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- Jamie Redfern born 9 April 1957, is an Australian television presenter and pop singer. Redfern was a founding member of the Australian show Young Talent Time and currently presents Jamie Redfern's Rascals, which can be viewed on Aurora TV. He is also the director of the Australian Showbusiness Academy. Date of Birth: 9th April, 1957 Date joined YTT: 1971 Date left YTT: 1972 Occupation now: Singer and singing teacher. Back in the '70s, an amazing young superstar by the name of Jamie Redfern burst onto our TV screens, capturing the heart of a nation and taking the world by storm. Jamie Redfern was an original member of the Young Talent Team. He began his TV career -like several of his other YTT co-stars - on "Brian and the Juniors". Jamie was born in Liverpool, a place renowned for producing entertainers. It was here that Jamie made his debut as a singer. In the late 60's and early 70's a young Liverpudlian who had become an Australian became an International superstar. When Jamie was three years of age, he used to go down the street and sing for the ladies and they'd offer him an ice-cream. And so if he sang anything else, like more than one song, his brothers and sisters would get the ice-creams too. So he was a professional at three. Shortly after his first paid gig, the family moved to Australia where the young Jamie really found his voice. And there was an audition for a show called 'Brian and the Juniors' or 'Swallows Juniors', and his Dad said, "You want to go audition for that?" Jamie said, "Yeah. " And so he did. Jamie took the show by storm and so started his remarkable career. After 'Brian and the Swallows', Jamie moved on seamlessly to 'Young Talent Time'. It's something he's proud of. Jamie was the only member who didn't have to audition. He remembers that because he knew them... Jamie had been working with Johnny Young on TV - 'Happening '70', '71', and his own morning show. Jamie had done that a number of times, and so when it came to the concept of 'Young Talent Time', it was just a natural thing for John to host and me to be the first child. Jamie's career took off soon after starting Young Talent Time so he was only with the show for around 10 months. He released a single "The Little White Cloud That Cried" in July 1971 that went #1 in Melbourne and Top 20 nationally. In August of 1971 Jamie was crowned King of Pop for 'best newcomer' It was at these awards when he was presented the King of Pop award by Liberace that his life changed forever. LIBERACE said to Johnny Young: "Incidentally, Johnny, I've been watching the show and I've enjoyed all the performers who have been on and that little boy, that Jamie, he's fantastic. He really... I'd like to take him back to the States. JOHNNY YOUNG (and everyone else concerned) thought he was only joking and, a few days later, they got a call from Seymour Heller who was also managing Shirley MacLaine and Debbie Reynolds and a whole lot of other people in America. He rang and said, "Look, we really would like to take him to America and have him as a special guest on Liberace's program. " And so it was that Jamie and his father were whisked off to America on a tour that would see him achieve what all artists dream of. Some of Jamie's fondest memories of touring with Liberace would have been many things. Meeting some of the world's greatest entertainers and sitting on Ginger Rogers's knee. Meeting Jack Benny not long before he died, and Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, who were just hilarious. And meeting the Jacksons. He remembers that... Michael Jackson wanting to meet him. And Molly Meldrum ringing him up and saying, "Michael wants to meet you. Would you like to meet him?" he said, "What are you talking about, 'Would I like to meet him?'" Jamie taught Michael Jackson tenpin bowls at the Southern Cross when that was going. Jamie enjoyed success that hadn't been seen before, especially in one so young. But, despite the record sales that were racking up, he didn't make the bundles of money that you would associate with superstardom. And, after a dispute over a recording contract, his career ground to a halt. He was left in the wilderness. But rather than feeling bitter, he used past adventures as just that. And the memories are there forever. Elvis was the king of rock'n'roll and sent Jamie a floral guitar... when they opened in Las Vegas. It was a floral guitar to say congratulations. They were supposed to have a jam session. And there was a phone call when they were in Memphis at the gig and Liberace called him over and put him on the phone. Elvis apologised and said that Lisa Marie had taken ill and he had to take off. "But we'll jam some other time. " Jamie said, "OK. " To make up for that, he let Jamie borrow his limousine for two weeks, which was Jamie remembers was unbelievable. These days, Jamie and his wife run their own talent school, passing on the skills and knowledge that made him an international superstar. What does the future hold for Jamie? Jamie believes a lot of happiness, a lot of happiness. He's crazy about his gorgeous little girls, Hayley & Tayla and his wife and the business that they're running - which is really building. American entertainer Liberace took Redfern under his wing, which led to the youngster's first American tour in 1972. Redfern's second single, When You Wish Upon A Star (from The Wizard of Oz) reached Number 31 on the national Australian chart in February 1972. The album of the same name peaked at Number 12 that same month. His second album, Sitting on Top of the World, reached Number 16 in January 1973, and produced the single Rainbow on the River. Redfern returned to the US to tour again with Liberace in early 1973. His hits for 1973 were a revival of Frankie Avalon's Venus and Hello Funny Face. In early 1974, Redfern's third album, Hitch a Ride on a Smile, produced his fourth hit single, also entitled Hitch a Ride on a Smile, which reached Number 28 in Australia in March. Redfern took the song into the finals of the World Popular Song Festival held in Tokyo, and topped off a successful 1974 by taking out the King of Pop award ahead of Johnny Farnham and Daryl Braithwaite. Following the release of the single Jenny in October 1974, and the album Jamie Redfern's Golden Hits during 1975, Redfern slipped from public view. By that stage his younger brother Derek had also entered the entertainment world - also as a member of the Young Talent Time team.
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