Sally Boyden

Sally Boyden began her television career as a performer on "Young Talent Time" (YTT) in 1973, at the age of seven - the youngest performer in the history of the show. While most YTT members waited until reaching age 16 to leave the show, Boyden left in 1976, aged ten, to concentrate on her solo career as an actress. The Australian Women's Weekly described Sally as "Performing both live and on television, she will broaden her horizons as Australia's youngest star. She is a 10-year-old prodigy; a whimsical mixture of seasoned sophisticate and freckle-faced kid-next-door." After leaving YTT, Boyden issued her debut album, "The Littlest Australian", early in 1976, which was certified as a gold record by mid-year. She was the youngest Australian ever to receive a gold record. In November of that year, she commenced filming in the starring role in a TV film, "Barnaby and Me", which was a co-production of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC-TV) and United States-based Transatlantic Enterprises.[8][9] Sally successfully auditioned for a guest role on The Waltons' double episode, "The Children's Carol", which was broadcast in December. She acted in other American-produced films and TV movies including, "Lassie: A New Beginning (September 1978)[3][10] and The Little Dragons (filmed in 1978, broadcast in July 1980).[11] Boyden undertook her first theatre acting role as Wendy in a pantomime, Peter Pan, in January to February 1980 at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne. She also starred in an Australian film, "Dead Man's Float" (1980) and TV series, "The Sullivans" and "Come Midnight Monday". In May 1983 she acted in an Australian stage version of Sound of Music at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne.[17] As an adult Sally Boyden relocated to London and worked as a songwriter for EMI, providing songs for Leo Sayer, David Cassidy and Shakin' Stevens. She sang backing vocals for Duran Duran, featured with Major Matt Mason, and is part of a group, the Candy Bombers who performed at the Queens Jubilee in June 2002. Back in Australia, Boyden toured the country with the "Follow Your Dreams" program as a motivational speaker talking to school children of her experiences in show business and life. She returned to London where she held residencies at music venues: Twelve Bar Club, Ground Floor, Acoustic Café and South Bar, and performed in her band, The Candy Bombers. Sally and the band have performed at the Edinburgh Festival, the Ibiza Millennium celebrations, and in Wales, New York and New Zealand. Boyden headlined in Hyde Park as part of the Queen's Jubilee festivities. She joined Duran Duran on stage at Wembley, Earls Court and in Boston and has recorded vocals for the group's albums: Pop Trash, Astronaut, Red Carpet Massacre, and All You Need Is Now. Her vocals can also be heard on The Dandy Warhols' album Welcome to the Monkey House, and the Stephen Duffy, Nick Rhodes project, The Devils. Sally moved to New York in early 2005 later on moving to Los Angeles. Boyden created "Punktuition", a children's entertainment, musical and educational based TV show, which was broadcast on PBS. "Punktuition" includes artwork by Dean Gorrisen, based in Australia, Chris Cerf in New York City, and graphics, writing and voices by Producer, George Cook in Hollywood. Boyden has performed on the recent Young Talent Time reunion shows. Along with producer, George Cook, she released two collections of her favorite self-penned tunes, Keepsake - Chapter 1 and Keepsake - Chapter 2 and is now signed to music publisher, Peer Music, in London. "Punktuition" is now in pre-production.