John Farrar (Fâr/ə/) is an acclaimed music producer, songwriter, singer and guitarist who is best known for his work with Olivia Newton-John. Farrar is a former member of the group The Shadows.

Biography

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Born on 8 November, 1946 in Melbourne Australia, John Farrar is notable for his writing and production many of pop singer Olivia Newton-John's number one singles.

He began playing guitar when he was twelve and by sixteen had begun playing with local rock bands.

In 1969, he joined the legendary English rock group, the Shadows. Shortly after Farrar joined the Shadows, they became the house band for the Australian version of American Bandstand, The Go Show. Both Farrar's future wife, Pat Carroll, and Olivia Newton-John appeared on The Go Show as singers.

After returning from a tour with Newton-John, Carroll dated and married Farrar. The newlyweds moved to England where Farrar formed Marvin, Welch & Farrar, a vocal-harmony group comprised of former members of the Shadows. Marvin, Welch & Farrar put out two albums, a self-titled album released in 1971 and Second Opinion which was released in 1975. During this time, Welch and Farrar began working on singles for Newton-John and found considerable success with her cover of Bob Dylan's If Not For You. With Newton-John's signing with MCA Records, Farrar began a prolific songwriting and production career with the successful vocalist. His participation in Newton-John's career produced a stream of gold and platinum hits. His discography reflects an artist with a wide range of styles, from You're the One That I Want to Physical.

In the mid-1990s, he collaborated with Newton-John and lyricist Tim Rice for the musical score of Cliff Richard's musical Heathcliff based on the Emily Brontë novel Wuthering Heights.

Discography

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As a performer

Solo

• John Farrar
• With Rainine on My Mind
• John and Mary

Marvin, Welch & Farrar

• Marvin, Welch & Farrar
• Second Opinion
• Hank Marvin and John Farrar
• Best of Marvin, Welch and Farrar

The Shadows

• Rockin’ With Curly Leads
• Specs Appeal
• Live at Paris Olympia
• Tasty
• Dakota
• Shadows in the 70’s
• Run, Billy, Run
• It’ll Be Me, Babe
• John Peel session

The Strangers

• Best of The Strangers
• Bobby & Laurie
• Colin Cook & The Strangers
• Let’s Go With The Strangers
• Colin Cook and The Strangers

As a songwriter and producer

With Olivia Newton-John

• Olivia Newton John
• Olivia
• Music Makes My Day
• Long Live Love
• Clearly Love
• Have You Never Been Mellow
• Making a Good Thing Better
• Totally Hot
• Physical
• Soul Kiss
• Warm and Tender
• Greatest Hits
• 20 Golden Greats
• Grease
• Xanadu (with ELO member, Jeff Lynne)

Production credits

• Neil Sedaka
• The Moirs
• Gidget
• Cher
• Jack Wagner
• Tony Cole

Hit records

• "If Not for You"
• "Let Me Be There" #6 Pop; #10 Country
• 1974 "If You Love Me, Let Me Know" #5 Pop; #1 Country
• 1975 "Have You Never Been Mellow" #1 Pop
• 1975 "Have You Never Been Mellow (LP)" #1 Pop on the LP chart
• 1975 "Please Mr. Please" #3 Pop
• "Something Better to Do" #13 Pop
• 1976 "Come on Over" #1 Country; #23 Pop
• 1976 "Don't Stop Believin'" #33 Pop
• 1978 "Grease (soundtrack)" Multi-platinum
• 1978 "You're the One That I Want" #1 Pop US; #1 Pop UK
• 1978 "Hopelessly Devoted To You" #3 Pop US; #2 Pop UK
• 1978 "A Little More Love"; #3 Pop
• 1978 "Deeper Than the Night" #11 Pop
• 1980 "Xanadu (soundtrack)" #1 Pop on the LP chart; platinum
• 1980 "Magic": #1 Pop August

Living people | Australian musicians