Trisha Noble
Encyclopedia
Patricia Ann Ruth "Trisha" Noble (born 3 February 1944) is an Australian singer and actress.
Noble rose to fame as a teenage singing star in the 1960s under the name Patsy Ann Noble. Her singing career was founded by Brian Henderson
, the compere of the Australian version of Bandstand
, where she made many appearances. She was signed to the Australian HMV label where she released her first single "Like I'm In Love" b/w "I Love You So Much It Hurts" in 1960. She became good friends with a young Peter Allen
, who had formed the successful Allen Brothers with Chris Bell
, and released one of his compositions "Busy Lips" in late 1960. However, it was not until Johnny Devlin
, a New Zealand singer/songwriter of that era, handed her the lyrics of "Good Looking Boy" in 1961 that she had her first No. 1 hit. "Good Looking Boy" was on top of the charts all over Australia (although this is not borne out by any chart book published in Australia, whether based on individual State charts [Gavin Ryan] or the David Kent calculated national chart), and did not chart internationally. It was released in the United Kingdom, but did not dent the Top 100.
Patsy Ann Noble is supposed to have won a "Best Female Singer of the Year" award in Australia in late 1961, although it is unclear who conveyed that award on her. By December 1962, Patsy Ann had scored herself two No. 1 and four Top 10 singles in Australia (again, the only evidence of a Top 40 song is "Good Looking Boy", the sole listing in any chart book published in Australia, let alone any No.1 songs at all).
With this supposed success, she travelled to London in 1963 where she was given a two-year contract with Columbia Records
. In London, she released many "girl group"-sounding pop songs including "Sour Grapes" (1963), "I'm Nobody's Baby" (1963) and "Accidents Will Happen" (1963), but received little commercial success (although she continued to score hits between 1963 and 1965 in her native country, Australia [again, this is unsubstantiated by the facts of published Top 40 charts anywhere in the country]). In 1963, she appeared in the British musical film Live It Up!
(with music produced by Joe Meek
), although only in a singing role. In June 1965, Noble released "He Who Rides a Tiger" which peaked at No. 21 on the British Top 30, and No. 15 on Australia's Top 40. This was to be her last successful single.
During the 1960s, Noble released six albums in Australia and one in England, the most popular being 1961's The Blonde Bombshell which received an award for most outstanding vocal performance on an album (an award from whom?). In the second half of the 1960s, she turned to acting and made her dramatic acting debut in a 1965 BBC television production entitled The Snowball and soon found herself appearing on other television series and films, most notably the 1966 Danger Man
episode "Not So Jolly Roger" (in which her recording "He Who Rides a Tiger" was featured), Callan
and Carry On Camping
.
After 1967, Noble had changed her name to Trisha Noble in order to distance herself from her fame (???) as a teen singer. She relocated to the United States beginning in 1971 and appeared in many films and TV series there, and is well remembered for her role as buxom Detective Rosie Johnson in the ultra-violent series Strike Force (starring Robert Stack
) on ABC
in 1981–82. She is also widely recognized from her guest-starring role in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
as Sabrina, a superhuman thief from the episode "Cruise Ship to the Stars"; as well as for a 1976 guest appearance on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
where she played a female reporter who tries to seduce Ted Baxter
(Ted Knight
) during a convention in the episode "Ted's Temptation".
In 1975, Noble appeared in the Columbo episode Playback, where she meets the murderer (played by Oskar Werner
) in an art gallery wearing a low-cut dress. She was cast by the director who spotted her in a party wearing the same dress and was impressed by her immense sex appeal. In 1979, she also appeared in The Rockford Files
as Odette Lependieu in the two-part episode, "Never Send a Boy King to do a Man's Job". In 1980 she played the part of an heiress(Phyllis Morley) in the comedy "Private Eyes" starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. Soon after Strike Force was cancelled, Noble returned to Australia in 1983 with her son Patrick because her father was seriously ill. She then re-established a successful career there as a stage actress. She later filmed a small role as Padmé Amidala
's mother Jobal Naberrie in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
which was cut from the final film (but included on the DVD release). Noble briefly reprised the role in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
in 2005.
She also continues to perform on the live stage and most recently appeared with the new National Music Theatre Company, Kookaburra, in their premiere season of Pippin as Berthe at the Sydney Theatre.
PATSY ANN NOBLE with The Delltones and orchestra directed by Bob Young. Sydney, 1961
PATSY ANN NOBLE with orchestra directed by Geoff Harvey. Sydney, 1962
PATSY ANN NOBLE [with] accompaniments arranged & conducted by Geoff Harvey. Sydney, 1962
PATSY ANN NOBLE with Martin Slavin
& His Orchestra. London, 1963
THE FIRST WAVE: Australian rock & pop recordings:
PATSY ANN NOBLE with Martin Slavin & His Orchestra. London, 1963
PATSY ANN NOBLE [with orchestra] arranged and conducted by Ivor Raymonde
. London, 1963
PATSY ANN NOBLE with orchestra arranged and conducted by Martin Slavin. London, 1963
PATSY ANN NOBLE with orchestra arranged and conducted by Norrie Paramor
. London, 1963
Biography
Noble was born in Sydney, Australia. Her father was comedian and singer Buster Noble and her mother was the entertainer Helen De Paul.Noble rose to fame as a teenage singing star in the 1960s under the name Patsy Ann Noble. Her singing career was founded by Brian Henderson
Brian Henderson
Brian Weir Henderson AM is a New Zealand-born Australian television personality and news-reader.-Career:Henderson hosted the Australian version of Bandstand from 1958 until 1972...
, the compere of the Australian version of Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
, where she made many appearances. She was signed to the Australian HMV label where she released her first single "Like I'm In Love" b/w "I Love You So Much It Hurts" in 1960. She became good friends with a young Peter Allen
Peter Allen
Peter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, Arthur's Theme, winning an Academy Award in 1981...
, who had formed the successful Allen Brothers with Chris Bell
Chris Bell
Chris Bell may refer to:*Chris Bell , singer-songwriter and guitarist of the band Big Star*Chris Bell , former Congressman and 2006 candidate for Governor of Texas...
, and released one of his compositions "Busy Lips" in late 1960. However, it was not until Johnny Devlin
Johnny Devlin
Johnny Devlin, born John Lockett Devlin , was an influential early New Zealand rock musician, sometimes called "New Zealand's answer to Elvis Presley"....
, a New Zealand singer/songwriter of that era, handed her the lyrics of "Good Looking Boy" in 1961 that she had her first No. 1 hit. "Good Looking Boy" was on top of the charts all over Australia (although this is not borne out by any chart book published in Australia, whether based on individual State charts [Gavin Ryan] or the David Kent calculated national chart), and did not chart internationally. It was released in the United Kingdom, but did not dent the Top 100.
Patsy Ann Noble is supposed to have won a "Best Female Singer of the Year" award in Australia in late 1961, although it is unclear who conveyed that award on her. By December 1962, Patsy Ann had scored herself two No. 1 and four Top 10 singles in Australia (again, the only evidence of a Top 40 song is "Good Looking Boy", the sole listing in any chart book published in Australia, let alone any No.1 songs at all).
With this supposed success, she travelled to London in 1963 where she was given a two-year contract with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia 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...
. In London, she released many "girl group"-sounding pop songs including "Sour Grapes" (1963), "I'm Nobody's Baby" (1963) and "Accidents Will Happen" (1963), but received little commercial success (although she continued to score hits between 1963 and 1965 in her native country, Australia [again, this is unsubstantiated by the facts of published Top 40 charts anywhere in the country]). In 1963, she appeared in the British musical film Live It Up!
Live It Up! (film)
Live It Up! is a British music-film released in 1963. It was filmed at Pinewood Film Studios in London, England and featured Gene Vincent, Jenny Moss, The Outlaws, Patsy Ann Noble, The Saints and Heinz Burt among others...
(with music produced by Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
), although only in a singing role. In June 1965, Noble released "He Who Rides a Tiger" which peaked at No. 21 on the British Top 30, and No. 15 on Australia's Top 40. This was to be her last successful single.
During the 1960s, Noble released six albums in Australia and one in England, the most popular being 1961's The Blonde Bombshell which received an award for most outstanding vocal performance on an album (an award from whom?). In the second half of the 1960s, she turned to acting and made her dramatic acting debut in a 1965 BBC television production entitled The Snowball and soon found herself appearing on other television series and films, most notably the 1966 Danger Man
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
episode "Not So Jolly Roger" (in which her recording "He Who Rides a Tiger" was featured), Callan
Callan (TV series)
Callan is the title of a British television series set in the murky world of espionage. Originally produced by ABC Weekend Television and later Thames Television, it was aired on the ITV network over four seasons spread out between 1967 and 1972...
and Carry On Camping
Carry On Camping
Carry On Camping is a 1969 comedy film and the seventeenth Carry On film. It features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Hattie Jacques, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Bresslaw and Peter Butterworth.-Plot:...
.
After 1967, Noble had changed her name to Trisha Noble in order to distance herself from her fame (???) as a teen singer. She relocated to the United States beginning in 1971 and appeared in many films and TV series there, and is well remembered for her role as buxom Detective Rosie Johnson in the ultra-violent series Strike Force (starring Robert Stack
Robert Stack
Robert Stack was an American actor. In addition to acting in more than 40 films, he was the star of the 1959-1963 ABC television series The Untouchables and later served as the host of Unsolved Mysteries.-Early life:...
) on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in 1981–82. She is also widely recognized from her guest-starring role in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an American science fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons between 1979–1981, and the feature-length pilot episode for the series was released as a theatrical film several months before the series aired....
as Sabrina, a superhuman thief from the episode "Cruise Ship to the Stars"; as well as for a 1976 guest appearance on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977...
where she played a female reporter who tries to seduce Ted Baxter
Ted Baxter
Ted Baxter is a fictional character on the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show . Portrayed by Ted Knight, the Baxter character is a broad parody of a vain, shallow, buffoonish TV newsman. Knight's comedic model was William Powell, and he also drew on various Los Angeles newscasters, including George...
(Ted Knight
Ted Knight
Ted Knight was an American actor best known for playing the comedic role of Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Henry Rush on Too Close for Comfort, and Judge Elihu Smails in Caddyshack.- Early years :...
) during a convention in the episode "Ted's Temptation".
In 1975, Noble appeared in the Columbo episode Playback, where she meets the murderer (played by Oskar Werner
Oskar Werner
-Early life:Born Oskar Josef Bschließmayer in Vienna, Werner spent much of his childhood in the care of his grandmother, who entertained him with stories about the Burgtheater, the Austrian state theatre, where he was accepted at the age of eighteen by Lothar Müthel. He was the youngest person ever...
) in an art gallery wearing a low-cut dress. She was cast by the director who spotted her in a party wearing the same dress and was impressed by her immense sex appeal. In 1979, she also appeared in The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files is an American television drama series which aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974 and January 10, 1980. It has remained in regular syndication to the present day. The show stars James Garner as Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford and features Noah...
as Odette Lependieu in the two-part episode, "Never Send a Boy King to do a Man's Job". In 1980 she played the part of an heiress(Phyllis Morley) in the comedy "Private Eyes" starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. Soon after Strike Force was cancelled, Noble returned to Australia in 1983 with her son Patrick because her father was seriously ill. She then re-established a successful career there as a stage actress. She later filmed a small role as Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala is a fictional character in the Star Wars science fiction franchise. She first appeared on film in the 1999 feature film, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, as the young queen of the planet Naboo. In subsequent prequel trilogy films, Padmé represents Naboo in the Galactic Senate...
's mother Jobal Naberrie in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 American epic space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales. It is the fifth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the second in terms of the series' internal chronology...
which was cut from the final film (but included on the DVD release). Noble briefly reprised the role in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the sixth and final film released in the Star Wars saga and the third in terms of the series' internal chronology....
in 2005.
She also continues to perform on the live stage and most recently appeared with the new National Music Theatre Company, Kookaburra, in their premiere season of Pippin as Berthe at the Sydney Theatre.
Discography
PATSY ANN NOBLE with orchestra under direction of Bob Young. Sydney, 1960- Like I’m in love (Walker & Lynn)
- I love you so much it hurts (Tillman)
PATSY ANN NOBLE with The Delltones and orchestra directed by Bob Young. Sydney, 1961
- Busy lips (The Allen Brothers)
- It’s always the way (Johnny DevlinJohnny DevlinJohnny Devlin, born John Lockett Devlin , was an influential early New Zealand rock musician, sometimes called "New Zealand's answer to Elvis Presley"....
) - A guy who can mend a broken heart (Lucky Starr)
- Good looking boy (Johnny Devlin)
PATSY ANN NOBLE with orchestra directed by Geoff Harvey. Sydney, 1962
- I’m not supposed to know (Johnny Ashcroft-Lorna Barry-Noel Balfour)
- Oh, my little baby darling (I love you) (Joe Halford-Jay Justin)
- Don’t love and run (Chet Clark)
- I’ll be thinking of you (Lorna Barry & Noel Balfour)
- Once in a lifetime (Johnny Devlin)
- When you find your true love (Joe Halford-Ray Swinfield)
PATSY ANN NOBLE [with] accompaniments arranged & conducted by Geoff Harvey. Sydney, 1962
- Johnny One Note (Rodgers-Hart)
- Moon RiverMoon River"Moon River" is a song composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini in 1961, for whom it won that year's Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's by Audrey Hepburn, although it has been covered by many other artists...
(Mancini) - I'm Beginning to See the LightI'm Beginning to See the Light"I'm Beginning to See the Light" is a popular song and jazz standard, written by Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James, and published in 1944. Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots recorded a version in 1945 that was on the pop song hits list for six weeks in 1945, reaching #5...
(JamesHarry JamesHenry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
-EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
-HodgesJohnny HodgesJohn Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges was an American alto saxophonist, best known for his solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years, except the period between 1932–1946 when Otto Hardwick generally played first chair...
-George) - I Fall to PiecesI Fall to Pieces"I Fall to Pieces" is a single released by Patsy Cline in 1961, and was featured on her 1961 studio album, Patsy Cline Showcase. "I Fall to Pieces" was Cline's first #1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts...
(Cochran-Howard) - Over the RainbowOver the Rainbow"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...
(ArlenHarold ArlenHarold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
) - Mama (Bixio-Barlow-Brito)
- Put on a happy face (Strouse-Adams)
- Johnny sings a love song (Halford-Harvey)
- Hey, look me over (Leigh-Coleman)
- It Might as Well Be SpringIt Might as Well Be Spring"It Might as Well Be Spring" is a song from the 1945 film, State Fair. With music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year. State Fair was the only original film score by Rodgers and Hammerstein. In the film the song was...
(RodgersRichard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
-HammersteinOscar Hammerstein IIOscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
) - Good looking boy (Devlin)
- MistyMisty (song)"Misty" is a jazz standard written in 1954 by the pianist Erroll Garner.Originally composed as an instrumental following the traditional 32-bar format, the tune later had lyrics by Johnny Burke and became the signature song of Johnny Mathis, reaching #12 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart in 1959...
(Garner-Burke)
PATSY ANN NOBLE with Martin Slavin
Martin Slavin
Martin Slavin was a British composer and music director.Slavin was born in London. He served in the army as a Band Sergeant, and after demobilization formed his own seven piece band, working with musicians such as Eddie Calvert and Kenny Baker.In the 1960s, Slavin composed the musical Nancy Wake...
& His Orchestra. London, 1963
- Don’t you ever change your mind (Bob Barrett)
- Heartbreak Avenue (Barratt-Dutch)
- Sour grapes (Batchelor-Roberts)
THE FIRST WAVE: Australian rock & pop recordings:
PATSY ANN NOBLE with Martin Slavin & His Orchestra. London, 1963
- I’m nobody’s baby – Columbia DB7008, DO4364 *
PATSY ANN NOBLE [with orchestra] arranged and conducted by Ivor Raymonde
Ivor Raymonde
Ivor Raymonde was a British musician, songwriter, arranger and actor, best known for his distinctive rock-orchestral arrangements for Dusty Springfield and others in the 1960s.-Life and career:...
. London, 1963
- I did nothing wrong – Columbia DB7258, DO4475 *
PATSY ANN NOBLE with orchestra arranged and conducted by Martin Slavin. London, 1963
- I was only foolin’ myself (Bob Barratt)
PATSY ANN NOBLE with orchestra arranged and conducted by Norrie Paramor
Norrie Paramor
Norrie Paramor was a British record producer, composer, arranger, and orchestral conductor.Although the term "producer" was not in circulation at the time Paramor started producing records , he effectively began this role in 1952 when he became Recording Director for EMI's Columbia...
. London, 1963
- Ordinary love (Slavin-Gail-Rose)
- It’s better to cry today
- Don’t tell him I told you