One early 1960s day in Sydney, Renée Geyer, the daughter of holocaust survivors, heard Aretha Franklin singing on the radio. That electrifying moment put Renée on the road to a career in music, She would become Australia’s finest practitioner of the black music she loved.
From wine bar gigs on Bondi Road as a teenager, Renée rose to be our queen of soul. By the early 70s, she had a record contract and radio hits. But she lived for the stage, for live shows, where she was the real deal, a gifted interpreter of song, an authentic and powerful soul singer.
She was also in great demand as a session singer, with some of the biggest international acts wanting her to sing on their records.
Much has been said and written about Renée since she died on January 17, about her talent, vision, passion, and strength.
Colin Hay said it best.
“The US had Aretha, the UK Dusty Springfield. Australia had Renée.
”If beauty has a sound, it is the voice of Renée Geyer.”
