‘The Voice’ is back: John Farnham to break his silence for audio version of long awaited memoir
More than two years after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his mouth, Australian music legend John Farnham’s voice is set to be heard again in a surprise recording.
Fiona Byrne
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More than two years after he underwent harrowing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his mouth, Australian music legend John Farnham’s voice will be heard once again.
Farnham has been quietly recovering from the serious health battle at his Melbourne home since the surgery in August 2022.
But now Farnham’s golden voice will be heard again.
The iconic singer is understood to have recorded the audio version of his long awaited memoir.
The book, John Farnham: The Voice Inside, has been written by Farnham and Poppy Stockell, who wrote and directed the singer’s Logie Award winning biopic Finding the Voice.
In news that will thrill fans, Farnham and his wife Jill are understood to be included on the audiobook version of the memoir.
Farnham’s son James revealed that his father would be heard on the audio book while speaking to the Sunday Herald Sun on the red carpet at the recent Logie Awards.
“I am actually looking forward to hearing him read it. Being able to have the audio book and his voice is going to be really great,” he said.
Just how much of the audio version of The Voice Inside Farnham will be part of is unclear.
It is understood his wife Jill will also be heard on the audio book.
Speaking at the Logies, Stockell said it had been incredible to sit down with John and Jill Farnham to write the book.
In a clip released by the publisher Hachette, Stockell further explained the privilege of working with the Aussie superstar.
“The term legend almost falls short for someone like John Farnham,” she said.
“It is a hero’s journey with epic highs and epic lows and it is a story that reflects Australia from the ‘60s to the ‘70s to the ‘80s to now. A lot of John’s history is our history.”
For Gaynor Wheatley, whose husband Glenn Wheatley was an incredibly close friend of Farnham’s as well as being his manager, the memoir has been part of a long “to-do list” she has been completing since Glenn’s shock passing in early 2022.
“Glenn had this to-do list,” Gaynor said.
“I don’t think the book was actually on the to-do list, we got that all ourselves, but there is a to-do list and I am working my way through it.
“It is a big list. I am never finished and Glenn was never finished either and John has been amazing.
“He will deny this, but I think he has actually enjoyed the process (of writing the book).
“Poppy made it quite easy for him in a timeline fashion. I think he has enjoyed the process and it is just such a beautiful read.”
The Voice Inside will be released by Hachette Australia on October 30.
Farnham has been living a private life with his family since he underwent surgery in August 2022 to remove a cancerous tumour from his mouth.
It has been a long road to recovery, but his sons James and Rob said in August that their dad was in good spirits and enjoyed singing at home and cracking jokes.
His resilience and strength over the past two years has been an inspiration to Rob and James, who became ambassadors for this year’s Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day Appeal to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research.
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