It’s a good time to be a John Farnham fan, with the Australian music legend releasing his debut memoir later this month.
And today, the Age Of Reason singer and Hachette Australia have revealed that Farnham has narrated the audiobook for the memoir, The Voice Inside. If you weren’t considering purchasing the audiobook version, that’s enough to make you change your mind (or so we believe).
The Voice Inside was co-written by Farnham and Poppy Stockell, director of the documentary John Farnham: Finding The Voice. Today’s announcement that the singer is narrating his book arrives with the news that the two chapters written by John’s wife, Jill Farnham, will be narrated by her.
John Farnham said about the experience of narrating his audiobook, “I’ve just finished narrating my audiobook. It was a bit of a roller-coaster ride. There were more than a few laughs and some tears, but it made me realise how lucky I’ve been.”
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Vanessa Radnidge, the Head of Literary at Hachette Australia, recalled fans asking if Farnham would record the audiobook himself when the memoir release was announced in April.
“At the time, we could not provide an answer, and I honestly did not think it would be possible,” Radnidge said. “But John is a born entertainer, and he never wants to disappoint his fans. Despite the challenges posed by surgery and radiation, John dedicated many hours in the studio to record his book in his own voice. Now, I cannot imagine anyone else narrating it.
“Listening to him is such a delight – the heart, emotion, and showmanship are all there. So are the laughs, the giggles, and the tears. John feels lucky to have lived the life he has, and I know we are all incredibly lucky to have John Farnham share the voice inside with all of us.”
The book will explore Farnham’s upbringing in Melbourne in the ‘60s, his release of the highest-selling Australian album of all time (Whispering Jack), his decades-long touring career, and his story of resilience.
As well as the successes, Farnham will examine the darkness: the years in which his career stalled, facing debts, triumphing through adversity, even against mouth cancer, and moving forward after the heartbreaking loss of his long-time friend and manager Glenn Wheatley.
The Voice Inside will be available in hardback, e-book and audiobook on Wednesday, 30 October. You can pre-order your copy here.
