Little Pattie
Encyclopedia
Little Pattie is the stage name of Australian singer, Patricia Thelma Amphlett OAM (born 17 March 1949, Paddington
, Sydney) later Patricia Thompson, who performed as a 1960s surf pop singer and then in adult contemporary music
. Her debut single from November 1963, "He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy", achieved #2 chart success in Sydney and peaked at #19 on the national Kent Music Report
. She appeared regularly on television variety programs, including Bandstand
and toured supporting Col Joye
and the Joy Boys. Little Pattie was entertaining troops during the Vietnam War
in Nui Dat
, Vietnam
, when the nearby Battle of Long Tần
began on 18 August 1966. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces
in operations in Vietnam.
Little Pattie received a Medal of the Order of Australia
on 9 June 2003 for her services to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
(as National President) and to Actors' Equity (as vice-president). On 27 August 2009, Little Pattie was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Hall of Fame
alongside Kev Carmody
, The Dingoes
, Mental As Anything
and John Paul Young
.
, and has an older brother, Joe. She was educated at King Street Primary School and Sydney Girls High School
. She was nicknamed "Little Pattie" at school as she had two taller friends also named Patricia. At eight years-old, she commenced piano
lessons with Gwen Parsons, and then singing lessons when 11 years-old. Parsons also taught Noeleen Batley - a popular singer called "Australia's Little Miss Sweetheart". Both persuaded her to audition for TCN 9's
TV teen show Saturday Date hosted by Jimmy Hannan
, where she was a hit. She first appeared on TV, singing on series Opportunity Knocks, when 13. While a third year high school student, at 14 years-old, she performed weekly at the Bronte Surf Club
as lead singer of The Statesmen with Nev Jade, Peter Maxworthy, Duncan McGuire
(on bass guitar
), Mark Rigby and Peter Walker. Singer-songwriter, Jay Justin (aka Justin McCarthy) was impressed with her vocals and recommended her to a recording contract with EMI
.
Joe Halford, which utilised the surf music
style and 'The Stomp' dance craze. It was released by EMI
on HMV
in November 1963 when she was aged 14, and reached #2 on the Sydney music charts (#1 was The Beatles
' I Want to Hold Your Hand
), #6 in Brisbane, and peaked at #19 on the national Kent Music Report
. Little Pattie left school in early 1964, and released her debut album, The Many Moods of Little Pattie on EMI / HMV
. She had further hits on the Sydney charts with "We're Gonna Have a Party Tonight" (#18 in March), "Pushin' a Good Thing Too Far" (#28 in March 1965) and "Dance Puppet Dance" (#9 in October). Her popularity saw her voted as Australian Female Singer of the Year in 1965. She appeared frequently on television variety programs, including Bandstand
, Saturday Date and Sing, Sing, Sing. Little Pattie regularly toured supporting Col Joye
& the Joy Boys, with Judy Stone
, Sandy Shaw and Cathy Wayne
. The Joy Boys included, Joye's brothers, Kevin Jacobsen
on piano
and Keith Jacobsen on bass guitar.
On 16 August 1966, at 17 years-old and 147 centimetres (4.8 ft) tall, Little Pattie became the youngest and shortest person to entertain troops during the Vietnam War
. Along with Col Joye & the Joy Boys she performed three concerts each day, in Nui Dat
, Vietnam
, she was singing onstage backed by the Joy Boys, when the Battle of Long Tần
started on 18 August less than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away. Although organisers had promised her safety, she was evacuated from the area before the completion of her scheduled performances.
In the days after the battle, Joye and Little Pattie visited injured soldiers in hospital to comfort and sing to them. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces
in operations in Vietnam. From 1966, Little Pattie was performing solo in cabarets and clubs, she continued releasing singles and albums with EMI until 1970, and then signed with Joye's ATA recording label and management group. She subsequently appeared on several TV shows in America, including Ed Sullivan Show.
. During the 1972 Australian Federal election
campaign she sang with other entertainers including Joye and Judy Stone in the Australian Labor Party
's "It's Time
" TV commercial, which featured future Prime Minister
, Gough Whitlam
. Styled as Pattie Amphlett from 1972, she released singles and albums on ATA / Festival Records and by 1977 had moved into country music
. In 1973, she married Keith Jacobsen (Joy Boys' bass guitarist, ATA record producer
and manager
) and continued to perform on television and in clubs. Amphlett parted from Keith in 1984 and married Lawrie Thompson (a drummer
) in 1986. Her repertoire included swing tunes from Gershwin
, Rogers and Hart, and Cole Porter
. In 1990, she toured China as vocalist for veteran jazz musician Graeme Bell
and his Allstars. As Patricia Thompson, she became an active unionist in the entertainment industry, and a vocal teacher, later coaching Nikki Webster
before her performance at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney. She has taught at a number of Sydney high schools: Burwood Girls High School
, St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
, Mercy College, Chatswood, and Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview.
In 2001 EMI re-released a compilation album
, 20 Stompy Wompy Hits, which featured her early songs. ABC-TV series, Long Way to the Top
, was broadcast in August 2001. Little Pattie featured on "Episode 1: Bed of a Thousand Struggles 1956–1964" where she discussed her early surf music and 'The Stomp' dance craze. The TV series inspired the Long Way to the Top national concert tour during August–September 2002, which featured a host of the best Australian acts of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s including Little Pattie and Col Joye and the Joy Boys. In 2004, General Peter Cosgrove
invited her to be patron of FACE, (Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment), and she was invited to go to Iraq to perform for Christmas 2005 and New Year 2006. She performed at the "Salute to Vietnam Veterans" held at the Australian War Memorial
in Canberra
on 19 August 2006.
In addition to her music career, Little Pattie was a member of the Council for the Australian War Memorial from 1995 until 1998, and received an Order of Australia Medal in 2003 for her services (as National President) to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
and (as vice-president) to Actors' Equity
. She has been on the Federal Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
(ACTU). In 2000 The Sydney Morning Herald included her on a list of the 'century's most loved faces', and she was included in a 1998 issue of Australian stamps featuring pop and rock acts.
On 27 August 2009, Little Pattie was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Hall of Fame
alongside Kev Carmody
, The Dingoes
, Mental As Anything
and John Paul Young
. She was inducted by her cousin, Christina Amphlett
of Divinyls
, with former Australian Idol
star, Lisa Mitchell
performing "He's My Blonde-Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy".
On 22 December 2009 Little Pattie sang at the Goulburn Carols by Candlelight.
She is currently a singing teacher at various high schools in Sydney, including the prestigious St Joseph's College
) and Kevin Jacobsen
. Keith and Little Pattie parted in 1984 and she subsequently married Lawrie Thompson in 1986. She is the cousin of Christina Amphlett
, lead singer of 1980s Australian band Divinyls
.
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
Order of Australia Medal
Paddington, New South Wales
Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney and the Municipality of Woollahra...
, Sydney) later Patricia Thompson, who performed as a 1960s surf pop singer and then in adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
. Her debut single from November 1963, "He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy", achieved #2 chart success in Sydney and peaked at #19 on the national Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
. She appeared regularly on television variety programs, including Bandstand
Bandstand (Australia)
Bandstand was an Australian musical/variety television show which screened from November 1958 to 1972. It was produced at the studios of TCN-9 in Sydney and eventually became a national program as Nine Network expanded into other Australian cities in the early 1960s.Bandstand was created by Nine...
and toured supporting Col Joye
Col Joye
Colin Frederick Jacobsen AM , better known by his stage name Col Joye, is an Australian popular entertainer and entrepreneur...
and the Joy Boys. Little Pattie was entertaining troops during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in Nui Dat
Nui Dat
Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province was the location of a prominent Australian military base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The site was chosen by Lieutenant General John Wilton in 1966 and was built mainly by men from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, when the nearby Battle of Long Tần
Battle of Long Tan
The Battle of Long Tân was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tân, about north east of Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam...
began on 18 August 1966. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was issued to recognise the service of Australian support personnel during the Vietnam War.-Qualification requirements:The qualifying criteria for the medal include:...
in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
in operations in Vietnam.
Little Pattie received a Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
on 9 June 2003 for her services to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is the Australian trade union and professional organisation which covers the media, entertainment, sports and arts industries...
(as National President) and to Actors' Equity (as vice-president). On 27 August 2009, Little Pattie was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association
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...
(ARIA) Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
alongside Kev Carmody
Kev Carmody
Kevin Daniel "Kev" Carmody is an Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter. His song "From Little Things Big Things Grow" was recorded with co-writer Paul Kelly for their 1993 single; it was covered by the Get Up Mob in 2008 and peaked at #4 on the Australian Recording Industry Association singles...
, The Dingoes
The Dingoes
The Dingoes are an Australian country rock band initially active from 1973 to 1979, formed in Melbourne they relocated to the United States from 1976. Most stable line-up was John Bois on bass guitar, John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on guitar and Kerryn...
, Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything are an Australian New Wave–rock music band formed at an art school in Sydney in 1976. Their most popular line-up was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar; Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals; his brother Peter "Yoga Dog" O'Doherty on bass guitar and vocals; Wayne "Bird"...
and John Paul Young
John Paul Young
John Paul Young is an Australian pop singer who had a 1978 worldwide hit with "Love Is in the Air"...
.
Beginnings
Patricia Amphlett was born in 1949 in Paddington, New South WalesPaddington, New South Wales
Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney and the Municipality of Woollahra...
, and has an older brother, Joe. She was educated at King Street Primary School and Sydney Girls High School
Sydney Girls High School
Sydney Girls High School is an academically selective, Public high school for girls, located at Moore Park, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. She was nicknamed "Little Pattie" at school as she had two taller friends also named Patricia. At eight years-old, she commenced piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons with Gwen Parsons, and then singing lessons when 11 years-old. Parsons also taught Noeleen Batley - a popular singer called "Australia's Little Miss Sweetheart". Both persuaded her to audition for TCN 9's
TCN
TCN stands for:* Take Care Now, a private company providing out-of-hours medical cover in England* TanenbaumCHAT North Campus, a private Hebrew high school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada* TCN-9, a Sydney television station...
TV teen show Saturday Date hosted by Jimmy Hannan
Jimmy Hannan
Jimmy Hannan is a retired Australian variety show host, singer and entertainer. Hannan won the 1965 Gold Logie award.One of his daughters is Melissa Hannan who won the Miss Australia title in 1981 and was also in the Miss World competition held in London.-Filmography:*The Sentimental Bloke *Jimmy...
, where she was a hit. She first appeared on TV, singing on series Opportunity Knocks, when 13. While a third year high school student, at 14 years-old, she performed weekly at the Bronte Surf Club
Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club
The Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club is situated on Bronte Beach, a beach in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia.The club was founded in 1903, making it the oldest surf club in the world....
as lead singer of The Statesmen with Nev Jade, Peter Maxworthy, Duncan McGuire
Duncan McGuire
Duncan McGuire was an Australian musician, songwriter, recording engineer and producer. He is best known for his association with vocalist Doug Parkinson in the 1960s and 1970s and his membership of the 1970s fusion band Ayers Rock...
(on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Mark Rigby and Peter Walker. Singer-songwriter, Jay Justin (aka Justin McCarthy) was impressed with her vocals and recommended her to a recording contract with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
Teenage Singing Star
Little Pattie's debut single was the double A-sided, "He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy" / "Stompin' at Maroubra", both co-written by Jay Justin and record producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Joe Halford, which utilised the surf music
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
style and 'The Stomp' dance craze. It was released by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
on HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
in November 1963 when she was aged 14, and reached #2 on the Sydney music charts (#1 was The Beatles
The Beatles
The 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...
' I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Want to Hold Your Hand
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded in October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment....
), #6 in Brisbane, and peaked at #19 on the national Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
. Little Pattie left school in early 1964, and released her debut album, The Many Moods of Little Pattie on EMI / HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
. She had further hits on the Sydney charts with "We're Gonna Have a Party Tonight" (#18 in March), "Pushin' a Good Thing Too Far" (#28 in March 1965) and "Dance Puppet Dance" (#9 in October). Her popularity saw her voted as Australian Female Singer of the Year in 1965. She appeared frequently on television variety programs, including Bandstand
Bandstand (Australia)
Bandstand was an Australian musical/variety television show which screened from November 1958 to 1972. It was produced at the studios of TCN-9 in Sydney and eventually became a national program as Nine Network expanded into other Australian cities in the early 1960s.Bandstand was created by Nine...
, Saturday Date and Sing, Sing, Sing. Little Pattie regularly toured supporting Col Joye
Col Joye
Colin Frederick Jacobsen AM , better known by his stage name Col Joye, is an Australian popular entertainer and entrepreneur...
& the Joy Boys, with Judy Stone
Judy Stone
Judy Stone is an Australian pop singer from Sydney, who came to national prominence in the early 1960s through her regular TV appearances on the Australian pop music show Brian Henderson's Bandstand and her many hit records...
, Sandy Shaw and Cathy Wayne
Cathy Wayne
Cathy Wayne was the stage name of Australian entertainer Catherine Anne Warnes who was killed during the Vietnam War by United States Marine Sergeant James Wayne Killen. Wayne had just finished a song for US Marines at a non-commissioned officer's club near Da Nang in South Vietnam...
. The Joy Boys included, Joye's brothers, Kevin Jacobsen
Kevin Jacobsen
Kevin George Jacobsen OAM is a well-known Australian entertainment entrepreneur.Along with his brothers Colin and Keith, he was a member of prominent Australian 1960s band, The Joy Boys....
on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and Keith Jacobsen on bass guitar.
On 16 August 1966, at 17 years-old and 147 centimetres (4.8 ft) tall, Little Pattie became the youngest and shortest person to entertain troops during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Along with Col Joye & the Joy Boys she performed three concerts each day, in Nui Dat
Nui Dat
Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province was the location of a prominent Australian military base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The site was chosen by Lieutenant General John Wilton in 1966 and was built mainly by men from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, she was singing onstage backed by the Joy Boys, when the Battle of Long Tần
Battle of Long Tan
The Battle of Long Tân was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tân, about north east of Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam...
started on 18 August less than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away. Although organisers had promised her safety, she was evacuated from the area before the completion of her scheduled performances.
In the days after the battle, Joye and Little Pattie visited injured soldiers in hospital to comfort and sing to them. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was issued to recognise the service of Australian support personnel during the Vietnam War.-Qualification requirements:The qualifying criteria for the medal include:...
in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
in operations in Vietnam. From 1966, Little Pattie was performing solo in cabarets and clubs, she continued releasing singles and albums with EMI until 1970, and then signed with Joye's ATA recording label and management group. She subsequently appeared on several TV shows in America, including Ed Sullivan Show.
Later career
As Little Pattie entered her twenties, she continued her career moving into adult contemporary musicAdult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
. During the 1972 Australian Federal election
Australian federal election, 1972
Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 December 1972. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The Liberal Party of Australia had been in power since 1949, under Prime Minister of Australia William McMahon since March 1971 with coalition partner the Country Party...
campaign she sang with other entertainers including Joye and Judy Stone in the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
's "It's Time
It's Time
It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative government, Labor put forward a raft of major policy proposals, accompanied by a...
" TV commercial, which featured future Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
, Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
. Styled as Pattie Amphlett from 1972, she released singles and albums on ATA / Festival Records and by 1977 had moved into country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. In 1973, she married Keith Jacobsen (Joy Boys' bass guitarist, ATA record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and manager
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
) and continued to perform on television and in clubs. Amphlett parted from Keith in 1984 and married Lawrie Thompson (a drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
) in 1986. Her repertoire included swing tunes from Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, Rogers and Hart, and Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
. In 1990, she toured China as vocalist for veteran jazz musician Graeme Bell
Graeme Bell
Graeme Emerson Bell AO MBE is an Australian Dixieland and classical jazz pianist, composer and band leader...
and his Allstars. As Patricia Thompson, she became an active unionist in the entertainment industry, and a vocal teacher, later coaching Nikki Webster
Nikki Webster
Nikki Webster is an Australian pop performer. She is best known for her starring role in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony and her single "Strawberry Kisses".-Recording career:...
before her performance at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney. She has taught at a number of Sydney high schools: Burwood Girls High School
Burwood Girls High School
Burwood Girls' High School is a public, comprehensive, secondary, day school for girls, located in Croydon, an inner western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic, Secondary, day and boarding school for boys. It is located in Hunters Hill, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, Mercy College, Chatswood, and Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview.
In 2001 EMI re-released a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, 20 Stompy Wompy Hits, which featured her early songs. ABC-TV series, Long Way to the Top
Long Way To The Top
Long Way To The Top was an Australian Broadcasting Corporation documentary on the history of Australian rock and roll from 1956 to the modern era.-Production:...
, was broadcast in August 2001. Little Pattie featured on "Episode 1: Bed of a Thousand Struggles 1956–1964" where she discussed her early surf music and 'The Stomp' dance craze. The TV series inspired the Long Way to the Top national concert tour during August–September 2002, which featured a host of the best Australian acts of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s including Little Pattie and Col Joye and the Joy Boys. In 2004, General Peter Cosgrove
Peter Cosgrove
General Peter John Cosgrove AC, MC is a retired Australian Army officer. He was the Chief of the Defence Force from 3 July 2002 to 3 July 2005, when he retired from active service...
invited her to be patron of FACE, (Forces Advisory Council on Entertainment), and she was invited to go to Iraq to perform for Christmas 2005 and New Year 2006. She performed at the "Salute to Vietnam Veterans" held at the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
on 19 August 2006.
In addition to her music career, Little Pattie was a member of the Council for the Australian War Memorial from 1995 until 1998, and received an Order of Australia Medal in 2003 for her services (as National President) to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is the Australian trade union and professional organisation which covers the media, entertainment, sports and arts industries...
and (as vice-president) to Actors' Equity
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
. She has been on the Federal Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
(ACTU). In 2000 The Sydney Morning Herald included her on a list of the 'century's most loved faces', and she was included in a 1998 issue of Australian stamps featuring pop and rock acts.
On 27 August 2009, Little Pattie was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association
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...
(ARIA) Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
alongside Kev Carmody
Kev Carmody
Kevin Daniel "Kev" Carmody is an Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter. His song "From Little Things Big Things Grow" was recorded with co-writer Paul Kelly for their 1993 single; it was covered by the Get Up Mob in 2008 and peaked at #4 on the Australian Recording Industry Association singles...
, The Dingoes
The Dingoes
The Dingoes are an Australian country rock band initially active from 1973 to 1979, formed in Melbourne they relocated to the United States from 1976. Most stable line-up was John Bois on bass guitar, John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on guitar and Kerryn...
, Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything
Mental As Anything are an Australian New Wave–rock music band formed at an art school in Sydney in 1976. Their most popular line-up was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar; Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals; his brother Peter "Yoga Dog" O'Doherty on bass guitar and vocals; Wayne "Bird"...
and John Paul Young
John Paul Young
John Paul Young is an Australian pop singer who had a 1978 worldwide hit with "Love Is in the Air"...
. She was inducted by her cousin, Christina Amphlett
Christina Amphlett
Christine Joy Amphlett was the lead singer of Australian rock band Divinyls. She is also known as Chrissy Amphlett.She grew up in Geelong as a singer and dancer...
of Divinyls
Divinyls
Divinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying...
, with former 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...
star, Lisa Mitchell
Lisa Mitchell
Lisa Helen Mitchell is an Australian singer-songwriter who grew up in Albury, New South Wales. Her debut EP, Said One To The Other topped iTunes in Australia and this success brought her to the attention of boutique London-based publisher, Little Victories , a subsidiary of Sony/ATV, with whom she...
performing "He's My Blonde-Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy".
On 22 December 2009 Little Pattie sang at the Goulburn Carols by Candlelight.
She is currently a singing teacher at various high schools in Sydney, including the prestigious St Joseph's College
Personal life
In 1973 Little Pattie married Joy Boys' bass guitarist and ATA record producer / manager, Keith Jacobsen, brother of Colin (Col JoyeCol Joye
Colin Frederick Jacobsen AM , better known by his stage name Col Joye, is an Australian popular entertainer and entrepreneur...
) and Kevin Jacobsen
Kevin Jacobsen
Kevin George Jacobsen OAM is a well-known Australian entertainment entrepreneur.Along with his brothers Colin and Keith, he was a member of prominent Australian 1960s band, The Joy Boys....
. Keith and Little Pattie parted in 1984 and she subsequently married Lawrie Thompson in 1986. She is the cousin of Christina Amphlett
Christina Amphlett
Christine Joy Amphlett was the lead singer of Australian rock band Divinyls. She is also known as Chrissy Amphlett.She grew up in Geelong as a singer and dancer...
, lead singer of 1980s Australian band Divinyls
Divinyls
Divinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying...
.
Albums
- The Many Moods of Little Pattie (1964) EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
/ HMVHMVHis Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone... - Pattie (1965) EMI / HMV
- Little Things Like This (1965) EMI / HMV
- The Best of Little Pattie (1968) EMI / Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
- Beautiful in the Rain (1969) EMI / Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
- I Will Bring You Flowers (1972) ATA / Festival Records as Pattie Amphlett
- Sunshine of Your Life (1974) ATA / Festival Records as Pattie Amphlett
- Only If You Want To (1977) ATA / Festival Records as Pattie Amphlett
- 20 Stompie Wompie Hits! (1981) EMI
- Moments Like This (1995) Labrava
Extended Plays
- He's My Blonde Headed Real Gone Stompie Wompie Surfer Boy (1963) EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
/ HMVHMVHis Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone... - Little Pattie (1964)
- Pushin' a Good Thing Too Far (1965) EMI / HMV
- Dance Puppet Dance (1965)
- I'll Eat My Hat (1967) EMI / HMV
Singles
Honours and awards
Vietnam Logistic and Support MedalVietnam Logistic and Support Medal
The Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal was issued to recognise the service of Australian support personnel during the Vietnam War.-Qualification requirements:The qualifying criteria for the medal include:...
Order of Australia Medal
External links
- Little Pattie, ATA Allstar Artist profile
- Brief biography, Long Way to the Top, ABC
- Reach For The Stars Performing Arts Website
- Australian War MemorialAustralian War MemorialThe Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
archive: copyright photographs of Pattie preparing for, and performing in, Vietnam (August, 1966): http://cas.awm.gov.au/TST2/cas_disp_pkg.pr_detailed_scr?surl=1618195656ZZMVBBDJSSHZ&acid=2000&pi_query_id=15241181&pi_umo_id=490446&ps_selected_coll=ALL&ps_view_type=BRIEF¤t_page_number=1&ps_access_level=Public http://cas.awm.gov.au/TST2/cas_disp_pkg.pr_detailed_scr?surl=1618195656ZZMVBBDJSSHZ&acid=2000&pi_query_id=15241181&pi_umo_id=490447&ps_selected_coll=ALL&ps_view_type=BRIEF¤t_page_number=1&ps_access_level=Public http://cas.awm.gov.au/TST2/cas_disp_pkg.pr_detailed_scr?surl=1618195656ZZMVBBDJSSHZ&acid=2000&pi_query_id=15241181&pi_umo_id=477815&ps_selected_coll=ALL&ps_view_type=BRIEF¤t_page_number=1&ps_access_level=Public http://cas.awm.gov.au/TST2/cas_disp_pkg.pr_detailed_scr?surl=296461036ZZZFAHQQPJCFR&acid=2000&pi_query_id=15244336&pi_umo_id=477813&ps_selected_coll=ALL&ps_view_type=BRIEF¤t_page_number=1&ps_access_level=Public - Other copyright photos: PopArchives, Operation Catalyst, Iraq, December 2005
