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Jeff St John (born Jeffrey Leo Newton 22 April 1946, in Newtown, Sydney) is an Australian singer who gained fame for top ten hits with Teach Me How to Fly, Big Time Operator and Fool in Love. St John was born with spina bifida.

Early years
Jeff St John was named Jeffrey Leo Newton when he was born in 1946, and grew up in Sydney as the only child of his linesman dad Leo and his mum Carmel, a secretary. Jeff was diagnosed at birth with spina bifida, a congenital disability that causes malformation of the spine and resultant posture and walking difficulties. For much of his youth, Jeff walked with a caliper on his right leg, and underwent numerous painful operations. But the kind of tenacity to overcome this affliction that Jeff has maintained throughout his life, first became evident in his formative years. As he told Who Weekly magazine in October 2000:

"I was told 'If you want something badly enough and put the work in, there's always a solution to achieving your goal'."

That goal turned out to be music. And Jeff's early ambitions were fully encouraged by his parents, whose house was constantly filled with all kinds of music. Jeff:

"They had glorious voices. On house-cleaning days we'd be wandering around singing excerpts from musicals!"

Aged just 8, Jeffrey first performed in public in a kids' talent quest on Sydney's radio 2GB. By age 15 he had secured a guest spot on Channel Nine's TV teen talent showcase, Opportunity Knocks, hosted by Desmond Tester, and he appeared regularly on the show between 1961 and 1963.

A couple of years afterwards, by this time almost constantly supported by crutches because of his worsening condition, Jeff joined forces with an established Sydney blues-rock outfit called The Syndicate who he met by chance at the Sydney Musicians Club in early 1965. With members including guitarist Peter Anson (from legendary Sydney garage-R&B monsters The Missing Links) The Syndicate with Jeff on board soon evolved, via The Wild Oats, into The Id (named after the popular Johnny Hart cartoon strip The Wizard of Id), with Jeff also adopting the stage name he has used ever since.

1960-1970s
He appeared with a number of bands during the late 1960s and early 1970s including; John The Syndicate aka The Wild Oats (1965), The Id (1966–67) with Bob Bertles (tenor sax '67), Jeff St John & Yama (1967–68), Jeff St John & Copperwine (1969-72), with Harry Brus (bass 70-72) and Wendy Saddington (co-lead vocals 70-71), Jeff St John Band (1972–73) and, Red Cloud (1975-76)

1980-1990s
During the 1980s St John made a number of guest television appearances. He appeared in a episode of A Country Practice (episode number needed), and he also had a couple of cameo appearances in the Australian Comedy Show, Ratbags (1981) (episode number needed). In 1988 as part of Australian Bicentenary celebrations along with many other Australian celebrities St John took part in a video shoot at Ayers Rock called Celebration of a Nation.

In 1983, due to health problems, St John announced his retirement. St John took up the role of Social Education at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards in Sydney from 1984-1989. During this time St John gave lectures to children from Year 5 in Primary school through to adults. He created teaching aids and was involved in writing and producing radio and television advertising campaigns for the teaching program.

In 1996, St John moved to Perth, and in 1999 St John began performing a regular gig with friends at Clancy's Fish Pub, Fremantle. This collaboration led him to form a new band, "The Embers", and for which he wrote the show "Stokin' The Fire".

2000 and beyond
In 2001 St John released an album with The Embers, Will the real Jeff St. John PLEASE Stand Up? This album was a departure from St John's blues/rock sound, on this album he and the band played jazz swing standards from '30s and '40s, giving them the rock treatment (paraphrased from Can Do Musos - Jeff's bio - reference still needed).

St John has been involved in educating people about disabilities and he was appointed as the patron of MOSAIC Community Care when it nearly established. MOSAIC provides support for people with disabilities in many areas, including rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities who are unfairly penalised by the legal system. (Citation needed from Jeff's Biography on his website NOT footnote [4] Jeff St John Live!)

He appeared at the opening of the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney where he sang the Australian National Anthem.

Although retired from singing, St John has remained very active. St John continues to write poetry. He has written his autobiography, "The Jeff St John Story: The Inside Outsider", '''[due to be published in April 2016 by Starman Books (James Anfuso). (www.starmanbooks.com.au)]'''

The Harley Trike
St John has a keen interest in problem solving and vehicular design and construction. St John was a keen motorcyclist and he owned a three-wheeled Harley Trike. He worked with two senior lecturers and three graduate students from the University of New South Wales, Department of Mechanical Engineering, for a year to develop his concept of "wheel-in" entry for motorbikes that would allow wheelchair users to ride a modified motorbike without the need to transfer out of their wheelchairs. St John's red Harley Trike was used on the cover of Will the real Jeff St. John PLEASE stand up?

Discography
Singles

Jan. 1966

"Lindy Lou" / "Somebody To Love" (Spin EK-1220)

Apr. 1966

"The Jerk" / "Take This Hurt Off Me" (Spin EK-1328)

'''July. 1966'''

"Black Girl" / "Eastern Dream" (Spin EK-1446)

Dec. 1966

"Big Time Operator" / "Sister's Got A Boyfriend" (Spin EK-1606)

Apr. 1967

"You Got Me Hummin'" / "Watch Out" (Spin EK-1730)

Oct. 1967

"Nothing Comes Easy" / "Everybody's Gone" (Spin EK-2016)

Feb. 1970

"Cloud Nine" / "Days To Come" (Spin EK-3576)

Nov. 1970

"Teach Me How To Fly" / "Freedom Blues" (Chart CR-214)

Aug. 1971

"Hummingbird" / "Keep On Growing" (Infinity INK 4365)

Oct. 1972

"Yesterday's Music" / "In The Window Of Your Love" (Infinity INK-4852)

Apr. 1973

"Yesterday's Music" / "Lady Of Ginger" (A&M (US release)

May 1975

"Mr Jones" / "Acapulco Lady" (Infinity)

Oct. 1975

"Blood Brother" / "Reach Out And Touch Me" (Infinity)

EPs

Feb 1967

Big Time Operator (Spin)

May 1967

You Got Me Hummin' (Spin)

May 1970

Sing A Simple Song (Spin)

Albums

March 1967

Big Time Operators (Spin)

March 1970

Joint Effort (Spin)

Available on CD with bonus tracks, through Vicious Sloth

Jan. 1971

Wendy Saddington & Copperwine Live (Infinity)

(recorded without Jeff St John)

1972

The Best Of Jeff St John (Spin)

May 1974

Jeff St John Live (Infinity)

1977

Survivor 1965-1975 (Infinity)

2001

Will the real Jeff St. John PLEASE stand up?

(Jeffrey St. John & The Embers)