Pattie (Amphlett) Thompson OAM

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Biography

Little Pattie OAM is an Australian singer who started her career as a teenager in the early 1960s, recording surf pop. She is arguably best known for her 18th August 1966 concert at Nui Dat, South Vietnam for Australian troops when, just a few kilometres away, the Battle of Long Tan commenced. She is a cousin of the late Divinyls lead singer Chrissy Amphlett.

Pattie (Amphlett) Thompson OAM was born in New South Wales, Australia

Patricia 'Pattie' Thelma Amphlett was born on 17th March 1949 in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia. She is the only daughter of Joseph Amphlett and Beatrice Thelma Vercoe. She has an older brother, Joe, and is a great great granddaughter of convict Robert Amphlett, who arrived in the then penal settlement in 1830. Pattie grew up in Sydney's southern suburbs of Mascot and then in 37 King Street, Eastlakes, and was educated at King Street Public School and Sydney Girls High School, Moore Park. At eight years of age, she commenced piano lessons and then singing lessons when eleven years old. Her nickname, Little Pattie, appeared whilst at school and stuck fast; she had two friends, taller than she, also named Patricia.

Pattie is a singer of renown especially loved for her He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy

Little Pattie picked up a weekly gig at Bronte Surf Club at fourteen years of age, backed by a band called The Statesmen. During one of these performances she was spotted by an EMI Records talent scout, given an audition and then a contract. Her debut single was the double A-sided He's My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy / Stompin' at Maroubra; released by EMI on HMV on 7th November 1963 when she was aged fourteen, and reached Number 2 on the Sydney music charts to the Beatles' I Want to Hold Your Hand. When Christmas holidays commenced in December 1963, she decided that was it for school, three months before she turned fifteen.

Little Pattie's popularity saw her voted Australian Female Singer of the Year in 1965. She appeared frequently on television variety programs, including Bandstand, Saturday Date, An Evening With and Sing, Sing, Sing, and regularly toured with Judy Stone, Cathy Wayne (killed in South Vietnam in 1969) and English singer Sandie Shaw in support of Col Joye & the Joy Boys (formerly the KJ Quintet and included Col's brothers Kevin Jacobsen on piano and Keith Jacobsen on bass guitar).

Seventeen year-old Little Pattie became the youngest, and shortest, person to entertain Australian troops during the Vietnam War. She was singing onstage at Nui Dat on 18th August, backed by the Joy Boys, when the Battle of Long Tan started less than four kilometres (2.5 miles) away. She was evacuated from the area before the completion of her scheduled performances. ^[1] Pattie later recalled, "During the third show I was given the sign, which of course is the fingers across the throat ... We were very swiftly evacuated by Iroquois helicopters. We could see the jungle where the battle was well and truly taking place and I remember that feeling of – this is very bad; this is dangerous. This is going to be a sad night, and indeed it was ... I could see thousands and thousands of orange lights, which of course was the gunfire, and I'll never forget it. Never." ^[2] In the days after the battle, Col and Little Pattie visited the US 36th Evacuation Hospital at Vung Tau to comfort and sing to the wounded soldiers. In 1994 she received the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal in recognition of her services in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam. ^[1] Returning home, Little Pattie performed solo in cabarets and clubs, and continued releasing singles and albums with EMI until 1970; then signing with Col's ATA recording label and management group.

Pattie lost her Mum in November 1969, aged just 45 years.

In 1973, Little Pattie married Joy Boys' bass guitarist and ATA record producer and manager, Keith Jacobsen, younger brother of Colin (Col Joye) Jacobsen AM and Kevin Jacobsen OAM. Keith and Little Pattie parted in 1984. Pattie married drummer Lawrie Thompson in 1986. She lost her father the following year, aged 67 years.

She continued her musical career, performing in her own shows, hosting various charity and corporate events and giving many concerts overseas. In addition to performing, she has also taught music and singing privately and at a number of Sydney high schools. Her students include Nikki Webster, who achieved fame for her role in the opening ceremony for the Sydney Olympics.

Little Pattie was included in a 1998 issue of Australian postage stamps featuring pop and rock acts.

She served on the Council of the Australian War Memorial between 1995 and 1998. ^[1] She has also been National President of Australia's Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, a member of the Federal Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and vice-president of Actors' Equity.

Little Pattie received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2003 for her 'services to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (as National President) and to Actors Equity (as vice-president)'. ^[3]

On 27th August 2009, she was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame. Little Pattie was overwhelmed, stating 'This induction into the ARIA Hall Of Fame comes as such a surprise, I wasn’t expecting it. I am so thrilled and honoured. It’s incredibly special to be joining my cousin Chrissy in receiving this recognition'. ^[4]

She remains a committed advocate for Vietnam veterans, and continues to sing for our troops overseas. ^[1]

In 2018, Little Pattie became an inaugural recipient of the Australian Women in Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. ^[5]

Pattie lives on the Hawkesbury River.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Australian War Memorial: Patricia Thelma 'Little Pattie' Amphlett; accessed 15 Dec 2022
2. ↑ Radio Australia Today, 17 Aug 2009
3. ↑ [ Australian Honours; accessed 15 Dec 2022]
4. ↑ ARIA media release '2009 ARIA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES REVEALED'; accessed 15 Dec 2022
5. ↑ Australian Women in Music Awards; accessed 15 Dec 2022

See also

• Australian War Memorial: Patricia Thelma 'Little Pattie' Amphlett; accessed 15 Dec 2022.
• Wikipedia: Little Pattie; accessed 15 Dec 2022.
• Wikidata: Item Q6651296, en:Wikipedia