Glenn Dawson Wheatley (1948 - 2022)

Born 23 Jan 1948 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1 Feb 2022 at age 74 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Glenn Wheatley is Notable.

Glenn Wheatley was an Australian talent manager, entertainment industry executive and former bass guitarist of 1960s leading Australian rock band, The Masters Apprentices.

Wheatley was born at the Selangor Private Hospital, at Nambour, Queensland, on 23rd January 1948 to Dawson Wheatley and Freda Evans.^[1]

In the late 1960s he was the bass player in the rock band the Masters Apprentices.^[2]

Later Wheatley formed a media empire which included radio stations and artist management.^[3] He was responsible for reviving the career of singer John Farnham, by mortgaging his own house to pay for the recording of Farnham's comeback album, Whispering Jack, in 1986. The move re-established Farnham as a major singing star and the album remains the biggest selling Australian album of all time by a local recording artist.^[4] Other artists who enjoyed a successful career with Wheatley's management included Little River Band and Delta Goodrem. Wheatley was also known for his efforts to increase royalties paid to musicians.^[2]

In 2007 Wheatley pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He served 10 months in jail and the remainder of his sentence in home detention.^[5]

Wheatley died in hospital from complications arising from Covid-19. He left behind his wife, former actress Gaynor Martin, one son and two daughters.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, Queensland, 29 January 1948, page 6, column 1, Family Notices. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 2 February 2022)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Australian music industry icon Glenn Wheatley, who managed John Farnham, Little River Band and Delta Goodrem, dies aged 74. 2 Feb 2022 (ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-02/glenn-wheatley-dies-aged-74/100797454 : accessed 2 Feb 2022)
3. ↑ The Canberra Times, ACT, 29 August 1987, page 5, A 'radio junkie' plans to take his fix on anything electronic in advertising battle. (Trove, National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/?type=newspapers : accessed 3 March 2022)
4. ↑ Apter, Jeff. ‘Whispering Jack’ Turns 30 and still the biggest selling Oz album ever. 24 Nov 2016. (Daily Review, https://dailyreview.com.au/whispering-jack-turns-30-still-biggest-selling-oz-album-ever/52052/ : accessed 2 Feb 2022)
5. ↑ Glenn Wheatley, music manager who backed John Farnham, dies of Covid aged 74. 2 Feb 2022. (The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/feb/02/glenn-wheatley-music-promotor-who-managed-john-farnham-dies-aged-74 : accessed 3 Mar 2022)

See Also:

• Wikidata: Item Q5569175
• Wikipedia:Glenn_Wheatley