As well as being an ARIA award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician, 73-year-old John Farnham has a number of other impressive skills he can add to his resume.
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At least that’s what former friend and world-famous guitarist Tommy Emmanuel says!
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Tommy spoke candidly about his friendship with the iconic You’re The Voice singer, and their days working together decades ago as their respective careers were kicking off.
He also touched on just how “handy” John was, putting his previous experience as a plumber’s apprentice – before his music career took off – to good use.
“I was a musical director back in the 70s and when I went down to Melbourne to work with him I would stay with him and Jilly [Jill Farnham] at their house and when he came to Sydney for the band shows, he would stay at my apartment in Woollahra and fix the plumbing, any leaky taps, things wearing out,” Emmanuel said.
“He had skills like crazy; I called him one day from the studio and he said the neighbour had dropped in for a cup of tea and he’d fixed her toilet too.”
After working together on a number of projects and performances including the critically acclaimed albums Uncovered (1980) and Chain Reaction (1990), the musicians lost touch after Tommy moved across to London in 1998, and then Nashville.
“It’s been a long while since I’ve talked to him but that’s okay, everything will be fine,” Tommy reflected fondly.
“I just hope that what he’s going through right now, I hope he comes out the other side okay.”
Tommy is of course referring to John’s shock cancer diagnosis in August 2022 which has reportedly left him “unable to perform live ever again.”
After a marathon 12-hour surgery to remove a tumour located in his mouth by 26 medical staff, Entertainment Reporter and friend Peter Ford said that there had been two parts to the complicated surgery.
“The first was the removal of the tumour, the second was a reconstructive surgery because John has had part of his jaw removed.”
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At the time, wife of over 50 years Jill said that the Farnham family was “in awe” at the team of healthcare professionals who had looked after John. “All of you undertook such a big job and have given us a magnificent outcome. To all the surgeons, doctors, nurses, and consultants – thank you one and all so very much.”
