Glenn Wheatley

Just how did the hunky heart-throb bassist from the legendary Australian band of the 1960s, The Masters Apprentices, go on to be one of the most powerful, recognizable music figures in Australia in the 80s, 90s and, of course, today? Glenn Wheatley's tale begins in 1948, born the elder of two boys to father Dawson (born 1917, now deceased) and mother (b. 1919, deceased). Glenn has had a career in the music industry for over 35 years, and the young Wheatley started his career as bassist to The Masters Apprentices, one of the few Australian acts from the 1960s to meet national success, and go on to perform in the 1970s, with an equal amount of success. When the "Masters" broke up in 1971, lead singer Jim Keays decided to pursue a solo career but, for Wheatley, he decided that although music was his passion, he might be better behind the scenes. He went on to try his hand at group management, and his first real success came as manager to the legendary Australian Group, Little River Band, fronted by Glenn Shorrock. Wheatley even went on to portray former client Shorrock in the television show, The D Generation Goes Commercial (1988). However, eventually Wheatley and Shorrock parted ways, but his real break came in the 80s, when he went on to manage... Who else.... John Farnham. Wheatley mortgaged his own house to help John produce the album "Whispering Jack", which went on to become the highest-selling album in Australia's history, going 17 times platinum in Australia. Approximately one in four households in Australia own a copy of "Whispering Jack", the wonderful album that would not exist today if not for Wheatley. Although Wheatley's life has not been all glamour and shine. A nasty divorce happened in the 1970s with his first wife, Alison Sunde, which left Wheatley devastated for several years. However, in 1982, Wheatley married a young actress named Gaynor Martin (born in 1957), famous for appearing in Sons and Daughters (1982) and Skyways (1979). Together, they have three children, Tim Wheatley, Samantha Wheatley and Kara Wheatley. Wheatley went on to manage some of the most prominent Australian musicians out there, such as James Reyne and Delta Goodrem. Wheatley got Reyne his first acting job in the TV movie Return to Eden (1983), and Reyne was very unhappy with his performance. This contributed to Reyne departing from Wheatley, another blow to Wheatley's career. He managed rising star Delta Goodrem, until she announced that she would be leaving him to pursue new management. She cited Wheatley's fierce bond with John Farnham as the reason for her departure, and it may well be true... Wheatley and Farnham have made it to the top, worked together for 20 years, most recently on his "last time" tour. In 2003, Wheatley awarded John Farnham into the Aria Hall of Fame at the 17th Annual Aria Awards. Wheatley continues to be one of the most powerful figures in Australian music today, and it is always fascinating to see which star he will discover next...