Renée Geyer

{{Main|Sun 1972}}

Renée Rebecca Geyer,{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/28/1040511216455.html |title=Geyer Comes Full Circle |last=Schwartz |first=Larry |work=The Age |date=29 December 2002 |access-date=25 May 2023 |location=Melbourne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030302145911/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/28/1040511216455.html |archive-date=2 March 2003 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |url=http://www.reneegeyer.com.au/content/hm_history.html |title=Renée Geyer History |website=Renée Geyer Official Website |access-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218020937/http://www.reneegeyer.com.au/content/hm_history.html |archive-date=18 February 2011 |url-status=dead }} was born on 11 September 1953 in Melbourne,{{cite web |date=2009 |title=Geyer, Renee |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/people/686078?c=people |access-date=18 December 2023 |via=National Library of Australia |journal=Trove}} to a Hungarian-Jewish father, Edward Geyer (1920–2013),{{cite web |url=https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=11553442&S=1331 |title=View Digital Copy: NAA: A1197, GEOGHAGAN-GIBSON C |publisher=National Archive of Australia |date=December 1967 |access-date=26 May 2023 |page=1331 }}{{cite web |title=The Ryerson Index |url=http://ryersonindex.net/search.php |access-date=26 May 2023 |publisher=Ryerson Index Inc}} Note: User must add 'Geyer' into the Surname search parameter and 'Edward' or 'Gabriella' into the Any Given Name(s) parameter. and a Slovak-Jewish mother, Gabriella (1926–2017),{{cite web |url=https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=11553442&S=1335 |title=View Digital Copy: NAA: A1197, GEOGHAGAN-GIBSON C |publisher=National Archive of Australia |date=December 1967 |access-date=26 May 2023 |page=1331 }} a Holocaust survivor, as the youngest of three children.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1433203.htm |title=Episode 89 – Renee Geyer – Transcript |work=Enough Rope with Andrew Denton |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) |date=8 August 2005 |access-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217112923/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1433203.htm |archive-date=17 February 2007 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Biron |first=Mariann |date=22 January 1999 |title=Renee Geyer Enjoys New Success |volume=104 |page=31 |newspaper=The Australian Jewish News |issue=17 |location=New South Wales, Australia |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/261745121 |access-date=18 December 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} The couple had met in Palestine and migrated to Melbourne in 1951 where her father managed the Warsaw Centre. Geyer was named Renée after another Holocaust survivor who had helped her mother in Auschwitz after Josef Mengele had assigned the rest of her mother's family to death. In 1955 the Geyers moved to Sydney where her parents were managers of Komlos Hostel, Greenwich until 1963—thereafter they started their own Geyer Kosher catering service.{{cite news |date=24 December 1980 |title=New Kosher Caterer for Hakoah Club |volume=88A |page=5 |newspaper=The Australian Jewish Times |issue=16 |location=New South Wales, Australia |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263297328 |access-date=18 December 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} Both elder siblings were academically gifted, but Geyer described herself as a problem child, while her parents called her übermutig (German for "reckless"). She attended various schools and was expelled from a private school, Methodist Ladies College, for petty stealing. Her first job was as a receptionist for the Australian Law Society.

In 1970, at the age of 16, while still at Sydney Girls High School or at Dover Heights Girls' High, Geyer began her singing career as a vocalist with jazz-blues band Dry Red.{{cite web|url=http://www.australianjazzagency.com.au/acts/renee_geyer/|title=Renee Geyer|publisher=The Australian Jazz Agency|access-date=11 April 2009}}{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p17842/credits|pure_url=yes}}|title=Renee Geyer > Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=11 April 2009}} The group worked at Kask Wine Bar, Bondi;{{cite news |date=30 August 1973 |title=Youth Scene: Singer Hailed on Solo Album |volume=80 |page=21 |newspaper=The Australian Jewish Times |issue=51 |location=New South Wales, Australia |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263120229 |access-date=18 December 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} where she earned $5 a nightWyndham, Susan. "Renee: Just an Old-Fashioned Jewish Goil at Heart", The Canberra Times (13 October 1985), Vol. 60, no. 18,275. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132371066 p. 42], [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132371066 p. 43], [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132371066 p. 44], [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132371066 p. 45]. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia. her father disapproved of her chosen career, "[he] said if I was going to do that, I was not going to live at home. So to make peace I moved out. I left home—and school... I got a job singing in a bar straight away, and my mum made sure I did not go hungry."{{cite news |url=https://www.australianjewishnews.com/swinging-sounds-of-geyer/ |title=Swinging Sounds of Geyer |newspaper=The Australian Jewish News |first=Danny |last=Gocs |date=29 May 2013 |access-date=26 May 2023 }} Dry Red also contained Eric McCusker (later of Mondo Rock).{{cite news | work = Juke Magazine |title=Mondo Rock | date = 22 October 1983 | page = 11 }} For her audition she sang the Bee Gees' hit "To Love Somebody". She left Dry Red for other bands and in 1971 joined the more accomplished jazz-rock group Sun.{{cite web |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/geyerrenee.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040213065805/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/g/geyerrenee.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=13 February 2004 |title=Renée Geyer |first=Magnus |last=Holmgren |work=Australian Rock Database |access-date=26 May 2023 }}

With Geyer, Sun's line-up was George Almanza (piano), Henry Correy (bass guitar), Gary Norwell (drums), Keith Shadwick (saxophone, flute, clarinet, vocals) and Chris Sonnenberg (guitar). The group released one studio album with Geyer, Sun 1972 in August 1972 but she departed before it appeared and was replaced by Starlee Ford on lead vocals.{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/the-time-renee-geyer-flew-too-close-to-the-sun-20220821-p5bbiq.html | title=Renee Geyer and Sun: Rehearsal Recordings Album | first=John | last=Shand | newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=12 September 2022 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20221001234914/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/the-time-renee-geyer-flew-too-close-to-the-sun-20220821-p5bbiq.html | archive-date=1 October 2022 | url-status=live | url-access=subscription | access-date=26 May 2023 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In 2022 a four-disc album by various Sun line-ups, Rehearsal Recordings Album, was issued. John Shand of The Sydney Morning Herald observed, "[on Geyer's tracks] you hear the tug of war between her R&B comfort zone and the freer, jazzier, moodier pieces... [including] diving to the depths of her range, and singing with such bruising power as summons a sudden blazing guitar solo."

Late in 1972 Geyer joined Mother Earth whose R&B, soul music style was more in keeping with Geyer's idiom. Mother Earth consisted of Geyer, Jim Kelly (guitar), David Lindsay (bass guitar), John Proud (drums) and Mark Punch (guitar, vocals). Lindsay, Proud and Punch had all been members of Nine Stage Horizon, while Kelly was from Levi Smith's Clefs. By the start of the following year Harry Brus had replaced Lindsay on bass guitar and Russell Dunlop replaced Proud on drums. Although the group performed on ABC-TV's popular music show GTK they did not record any material under their own name.

{{Main|Renée Geyer (album){{!}}Renée Geyer|It's a Man's Man's World|Ready to Deal}}

In 1973 Geyer was signed to RCA Records, which had released Sun's album the year before. Already showing signs of her self-proclaimed "Difficult Woman" tag, Geyer loyally insisted that her Mother Earth bandmates back her on her solo recordings and used Brus on bass guitar, Dunlop on drums, Kelly on electric and acoustic guitars and Punch on electric and acoustic guitars; as well as Almanza on piano and Bobby Gebbert on piano. Her self-titled debut studio album was released in September 1973{{cite web|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en/geyerrenee/geyerrenee.htm|url=http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/geyerrenee/geyerrenee.htm|title=Renée Geyer|publisher=HowlSpace – The Living History of Our Music. Ed Nimmervoll|archive-date=26 July 2012|access-date=22 January 2014}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} which mostly consisted of R&B/Soul cover versions of overseas hits and was produced by Gus McNeil at ATA Studios, Sydney. The Australian Jewish Times{{'}} writer praised her "superb vocal talents" and recognised her as an "exciting and talented new star." Geyer left Mother Earth by the end of the year.

Geyer's second studio album, It's a Man's Man's World (August 1974), was produced by Tweed Harris (ex-the Groove).{{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |title-link=Kent Music Report |publisher=Australian Chart Book |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-646-11917-5 |location=St Ives, NSW |author-link=David Kent (historian)}} Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. Aside from Harris on keyboards it was recorded with Mike Brady on backing vocals, Bobby Bright on backing vocals, Geoff Cox on drums, Tim Gaze on guitar and Phil Manning on guitar.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/its-a-mans-mans-world-mw0000471875/credits |title=It's a Man's Man's World – Renée Geyer {{!}} Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=1 June 2023 }} It became her first charting album when it peaked at No. 28 in October on the Kent Music Report. The title track, "It's a Man's Man's World" (November), is a cover version of James Brown's 1965 hit and became her first top 50 single at No. 44.

By December 1974 Geyer had joined with jazz-funk group Sanctuary to tour her second album. Sanctuary's original line-up was Billy Green on guitar (ex-Doug Parkinson in Focus) together with ex-Chain members Barry Harvey on drums, Mal Logan on keyboards and Barry Sullivan on bass guitar. Geyer was disenchanted with RCA's refusal to allow her to record more original material, she was prepared to wait out her contract. However, former Chain members convinced Geyer to contact their label, Mushroom Records' boss Michael Gudinski and talent manager Ray Evans to strike a deal so they would record her and RCA would release her material with a Mushroom logo.

This arrangement led to Geyer's third studio album, Ready to Deal, which was recorded in August–September 1975, with Sanctuary renamed Renée Geyer Band with the line-up Logan, Sullivan, Mark Punch on guitar (ex-Mother Earth) and Greg Tell on drums. They co-wrote most of the material for the album; the album was released in November to reach No. 21. It provided one of Geyer's signature songs "Heading in the Right Direction", written by Punch and Garry Paige{{cite web|url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt|title=(APRA WebWorks) Works Search engine|publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)|access-date=9 April 2009}} Note: Requires user to input song title, e.g. HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION (both ex-the Johnny Rocco Band),{{cite web|url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=556|title=THE RENEE GEYER BAND Heading in the Right Direction|work=Where did they get that song?|publisher=PopArchives.com.au|access-date=12 April 2009}} which reached the top 40 in 1976. Geyer reflected on the local music scene, "The sort of music I like and the band is into is not very popular yet in Australia." She expected to "go overseas to make a name, and money."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article262694469 |title=Feature. Points. Approval for a 'Black Sheep' |first=Nene |last=King |newspaper=The Australian Jewish News |volume=XLII |issue=4 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=26 September 1975 |access-date=1 June 2023 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Geyer participated in the 1975 federal election campaign for the Liberal Party, singing their theme song "Turn on the Lights". In later years she distanced herself from the Liberals and politics in general, stating she had done their theme song to earn enough money to record an album in the United States, where she had signed a contract with Polydor Records. Before departing Mick Rogers on guitar (ex-Manfred Mann's Earth Band) replaced Punch and Renée Geyer Band recorded a live album, Really Really Love You, at their farewell concert in Melbourne's Dallas Brooks Hall on 11 April 1976. It was released in August and reach the top 50; "Shaky Ground", the related single, appeared in September. Geyer had relocated to the Los Angeles mid-1976.

{{Main|Moving Along|Winner (Renée Geyer album){{!}}Winner|Blues License}}

In May 1977 Geyer released her fourth studio album Moving Along on RCA/Mushroom Records, which peaked at No. 11 in Australia. It used Motown Records producer Frank Wilson, with the album's Polydor Records release for the US market re-titled Renée Geyer.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p17842/discography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Renee Geyer > Discography > Main Albums|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=10 April 2009}} Her backing musicians, Logan and Sullivan were supplemented by members of Stevie Wonder's band, as well as Ray Parker Jr. and other US session musicians. According to Cashbox{{'}} reviewer it showcased the "dynamic interpretive qualities in her voice and material that ranges from disco to MOR... she seems poised and ready for a listen by the Yanks."{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-05-07.pdf |title=Album Reviews |magazine=Cashbox |via=World Radio History |page=59 |date=7 May 1977 |access-date=24 June 2023 }} It provided Geyer's biggest Australian hit single, at the time, with "Stares and Whispers" (April) peaking at No. 17. In the US, radio stations began playing several of the album's tracks, in particular her re-recorded version of "Heading in the Right Direction", which was issued as her first US & UK single.

Polydor were aware that her vocal style led listeners to incorrectly assume she was black and urged her to keep a low profile until her popularity had grown, thus they suggested her US album release should not include her photograph.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/love/episodes/transcript2.htm|title=She's Leaving Home|work=Love is in the Air|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=19 October 2003|access-date=10 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603185926/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/love/episodes/transcript2.htm|archive-date=3 June 2008|url-status=dead}} Known for her uncompromising and direct personal manner, Geyer refused to accede to such deception and insisted on marketing with a cover photograph of what she referred to as "my big pink huge face". After the album's release, interest in Geyer as a solo artist subsided in the US, which she later blamed on the headstrong decision regarding marketing. Nevertheless, Geyer earned respect in the US recording industry as a session vocalist for several years working in Los Angeles while periodically returning to Australia. In Australia in late 1977, Geyer released the single "Restless Years", the theme song for the Ten Network's TV soapie The Restless Years, with its writer Mike Perjanik. "Restless Years" reached the top 40 in early 1978. Mushroom released her compilation album, Renée Geyer at Her Very Best in November 1977, which peaked at No. 53.

In 1978 Geyer voiced Christine for Walter Murphy's concept album Phantom of the Opera.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/phantom-of-the-opera-mw0000938866 |title=Walter Murphy – 'Phantom of the Opera' Album Reviews, Songs & More |first=Amy |last=Hanson |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=26 June 2023 }} Amy Hanson of AllMusic found Murphy's vocal tracks to be "at best drab and lifeless, and frequently droning and dire." In December of that year Geyer released her fifth studio album Winner; backing her were Punch, Tell and Tim Partridge on bass guitar (of Kevin Borich Express), together with session musicians. The artist was unhappy with its mix and the lack of support from Polydor—she negotiated a release from her contract, brought the master tapes to Australia where it was remixed and released. Geyer referred to Winner as "a bit of a loser" as its material was not up to standard. Despite touring Australia promoting it, neither the album nor related singles reached the top 50.

For her next studio album, Blues License (June 1979), she combined with Australian guitarist Kevin Borich and his band Express to perform straight blues material.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110565479 |title=Back to the Blues |first=Luis |last=Feliu |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=53 |issue=15,991 |date=6 July 1979 |access-date=25 June 2023 |page=29 |via=National Library of Australia }} The added fire in her vocals was sparked by harder edged backing from the group and additional musicians: Logan, Punch, Kerrie Biddell on backing vocals (Brian Cadd band) and Tim Piper on guitar (ex-Chain, Blackfeather). Geyer and Logan produced the album at Trafalgar Studios, Melbourne. It reached the top 50, and became a fan favourite.{{cite web|last=Baker |first=Glenn A. |author-link=Glenn A. Baker |title=Renee Geyer: Fiery Vocalist Was at the Top of Her Class |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/renee-geyer-fiery-vocalist-was-at-the-top-of-her-class-20230118-p5cdca.html |date=18 January 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=24 January 2023 |url-access=subscription }}

{{Main|So Lucky (Renée Geyer album){{!}}So Lucky|Renée Live|Faves}}

In 1981 Geyer recorded her seventh studio album So Lucky at Shangri-La Studios, Malibu, California.{{cite news |last=Raffaele |first=Garry |date=7 December 1981 |title=POWERFUL, EMOTIVE |volume=56 |page=12 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |issue=16,873 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126863583 |access-date=18 December 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} Helmed by Rob Fraboni (The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, The Band) and Ricky Fataar (Beach Boys), the album moved her genre from soul and added a tougher, rootsy rock/R&B style, while incorporating salsa and reggae. Garry Raffaele of The Canberra Times described it as "hard-driving, powerful, emotive rock" with her vocals depicting "an edge so hard yet so sensual as to be alarming." The lead single "Say I Love You" was released in May and became her biggest hit when it reached No. 5 on the Australian charts and No. 1 in New Zealand.{{cite web |url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ren%E9e+Geyer |title=Discography Renée Geyer |first=Steffen |last=Hung |publisher=New Zealand Charts Portal (Hung Medien) |access-date=26 June 2023 }} So Lucky was released in November 1981 and provided two further singles, "Do You Know What I Mean" (December 1981), which reached the Australian and New Zealand top 30s and "I Can Feel the Fire" (February 1982).

Geyer performed in Mushroom's 10th anniversary celebration, the Mushroom Evolution Concert on Australia Day (26 January) long week-end in 1982 at the Myer Music Bowl.{{cite web|url=http://www.memorabletv.com/musicworld/ozrock/ltom.htm|title=Mushroom Evolution Concert|work=Australian Rock by Memorable Music|publisher=Little Acorns Publishing|year=2007|access-date=12 April 2009}} So Lucky was released internationally by Portrait Records as Renée Geyer by Renée Geyer and the Bump Band in 1982.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r173259/credits|pure_url=yes}}|title=Renée Geyer [1982] > Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=12 April 2009 }} Also in that year Mushroom re-issued her previous albums. In the following year, Geyer released her second live album Renée Live in May, which included a duet with Glenn Shorrock (of Little River Band) on a cover version of Dusty Springfield's 1966 single "Goin' Back". In November Mushroom released a second compilation album, Faves, which concluded her contract. Geyer returned to the US late in 1983 and concentrated on the Los Angeles musical scene. During the 1980s she also undertook minor acting roles in Australian feature films Starstruck (1982) and My First Wife (1984) and TV series Sweet and Sour (1984).

{{Main|Sing to Me (Renée Geyer album){{!}}Sing to Me|Live at the Basement (Renée Geyer album){{!}}Live at the Basement}}

Geyer periodically visited Australia; she performed three songs, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "All My Love" and "Telling it like it Is", for the Oz for Africa concert (part of the global Live Aid program) in March 1985.{{cite web|url=http://liveaid.free.fr/pages/ozforafrika-uk.html|title=Oz for Africa|publisher=liveaid.free.fr|access-date=12 March 2008}} Concert excerpts were broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network and Nine Network) and on MTV in the US.

In 1985 Geyer signed with WEA Records and in May she released a single "All My Love", which peaked at number 28. In the following month her eighth studio album, Sing to Me, peaked at number 37. It was not given a US release and none of the follow-up singles reached the top 50—Geyer and WEA parted ways.{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/2CHn5GC.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 581 – 26 August 1985 > Singles: New Releases|publisher=Kent Music Report|via=Imgur.com|access-date=30 December 2020}} She recorded a live album Live at the Basement in May 1986, which was released later that year by ABC Records.{{cite AV media notes |first=Renée |last=Geyer |title=Live at the Basement |year=1986 |type=Vinyl |publisher=ABC Music }}

Geyer continued as an in-demand US session vocalist, as in Australia. In 1986 she sang lead vocals on the Danny Hutton Hitters cover of Nik Kewshaw's "Wouldn't It Be Good" that was featured in the John Hughes 1986 film Pretty In Pink, She appeared on Sting's 1987 double-album, ...Nothing Like the Sun, including his single "We'll Be Together".{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r19162/credits|pure_url=yes}} |title=Nothing Like the Sun > Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=11 April 2009}} She performed a duet with Joe Cocker on his 1987 album Unchain My Heart{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r4234/credits|pure_url=yes}}|title=Unchain My Heart > Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=11 April 2009}} and, following its release, toured Europe with him as a backing vocalist. She was audible on Toni Childs' hit "Don't Walk Away" from that artist's 1988 album Union.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r3886/credits|pure_url=yes}}|title=Union > Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=11 April 2009}} Other sessions included working with Neil Diamond, Julio Iglesias, Buddy Guy and Bonnie Raitt. She also recorded "Is it Hot in Here" for the soundtrack of the 1988 film Mystic Pizza. She described her backing vocals as supplying "The old Alabama black man wailing on the end of a record so they hire the white Jewish girl from Australia to do it."

In 1988 Geyer joined the group Easy Pieces, with Hamish Stuart (guitar and vocals) and Steve Ferrone (drums) both ex-the Average White Band and Anthony Jackson (bass guitar). They signed to A&M Records and their self-titled album, Easy Pieces, was released in 1988 to positive reviews, but the label changed distributors just as it was released and music stores could not order copies. The album did not chart.

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|description=Geyer's version of Paul Kelly's "Foggy Highway" for the various artists soundtrack, Seven Deadly Sins: Music from the ABC TV Series in 1993. Kelly provided guitar for this recording. He wrote "Difficult Woman" specifically for Geyer and produced her 1994 album, Difficult Woman.}}

{{Main|Seven Deadly Sins (miniseries){{!}}Seven Deadly Sins|Difficult Woman|The Best of Renee Geyer 1973-1998|Sweet Life (album){{!}}Sweet Life}}

Geyer visited Australia in 1992 and recorded a number of songs, including "Foggy Highway", for the ABC-TV mini series Seven Deadly Sins, alongside Vika Bull, Deborah Conway and Paul Kelly. The soundtrack album was released in February 1993 and peaked at number 71 on the ARIA Charts.{{cite book |last=Ryan |first=Gavin |title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 |year=2011 |publisher=Moonlight Publishing| location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia |page=152 }} Two singles were released from the soundtrack including Geyer's cover of Jean Stafford's "Someday I'll Take Home The Roses". Kelly also produced Geyer's ninth studio album Difficult Woman which was released on Larrikin Records in 1994. It was her first solo studio album in 9 years. The exposure encouraged Geyer to move back to Australia and re-established herself on the live circuit. Her performances showed a more relaxed stage persona than at her peak when her innate shyness was often cleverly disguised. Now a confident, mature woman she showed off a hitherto hidden wicked sense of humour.

In May 1998 Mushroom Records released The Best of Renee Geyer 1973-1998, which peaked at number 50 in New Zealand and 53 in Australia. Early pressings were released with a bonus disc, Renéemixed, containing remixed tracks including her 1981 single "Say I Love You", which was issued as the lead single by Groove 21/20 featuring Geyer. Also in 1998 Geyer recorded "Yil Lull" alongside Kelly, Archie Roach, Christine Anu, Judith Durham, Kutcha Edwards and Tiddas.{{cite web|last=Disalvo|first=Tom|title=Hear Archie Roach and Judith Durham sing 'Yil Lull', on streaming for the first time|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/stream-yil-lull-archie-roach-judith-durham-joe-geia-3345611|date=9 November 2022|website=NME Australia|publisher=BandLab Technologies|access-date=24 January 2023}} In March 1999 Geyer released her tenth studio album Sweet Life, which was co-produced by Kelly with Joe Camilleri (Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, The Black Sorrows). The album peaked at number 50 in the ARIA Charts.{{cite web |title=Renée Geyer Discography |first=Steffen |last=Hung |url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ren%E9e+Geyer |publisher=Australian Charts Portal (Hung Medien) |access-date=11 May 2017 }}

{{Main|Tenderland|Tonight (Renée Geyer album){{!}}Tonight|Dedicated (Renée Geyer album){{!}}Dedicated}}

File:201000 - Opening Ceremony Renee Geyer performs - 3b - 2000 Sydney opening ceremony photo.jpg Opening Ceremony]]

In April 2000 Geyer released her autobiography, Confessions of a Difficult Woman: The Renée Geyer Story, referencing her 1994 studio album, Difficult Woman. It was co-written with Australian music journalist Ed Nimmervoll. According to ABC Radio Melbourne's reviewer Sian Prior it has "plenty of talk about sex and drugs and rock'n'roll... [but] you get a sense of a quite vulnerable person under the confident stage persona... [and it is] written in a nice conversational style, easy to read, and structured not chronologically as you might expect, but in themed chapters."{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/stories/s425401.htm | title=Confessions of a Difficult Woman - Renee Geyer |first=Sian |last=Prior |publisher=ABC Melbourne Victoria |date=1 March 2000 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020208060833/http://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/stories/s425401.htm |archive-date=8 February 2002 |access-date=19 July 2023}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In October 2000 Geyer performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Paralympics in Sydney.{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Beth |title=Sydney 2000: Paralympics opening ceremony |url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/sydney-2000-paralympics-opening-ceremony-sauvage-and-kylie-0 |access-date=24 January 2023 |publisher=National Film and Sound Archive}} In August 2003 the singer released her eleventh studio album Tenderland. It peaked at number 11 on the ARIA Charts, equalling her highest-charting album in her career.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ren%E9e+Geyer|title=Discography Renée Geyer|publisher=Australian charts portal|access-date=8 April 2009}}

Live at the Athenaeum was released in April 2004 and Geyer's twelfth studio album Tonight in April 2005.

Geyer was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on 14 July 2005 by her former label boss Gudinski.{{cite web|url=http://www.ariahalloffame.com.au/inductees_listing.htm |title=ARIA 2008 Hall of Fame inductees listing |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |access-date=8 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202131814/http://www.ariahalloffame.com.au/inductees_listing.htm |archive-date=2 February 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-award.php?awardID=36 |title=Winners by Award: Hall of Fame|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date=8 April 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=R&artist=Renee%20Geyer|title=Winners by Artist: Renee Geyer|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date=10 April 2009}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} At the ceremony, contemporary R&B singer Jade MacRae performed a Geyer medley,{{cite web |last=Fi |first=Lil' |title=Jade MacRae on Renee Geyer |url=http://www.australianmusician.com.au/DisplayStory.asp?StoryID=199 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721153305/http://australianmusician.com.au/DisplayStory.asp?StoryID=199 |archive-date=21 July 2008 |access-date=10 April 2008 |work=Australian Music Magazine |publisher=australianmusician.com.au}} followed by Geyer singing her 1975 hit "It's a Man's Man's World".{{cite web|url=http://www.mediasearch.com.au/music/spotlights/ariaicons-halloffame-july2005|title=The ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame Event in Melbourne |last=Pascuzzi |first=Carmine |publisher=Mediasearch |access-date=10 April 2009 }} During July 2007 Geyer undertook the role of stepmother in musical theatre play Sleeping Beauty: This is Not a Lullaby at the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts-reviews/sleeping-beauty/2007/07/04/1183351273063.html|title=Review – Sleeping Beauty |newspaper=The Age |date=4 July 2007 |access-date=30 January 2010 |first=Bill |last=Perrett }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/71314 |title=Event: Sleeping Beauty: This Is not a Lullaby |website=AusStage |date= |access-date=19 July 2023 }} In 2008 she provided a voice in the claymation film Mary & Max by Adam Elliot.{{cite web|url=http://www.infilm.com.au/?p=745|title=Review: Mary and Max (2009)|date= 12 February 2009|first= Matt|last=Ravier|publisher=In Film Australia|access-date=24 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706105455/http://www.infilm.com.au/?p=745| archive-date=6 July 2011}}{{cite web |last=Starkiewicz |first=Antoinette |title=Mary and Max – Curator's notes |url=https://aso.gov.au/titles/features/mary-and-max/notes |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=Australian Screen |publisher=National Film and Sound Archive}}

Geyer and fellow 1970s singer, Marcia Hines, are the subjects of Australian academic, Jon Stratton's 2008 cultural studies article, "A Jew Singing Like a Black Woman in Australia: Race, Renée Geyer and Marcia Hines".{{cite journal|url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/article?title=black+woman+renee+geyer&title_type=tka&year_from=1998&year_to=2009&database=1&pageSize=20&index=1|title=A Jew Singing Like a Black Woman in Australia: Race, Renée Geyer, and Marcia Hines|journal=Journal of Popular Music Studies|volume=20|issue=2|pages=166–193(28)|date=June 2008|last=Stratton|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Stratton|publisher=Blackwell Publishing|access-date=9 April 2009|doi=10.1111/j.1533-1598.2008.00155.x}} Geyer delivered a two-hour master class on 3 December 2008 to illustrate her annoyance at vocal gymnastics used by singers Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera which had influenced contestants on talent quests such as Australian Idol.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24611744-5006024,00.html|title=Renee Geyer is out to fight some evil influences |last=Adams|first=Cameron|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corporation|date=6 November 2008|access-date=12 April 2009}} Geyer was approached to be a judge on Australian Idol and The X Factor but declined; she criticised judges on Australian Idol: Hines for being "so neutral, I don't hear an opinion" and Kyle Sandilands for his hurtful commentary rather than constructive criticisms.

{{Main|Renéessance|The Ultimate Collection (Renée Geyer album){{!}}The Ultimate Collection|Swing (Renée Geyer album){{!}}Swing}}

After signing with Liberation Blue Records, which was owned by Gudinski, Geyer released another album, Renéessance in May 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.reneegeyer.com.au/content/fs_news.html|title=Renée Geyer latest news and events... |publisher=Renée Geyer Official website|access-date=5 May 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=27580|title=New Releases – May 2009 (Latest Music News)|work=Australian charts portal|date=28 April 2009|access-date=5 May 2009}} It is a collection of newly recorded acoustic versions of previously recorded tracks. In June of that year, Geyer was diagnosed with breast cancer and following surgery was told it had been detected early and a full recovery was expected.{{cite news |last=Donovan |first=Patrick |date=7 August 2009 |title=Geyer back singing after breast cancer surgery |newspaper=The Age |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/geyer-back-singing-after-breast-cancer-surgery-20090806-ebhz.html |access-date=18 December 2023}}

In March 2010 Warner Music Australia released another compilation album, The Ultimate Collection, which is her highest-charting album in New Zealand—peaking at number 21.{{cite web|title=Charts.nz – Renee Geyer – The Ultimate Collection|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Renee+Geyer&titel=The+Ultimate+Collection&cat=a|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=15 May 2017}} In August 2011 she was fined for careless driving over two incidents in Victoria in 2010 and 2011, where she crashed into parked cars, a tree and a shop front. Her lawyer had blamed the crashes on a drug she was taking to treat breast cancer which he said led to a loss of concentration. She was fined $500, which was ordered to be paid to the Cancer Council.{{cite web |last=Carlyon |first=Peta |date=12 August 2011 |title=Renee Geyer fined for careless driving |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-12/renee-geyer-fined-for-careless-driving/2836558 |access-date=18 December 2023 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

In April 2013 Geyer released her fifteenth and last studio album Swing, which consists of big-band cover versions. It peaked at number 22 in Australia. Geyer toured the album across 2013.{{cite web |last=Cashmere |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Cashmere |date=8 May 2013 |title=Renée Geyer to Swing Across Australia |url=https://www.noise11.com/news/renee-geyer-to-swing-across-australia-20130508 |access-date=18 December 2023 |publisher=Noise 11}} In November 2013 the singer was inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url= https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-winners|title=Previous Winners| website=Music Victoria|access-date=13 August 2020}}{{cite web |last=Cashmere |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Cashmere |date=21 November 2013 |title=Renée Geyer Inducted into Hall of Fame |url=https://www.noise11.com/news/renee-geyer-inducted-into-hall-of-fame-20131121 |access-date=18 December 2023 |publisher=Noise 11}}

In 2015, Geyer allegedly verbally attacked a receptionist at the Adina Hotel in Haymarket, leaving the receptionist in tears after telling Geyer that she needed to provide vehicle registration to access the car park. In January 2017, Geyer was not convicted but was handed a 12-month good behaviour bond.{{cite web |last=Kembrey |first=Melanie |date=20 January 2017 |title=Renee Geyer given good behaviour bond after intimidating hotel receptionist |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/renee-geyer-given-good-behaviour-bond-after-intimidating-hotel-receptionist-20170120-gtv28p.html |access-date=18 December 2023 |website=smh.com.au}}{{cite web|url=http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2017/01/21/aus-singer-renee-geyer-escapes-conviction-after-intimidating-hotel-receptionist/|title=Aus Singer Renee Geyer Escapes Conviction After Intimidating Hotel Receptionist|publisher=the Music|date=21 January 2017|access-date=15 May 2017}} In October 2018 proposed recording a new album, "I am playing it by ear, but sometime in the next year, I would like to do something—another new album. I have collaborated with people on different things and other projects, but I would like to do something of my own again. And I think in the next twelve months it will happen. And it probably might be my last one. I will probably do something, like a tribute to a blues situation, because I have been so influenced by the blues through my life, and I have never really spoken to that. So, I might do something, that has to do with that. Some version of a blues record."{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Brian |title=In Conversation with Renée Geyer |url=http://www.yourmusicradar.com/in-conversation-with-renee-geyer/ |website=YourMusicRadar |date=31 October 2018 |access-date=5 November 2018}}

In January 2023 Geyer was admitted to a Geelong hospital for hip surgery. It was discovered that she had inoperable lung cancer. Renée Geyer died at that hospital from surgical complications on 17 January 2023 at the age of 69.{{cite web|last=Johns|first=David|title=Renée Geyer dies: Legendary Australian singer's family confirms hospital death in statement|url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/renee-geyer-dies-legendary-australian-singers-family-confirms-hospital-death-in-statement-c-9473377|date=17 January 2023|website=The West Australian|publisher=Seven West Media|access-date=24 January 2023}}{{cite web|last=Gallagher|first=Alex|title=Celebrated Australian singer Renée Geyer has died, aged 69|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/renee-geyer-has-died-aged-69-3381851|date=17 January 2023|website=NME Australia|publisher=BandLab Technologies|access-date=24 January 2023}}{{cite news |title=Australian soul singer Renee Geyer dies aged 69 |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=17 January 2023 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-17/renee-geyer-australian-soul-singer-dies/101862142}}{{cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/17/renee-geyer-australian-jazz-and-soul-icon-dies-aged-69|title = Renée Geyer, Australian jazz and soul singer, dies aged 69|last = Burke|first = Kelly|date = 17 January 2023|accessdate = 17 January 2023|newspaper = The Guardian}} A public memorial in her honour was held in April 2023 in St. Kilda, performers included Kevin Borich, Kate Ceberano, Deborah Conway, Paul Kelly and Russell Morris.{{cite web |url=https://themusic.com.au/news/heres-what-you-missed-from-the-renee-geyer-memorial/jI4ynoGAg4I/05-04-23 |title=Here's What You Missed from the Renée Geyer Memorial |first=Mary |last=Varvaris |website=theMusic.com.au |date=5 April 2023 |access-date=19 July 2023 }} Renee was a resident of St Kilda and lived in a number of rental properties around the area over the years, always identifying as "a Melbourne person at heart".

• {{cite book |title=Confessions of a Difficult Woman: The Renée Geyer Story |last=Geyer |first=Renée |last2=Nimmervoll |first2=Ed |date=26 April 2000 |location=Pymble, NSW |author-link2=Ed Nimmervoll |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-7322-6563-2}}{{cite book |last=Geyer |first=Renée |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hsgwHQAACAAJ&q=renee+geyer |title=Confessions of a Difficult Woman: The Renée Geyer Story |last2=Nimmervoll |first2=Ed |date=26 April 2000 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-7322-6563-2 |location=Pymble, NSW |author-link2=Ed Nimmervoll |via=Google Books}}{{cite book |last1=Geyer |first1=Renée |title=Confessions of a Difficult Woman: The Renee Geyer Story (Paperback) - Editorial reviews – product description |last2=Nimmervoll |first2=Ed |year=2000 |isbn=978-0732265632 |author-link2=Ed Nimmervoll}}

{{Main|Renée Geyer discography}}

• Renée Geyer (1973)
• It's a Man's Man's World (1974)
• Ready to Deal (1975)
• Moving Along (1977)
• Winner (1978)
• Blues License (1979)
• So Lucky (1981)
• Sing to Me (1985)
• Difficult Woman (1994)
• Sweet Life (1999)
• Tenderland (2003)
• Tonight (2005)
• Dedicated (2007)
• Renéessance (2009)
• Swing (2013)

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association. They commenced in 1987. Geyer was nominated six times. In 2005, she was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/awards/past-winners/|title=ARIA Awards Winners|website=Aria.com.au|access-date=10 June 2021}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| 1987 || Live at the Basement || Best Female Artist|| {{nom}}

|-

| 1999 || Sweet Life || Best Adult Contemporary Album || {{nom}}

|-

| 2003 || Tenderland || Best Female Artist|| {{nom}}

|-

| 2003 || Tenderland || Best Adult Contemporary Album|| {{nom}}

|-

| 2005 || Tonight || Best Adult Contemporary Album || {{nom}}

|-

| 2005 || Renée Geyer || ARIA Hall of Fame || {{yes2|inductee}}

|-

| 2013 || Swing || Best Jazz Album || {{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that honours women for their contributions to the Australian music industry. They were first awarded in 2018.

{{awards table}}

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

|-

| 2018

| Renée Geyer

| Lifetime Achievement Award

| {{yes2|awardee}}

| {{cite web |url=https://womeninmusicawards.com.au/2018-recipients-finalists/|title=2018 Recipients Finalists|website=women in Music Awards|date=October 2018|access-date=19 March 2021}}

|-

| 2023

| Renée Geyer

| Honour Roll

| {{yes2|awarded}}

| {{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/2023-australian-women-in-music-awards-finalists/|title=Finalists Announced for the 2023 Australian Women in Music Awards|website=Music Feeds|date=18 July 2023|access-date=18 July 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/australian-women-in-music-awards-2023-winners-announced/#:~:text=Among%20the%20highlights%20of%20the,scooped%20the%20big%20Songwriter%20Award.|title=Australian Women In Music Awards 2023 Winners Announced |website=Music Feeds|date= 28 September 2023|access-date=1 October 2023}}

{{end}}

The Countdown Music and Video Awards were an annual award ceremony based on responses from viewers of Countdown between 1979 and 1986.

Geyer was nominated twice.

{{awards table}}

|-

| 1981 ||Renée Geyer|| Most Popular Female|| {{nom}}

|-

| 1983 ||Renée Geyer|| Most Popular Female|| {{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

{{awards table}}

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

|-

| 2013 ||Renée Geyer|| Hall of Fame || {{yes2|inductee}} || {{Cite web|url= https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-nominees|title= Previous Nominess| website=Music Victoria|accessdate=13 August 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-winners|title=Previous Winners| website=Music Victoria|accessdate=13 August 2020}}

|-

{{end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000884390}}
• {{discogs artist}}
• {{IMDb name|0315417}}

{{Renée Geyer|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geyer, Renee}}

Category:1953 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:20th-century Australian women singers

Category:21st-century Australian women singers

Category:ARIA Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Australian expatriates in the United States

Category:Australian people of Hungarian-Jewish descent

Category:Australian people of Slovak-Jewish descent

Category:Australian soul singers

Category:Australian women pop singers

Category:Jewish Australian musicians

Category:Musicians from Melbourne

Category:People educated at MLC School

Category:People educated at Sydney Girls High School