next project around the greatest factor in her...
2006 tour, Callea performed as her support act. During the Australian leg of Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
's Face to Face Tour
Face To Face Tour
This is the 5th world tour of the Irish pop band Westlife.This tour set a goal that they will play for a more smaller venues and audience to justify the title "Face To Face" The filmed video album for this tour came from their performance at the Wembley Arena. This also had a second leg of the tour...
, Callea performed as their support act, Westlife's Arena Tour in February 2007. On 26 March 2008, Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
commenced the Australian leg of her Taking Chances
Taking Chances Tour
Taking Chances World Tour is the ninth concert tour by Canadian singer Céline Dion, in support of her 2007 studio albums, D'elles and Taking Chances. The tour marked the return of Dion after performing her groundbreaking show A New Day... in Las Vegas for five years. The tour visited Africa, Asia,...
world tour. Callea performed as the special guest support act.
Anthony Callea had been announced as the special guest of the Australian leg of Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
's Nothing but Love World Tour opening in Brisbane on 22 February 2010. The arena tour played in Brisbane, Hope Estate Hunter Valley, Sydney, Melbourne, and finishing in Adelaide.
Notable performances
- Performed a one off special concert for the Australian Flood Victims at Rally For Relief at Rod Laver Arena Melbourne on January 2011
- In February 2009 Anthony was joined by his long-time idol Tina ArenaTina ArenaFilippina Lydia "Tina" Arena is an Australian singer, songwriter and musical theatre actress. She has won several awards, most notably 6 ARIA Awards and in both 1996 and 2000 she received the World Music Award for the world's best selling Australian artist...
to perform an impromptu performance of The PrayerThe Prayer"The Prayer" is most commonly known as a duet between Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. This duet is the second single from Dion's Christmas album These Are Special Times and first from Bocelli's album Sogno, and was released as a promotional single on March 1, 1999."The Prayer" won the Golden Globe...
at the re-launch of Melbournes Grand Hyatt - Was handpicked to sing for Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in March 2006 at Commonwealth Day Church Service in Sydney - Tribute performance at the 2005 Logies AwardsLogie Awards of 2005The 47th Annual TV Week Logie Awards were presented on Sunday 1 May 2005 at Crown Casino in Melbourne and broadcast on the Nine Network. In an historic first Andrew O'Keefe from the Seven Network, Eddie McGuire from the Nine Network and Rove McManus from Network Ten were all Master of Ceremonies...
for 2004 tsunami2004 Indian Ocean earthquakeThe 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
victimsCountries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquakeThis article lists the countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the resulting tsunami in alphabetical order – for detailed information about each country see their individual articles... - In 2005, on what was to be Luciano PavarottiLuciano Pavarottiright|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
final trip to Australia, the request of Pavarotti, Callea was flown over to Perth to sing at a Gala event that was being held in his honour. - Performed number-one hit "The Prayer" at the 2005 ARIA Music AwardsARIA Music Awards of 2005The 19th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 23 October 2005 at the Sydney Superdome at the Sydney Olympic Park complex, thus continuing the previous year's innovation of televising the awards on Sunday evening...
after winning the highest selling single of the year.
It Takes Two series 2
In 2007, Callea was one of the professional voices on the Seven NetworkSeven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
's weekly musical competition program, It Takes Two, in which celebrities from non-musical fields were teamed with professional singers to perform a duet each week. Callea was paired with radio DJ Jo Stanley
Jo Stanley
Joanne "Jo" Stanley is an Australian television and radio personality.Stanley has appeared as the host of Network Ten's Bread TV program, a show that focuses on small business and is currently the host of The Matt and Jo Show on Austereo's FOX FM, a show she joined in 2003.- Biography :She...
and finished in second place, competing against Jolene Anderson
Jolene Anderson
Jolene Anderson is an Australian actress.Since 2006 she has played the character of Erica Templeton on the drama series All Saints...
and David Campbell
David Campbell (Australian musician)
David Joseph Campbell is an Australian singer and stage performer. He has performed and recorded many different genres of music from rock to classics. He is the son of singer Jimmy Barnes.-Theatre career:...
at the finals.
Performances
- Week One: The VeronicasThe VeronicasThe Veronicas are an Australian electrorock, pop-punk and rock band. Twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso formed the band in 1999 in Brisbane. They have their own line of clothing which was released in 2007....
- "4ever" (Pop) - Week Two: Chaka KhanChaka KhanChaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
- "I Say a Little PrayerI Say a Little Prayer"I Say a Little Prayer" is a song written by songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick, originally peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in December 1967.-Background:...
" (Songs from the Movies) - Week Three: Kelly ClarksonKelly ClarksonKelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
- "Because of YouBecause of You (Kelly Clarkson song)"Because of You" is a ballad written by pop rock singer Kelly Clarkson with David Hodges and Ben Moody, and produced by Hodges and Moody, both formerly of Evanescence. It is the fourth single from Clarkson's second album, Breakaway...
" (Ballad) - Week Four: BlondieBlondie (band)Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
- "Call MeCall Me (Blondie song)"Call Me" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie. Released in 1980, "Call Me" topped the singles charts in both the US and the UK ....
" (No. 1 Hits) - Week Five: Peaches & HerbPeaches & HerbPeaches & Herb was an American vocalist duo, once comprising Herb Fame and Francine "Peaches" Hurd Barker...
- "Shake Your Groove ThingPeaches & HerbPeaches & Herb was an American vocalist duo, once comprising Herb Fame and Francine "Peaches" Hurd Barker...
" (Disco) - Week Six: ABBAABBAABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
- "SOSSOS (ABBA song)Agnetha Fältskog's version was the second single from her fifth Swedish solo-album Elva kvinnor i ett hus . It was the only song from this album not to have been composed by Fältskog herself....
" (70's & 80's) - Week Seven: Diana RossDiana RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
- "You Are EverythingYou Are EverythingAnother cover was by one-time Motown singing duo, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye. Released as the second UK single from their Diana & Marvin album, the song reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1974. It also reached #13 on the Dutch charts and #20 on the Irish Singles Chart...
" (Motown) - Week Eight: Judy GarlandJudy GarlandJudy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
- "Get HappyGet Happy (song)"Get Happy" is a song composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics written by Ted Koehler.It was the first song they wrote together, and was introduced by Ruth Etting in The Nine-Fifteen Revue in 1930....
" (Swing) & Joan JettJoan JettJoan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
- "I Love Rock 'n' RollI Love Rock 'n' Roll"I Love Rock 'n Roll" is a rock song written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of Arrows, who recorded the first released version. The song was later made famous by the hit version recorded by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1981....
" (Rock) - Week Nine: Anthony Callea - "The Prayer" (A song their mentor was famous for) & Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
- "Johnny B. GoodeJohnny B. Goode"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
" (Rock & Roll) - Week Ten (Finale): Encore performances of Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You", Judy Garland's "Get Happy", and a new performance of Irene CaraIrene CaraIrene Cara is an American singer and actress. Cara won an Academy Award in 1984 in the category of Best Original Song for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling." She is also known for her recording of the song "Fame", and she also starred in the 1980 film Fame.She married Hollywood stuntman...
's "Flashdance... What a FeelingFlashdance... What a Feeling"Flashdance... What a Feeling" is a song from the 1983 film Flashdance, written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey, and Irene Cara, and performed by Cara. Despite the title, the word "Flashdance" is never used in the lyrics; however, the line "In a flash, take a hold of my heart" refers to the...
"
It Takes Two series 3
In 2008, Callea again performed as one of the professional voices on the Seven NetworkSeven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
's weekly musical competition program, It Takes Two, in which celebrities from non-musical fields are teamed with professional singers to perform a duet each week. Callea's partner for season three was ironwoman Candice Falzon
Candice Falzon
Candice Ann Falzon is an Australian professional ironwoman, surf life saver and model. She is of Maltese heritage.- Ironwoman :...
. The third series began airing on 12 February 2008. Callea and Falzon were eliminated in week seven, finishing in fifth place.
Performances
- Week One: Mentors Group Performance: "Get Ready"
- Week One: KT TunstallKT TunstallKate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
- "Suddenly I SeeSuddenly I See"Suddenly I See" is a song by British singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and is featured on her debut album, Eye to the Telescope. It was released on 29 August 2005 as the third single from the album, charting at #12 in the UK Singles Chart . The single was a hit in Australia where it charted at #6 on...
" (Pop) - Week Two: Thelma HoustonThelma HoustonThelma Houston is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1976 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.-Early life & career:Houston is the daughter of a cotton picking mother...
- "Don't Leave Me This WayDon't Leave Me This Way"Don't Leave Me This Way" is an R&B/soul/disco song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert. First charting as a hit for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, an act on Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label in 1975, "Don't Leave Me This Way" was later a hit single for both...
" (R&B/Soul) - Week Three: Faith HillFaith HillFaith Hill is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S...
- "This KissThis Kiss"This Kiss" is a song written by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner and Annie Roboff, and recorded by American country music singer Faith Hill. Released on March 10, 1998 as the first single from her 1998 album Faith, it became a crossover single, reaching #1 on the U.S...
" (Country) - Week Four: Mariah CareyMariah CareyMariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
and Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonWhitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
- "When You BelieveWhen You Believe"When You Believe" is an Academy Award-winning song by American recording artists Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. The song was written and composed by Stephen Schwartz for the 1998 DreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt. A version of "When You Believe" was produced as a single with...
" (Ballad) - Week Four: Mentors Group Performance: "Born to Hand Jive" from GreaseGrease (musical)Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
- Week Five: RoxetteRoxetteRoxette are a Swedish pop music duo, consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle . Formed in 1986, the duo became an international act from the late 1980s, when they released their breakthrough album Look Sharp!...
- "The LookThe Look"The Look", written by Per Gessle and performed by Roxette, was released as a single in early 1989 from the album Look Sharp!. The song became Roxette's international "breakthrough" song, finally exposing the duo to music consumers outside of the duo's native Sweden and Europe after more than one...
" (80's) - Week Six: CeCe PenistonCeCe PenistonCeCe Peniston is an African American recording artist and former beauty queen. At the beginning of the nineties, she was considered to be one of the most successful dance club artists in the history of the U.S...
- "Finally" (Disco) - Week Seven: The VeronicasThe VeronicasThe Veronicas are an Australian electrorock, pop-punk and rock band. Twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso formed the band in 1999 in Brisbane. They have their own line of clothing which was released in 2007....
- "Hook Me UpHook Me Up (song)"Hook Me Up" is a song by Australian duo The Veronicas for their second album, Hook Me Up. Produced by Greg Wells, it was released as the albums lead single in late 2007 in Australia. The downtempo, electropop-dance song is a change in direction from the pop rock sound from their previous album,...
" (Rock) - Week Ten Grand Final: Cast Medley: RoxetteRoxetteRoxette are a Swedish pop music duo, consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle . Formed in 1986, the duo became an international act from the late 1980s, when they released their breakthrough album Look Sharp!...
- "The LookThe Look"The Look", written by Per Gessle and performed by Roxette, was released as a single in early 1989 from the album Look Sharp!. The song became Roxette's international "breakthrough" song, finally exposing the duo to music consumers outside of the duo's native Sweden and Europe after more than one...
" (80's) - Week Ten Grand Final: Mentors Group Performance: Marilyn McCooMarilyn McCooMarilyn McCoo is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold...
and Billy Davis, Jr.Billy Davis, Jr.Billy Davis, Jr. is an American musician, best known as a member of The 5th Dimension. Along with his wife, Marilyn McCoo, he had hit records during 1976 and 1977 with "I Hope We Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star "...
- "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)"You Don't Have to Be a Star " is a song by the husband/wife duo of Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., former members of the vocal group The 5th Dimension. Released from their album, I Hope We Get to Love in Time, it became a crossover success soaring to number one on both the Billboard Hot 100...
"
Ultimate School Musical: Fame
In January 2010 it was confirmed that Callea joined the cast of Foxtel's Ultimate School Musical: Fame, filming the series alongside Ruby Rose and others in Melbourne.Ultimate School Musical: Fame features school children attempting to put on a professional musical in just six weeks. Callea is the series' voice coach.
After an extensive audition process across high schools throughout Australia, the students of Essendon Keilor College in Melbourne won the much sought after opportunity to be cast in Ultimate School Musical: Fame, a 10-part series to premiere exclusively on FOX8 under the guidance of director Eddie Perfect,theatre producer John Frost, choreographer Kelley Abbey
Kelley Abbey
Kelley Abbey is an Australian actress, choreographer, singer and dancer. She has been a leading performer and choreographer in TV, film and musical theatre for more than 20 years....
and singer Callea.
Dead Man Walking
In September 2007, in his first musical production, Callea played a supporting role in Dead Man WalkingDead Man Walking (opera)
Dead Man Walking is the first opera by Jake Heggie, with a libretto by Terrence McNally; it premiered on October 7, 2000 at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco Opera.-Roles:...
, the true story of Sister Helen Prejean
Helen Prejean
Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., is a Roman Catholic religious sister, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, who has become a leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.-Death row ministry:...
, an unconventional nun, who accompanies murderer Joe de Rocher to his death by execution. It explores the opposing desires for vengeance and forgiveness in this extreme situation, and the commitment required to love or to hate a fellow human being.
Rent
In November 2007, Callea played the lead role Mark Cohen, a filmmaker and video artist, and Roger's roommate, in the Perth production of the critically acclaimed American Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical RentRent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
.
This was Callea's second musical production. He starred alongside his now-partner, Tim Campbell.
Wicked
On 12 February 2008, it was announced that Callea would originate the role of BoqBoq
Boq is a minor character in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. He becomes a more prominent character in Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which purports to show the lives of some of Baum's characters from another perspective, and more...
in the Australian premiere production of the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
, which opened in July 2008 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Callea played his final performance 11 January 2009.
Personal life
On 27 March 2007, after speculation and tabloid rumours dating back to his Idol appearances, Callea publicly acknowledged that he is gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
by issuing a statement confirming his sexuality and thanking his fans and his then-partner, Paul.
"Yes, I am gay," Callea said. "I have no issue with my sexuality now, but it's taken time to become confident with who I am and happy with who I am. I'm comfortable enough to come clean now. It's a weight off my shoulders".
On 30 March 2007, Michael Kirby, then a judge of the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
, described Callea as an "admirable Australian" for coming out. Justice Kirby added, "In terms of influencing popular culture and understanding of the reality of human sexual diversity, I would trade ten judges for one popular singer."
Callea has also admitted to suffering from depression in his teenage years, saying, "I went through major depression. I hated myself. I had to see a psychologist. I wasn't talking to anybody. My parents didn't know what was wrong with me." Callea has since supported beyondblue
Beyondblue
beyondblue is an Australian non-profit organisation which aims to increase awareness and improve the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and related mental disorders...
, an Australian initiative against depression, by contributing his version of a Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
song, "Home", to a compilation album, Home: Songs of Hope & Journey
Home: Songs of Hope & Journey
Home: Songs of Hope & Journey is a compilation album by various Australian artists to raise funds and bring attention to beyondblue, an Australian initiative against depression. Part of the proceeds of the album will go to the charity...
by various Australian artists to raise funds and bring attention to the organisation and its cause.
In February 2008 he and actor/singer Tim Campbell confirmed that they were in a relationship.
Discography
The following is a complete discography of every album and single released by Australian pop music artist Anthony Callea.Albums
| Year | Information | Australia ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
Sales and Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Anthony Callea Anthony Callea (album) Anthony Callea is the debut album of Anthony Callea. It was released on 25 March 2005.His debut single, "The Prayer" was released in December 2004 and debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number one, remaining at the top spot for five weeks straight. It was certified four times platinum, selling in...
|
Australian sales: 140,000
ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... : 2x Platinum |
|
| 2006 | A New Chapter A New Chapter A New Chapter is the second album from Australian pop singer Anthony Callea. It features the singles "Live for Love" and "Addicted to You", both of which Callea performed at popular morning show Sunrise. Callea co-wrote fourteen of the fifteen songs over a year...
|
Australian sales: 35,000
ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... : Gold |
|
Singles
| Year | Song | Australia ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
Certification | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "The Prayer" | 1 | 4× Platinum (ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... ) |
Anthony Callea Anthony Callea (album) Anthony Callea is the debut album of Anthony Callea. It was released on 25 March 2005.His debut single, "The Prayer" was released in December 2004 and debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number one, remaining at the top spot for five weeks straight. It was certified four times platinum, selling in... |
| 2005 | "Rain"/"Bridge over Troubled Water Bridge over Troubled Water (song) "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is the title song of Simon & Garfunkel's album of the same name. The single was released on January 26, 1970, though it also appears on the live album Live 1969, released in 2008. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and stayed at... " |
1 | 2× Platinum (ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... ) |
|
| "Hurts So Bad" | 10 | - | ||
| "Per Sempre (for Always) Per Sempre (for Always) "Per Sempre " is the fourth and final single by Anthony Callea from his self-titled debut album Anthony Callea.-Track listing:Per Sempre # "Per Sempre "# "Per Sempre "Per Sempre (for Always)" is the fourth and final single by Anthony Callea from his self-titled debut album Anthony Callea.-Track... " |
5 | - | ||
| 2006 | "Live for Love Live for Love "Live for Love" is a pop rock ballad by Anthony Callea from his second album A New Chapter , and the first single released from the album. Anthony performed the song live at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Melbourne on November 9, and also on Australian Idol 2006 elimination night on November 6... " |
9 | - | A New Chapter A New Chapter A New Chapter is the second album from Australian pop singer Anthony Callea. It features the singles "Live for Love" and "Addicted to You", both of which Callea performed at popular morning show Sunrise. Callea co-wrote fourteen of the fifteen songs over a year... |
| 2007 | "Addicted to You Addicted to You (Anthony Callea song) "Addicted to You" is the second single by Anthony Callea from his second album A New Chapter. The single was released on radio on 12 December 2006. "Addicted to You" has a more contemporary pop-rock sound which Callea explores in his second album, and is very different from the ballad sound in his... " |
19 | - | |
| 2011 | "Oh Oh Oh Oh" | - | - | TBA |
Other
- "I Wanna Know What Love Is" (studio recording Track 3 of Australian Idol: The Final 12 2004)
- "Listen with Your Heart" (released as bonus CD to a limited number of debut albums)
- "Wanna Be the One" (B-side to "Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water" CDS)
- "Don't Tell Me" (B-side to "Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water" CDS)
- "The Healing of a Heart" (Bambi 2 soundtrack)
- "Meant for Love" (B-side to "Addicted to YouAddicted to You (Anthony Callea song)"Addicted to You" is the second single by Anthony Callea from his second album A New Chapter. The single was released on radio on 12 December 2006. "Addicted to You" has a more contemporary pop-rock sound which Callea explores in his second album, and is very different from the ballad sound in his...
") - "Try" (B-side to "Addicted to YouAddicted to You (Anthony Callea song)"Addicted to You" is the second single by Anthony Callea from his second album A New Chapter. The single was released on radio on 12 December 2006. "Addicted to You" has a more contemporary pop-rock sound which Callea explores in his second album, and is very different from the ballad sound in his...
") - "Whatever It Takes" (iTunes exclusive cover made by Edyta GorniakEdyta GórniakEdyta Górniak is one of the most popular female singers from Poland.- Beginnings :At the age of 14 Górniak formed a band and was playing at private parties and evening dances. After taking singing lessons, in 1989, aged 16, she gave her first public appearance on a Polish television talent show...
) - "Home" (on Home: Songs of Hope & JourneyHome: Songs of Hope & JourneyHome: Songs of Hope & Journey is a compilation album by various Australian artists to raise funds and bring attention to beyondblue, an Australian initiative against depression. Part of the proceeds of the album will go to the charity...
compilation) - "The Christmas Song" (on The Spirit of Christmas 2005The Spirit of Christmas 2005The Spirit of Christmas 2005 is part of the Spirit of Christmas album series. It was released in Australia on 17 November 2005.-Track listing:#"One Little Christmas Tree" - John Farnham#"Frosty the Snowman" - Human Nature...
compilation) - "Far from Over" (iTunes special)
DVD
| Year | Title | Australia ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Anthony Callea Live in Concert | 3 | Platinum (ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... ) |
- Anthony Callea: Per Sempre (For Always) (DVD single)
Music videos
- The Prayer
- The Prayer (Live on Idol Top 8)
- Rain
- Bridge over Troubled Water (LIVE on Idol)
- Hurts So Bad (LIVE)
- Per Sempre (for Always)
- Live for Love
- Addicted to You
Awards
| Award | Category | About | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | ||||
| Pop Republic Awards 2007 | Australian Male Artist Of The Year | Himself | ||
| Australian Gospel Music Awards | Outstanding Achievement Award | The Prayer | ||
| 2006 | ||||
| MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2006 | Coca-Cola Coca-Cola Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke... Viewer's Choice Award 2006 |
Himself | ||
| Dolly Teen Choice Awards 2006 | Hottest Album Of 2006 | 'Anthony Callea' | ||
| 2005 | ||||
| Pop Republic Awards 2005 | Artist Of The Year | Himself | ||
| Variety Club Heart Awards 2005 | Young Entertainer of the Year | Himself | ||
| MO Award 2005 | Australian Performer Of The Year | Himself | ||
| MO Award 2005 | Contemporary Rock Performer | Himself | ||
| Channel V's OZ Artist Of The Year Award 2005 Channel V Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:... |
Oz Artist Of The Year | Himself | ||
| ARIA Awards 2005 ARIA Music Awards of 2005 The 19th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 23 October 2005 at the Sydney Superdome at the Sydney Olympic Park complex, thus continuing the previous year's innovation of televising the awards on Sunday evening... |
Highest Selling Single | The Prayer The Prayer "The Prayer" is most commonly known as a duet between Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. This duet is the second single from Dion's Christmas album These Are Special Times and first from Bocelli's album Sogno, and was released as a promotional single on March 1, 1999."The Prayer" won the Golden Globe... |
||
| ARIA No.1 Chart Awards 2005 | ARIA No.1 Single | Rain / Bridge Over Troubled Water | ||
| ARIA No.1 Chart Awards 2005 | ARIA No.1 Single | The Prayer The Prayer "The Prayer" is most commonly known as a duet between Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. This duet is the second single from Dion's Christmas album These Are Special Times and first from Bocelli's album Sogno, and was released as a promotional single on March 1, 1999."The Prayer" won the Golden Globe... |
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| ARIA No.1 Chart Awards 2005 | ARIA No.1 Album | 'Anthony Callea' | ||