Who was John Blanchfield? All about Aussie singer and music manager as he dies at 79

John Blanchfield was an Australian pop icon during the 60s. He released a few singles when he was younger, but decided to pursue a career as a talent manager. Blanchfield passed away at 79 years old on August 6, 2025. The singer's passing was announced by his family on Facebook. They attached a few photos of John from his earlier days, and wrote:

"It's with great sadness, love and pride that we let you know that our darling husband, Dad, Paree, and friend, John Blanchfield, grabbed his hat and got out of here on Wednesday. John's great loves were music and good people, and his days were filled with both until the last moment."

John Blanchfield worked with the Bee Gees during the time when he made music. However, after a brief stint as a musician, he retired in the 70s but continued to remain connected to music. He began a music label called Rainbird Records and worked with numerous Aussie singers of his time, including Normie Rowe, Cash Backman, and Lobby Lloyd.

More about John Blanchfield's life as a singer then talent manager

As his children wrote in their tribute, John Blanchfield is a lover of music. He released his debut single, called Town of Tuxley Toymaker, in 1967. It was followed by Upstairs, Downstairs, and both the songs were written for him by the Bee Gees, along with Barry, Maurice, while Robin Gibb played on the record.

But before all this, John Blanchfield's rise to fame was gradual. He began by entertaining his family and relatives with his music and later auditioned as a singer in a nightclub in 1966. While he did not book the gig, a well-known star saw his true talent and gave him advice on how to improve himself as a singer.

After coming back to Brisbane, John secured a job at the Countdown, which is a music program broadcast on TVQ-0 (Channel 10). This is where he met the Bee Gees.

Over time, his fame grew, and one of his most popular songs, called Son of a Simple Man, was written by Brian Cadd and Don Mudie.

After retiring from making music, Blanchfield decided to wander into talent management. He managed some of the biggest names in Australia at the time, such as Normie Rowe, Goanna, Mondo Rock, and Vince Jones.

As for bands, he managed Stockley See Mason, Rose Bygrave, Savannah Silver Band, Red Hot Peppers, Ross Wilson, and Bushwackers.

John Blanchfield was a celebrated Australian icon of the 60s who later worked as a talent manager. He passed away at 79 on August 6, 2025. He is known for his love of music and people. Throughout his music career, he worked with legends like the Bee Gees and helped shape the careers of many Australian artists.

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