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John Farnham and his family, Delta Goodrem, The Masters Apprentices and other Australian music figures paid tribute to Glenn Wheatley after the musician and manager died in February 2022, aged 74. Their words reflected not only his work behind the scenes, but also the personal relationships he built across decades in Australian music.
From bass player to artist manager
Wheatley began as a musician. After playing with Brisbane blues band Bay City Union, he joined The Masters Apprentices on bass in early 1968, according to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA). He later moved into artist management, a role that connected him with several prominent Australian acts.
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Little River Band, Farnham and Goodrem
ABC News reported that Wheatley managed Little River Band in the 1970s, later worked with close friend John Farnham, and helped launch Delta Goodrem’s career after discovering her as a teenager. His career therefore spanned performance, management and the development of artists at different stages of their careers.
Radio entrepreneur
Wheatley also established Melbourne FM station EON in 1980, which later became known as Triple M, according to ABC News.
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Why Whispering Jack became central to his legacy
Wheatley’s partnership with Farnham is closely associated with Whispering Jack, released in 1986. The NFSA says Wheatley remortgaged his house to help finance the recording. ABC News and the NFSA describe the album as the highest-selling album in Australia by an Australian artist; that is their reported description, not an independently audited sales figure here.
The album’s success made Wheatley’s commitment to Farnham a defining part of his public story. ABC News describes it as Farnham’s most popular album, while the NFSA remembrance places Wheatley’s financial backing in the context of the record’s eventual impact.
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What the tributes said
Farnham’s family described Wheatley as a friend in a statement reported by ABC News: “devastated at the loss of our friend”. The statement added: “We will miss you Glenn.”
Goodrem recalled their early working relationship, writing on Instagram: “I am forever grateful for our time together in my early career,” as reported by ABC News.
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The Masters Apprentices, the band Wheatley had joined as a bassist, said: “He has left his mark forever on Australian Music,” according to ABC News. Former Little River Band member Glenn Shorrock told the broadcaster: “He was a great negotiator and he was a great champion of Australian music, both here and, of course, overseas.”
Wheatley’s son Tim emphasized his regard for people throughout the music business and its audiences: “He treated roadies, artists and fans with the same love and respect, and had time for everyone,” ABC News reported. Kate Ceberano, in a Twitter tribute cited by the same report, called him “the rock’n’roller, the rascal, the dreamer, the hustler, the optimist, the manager, the visionary.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A fuller account of Wheatley’s public life
Wheatley’s career also included a serious legal episode. ABC News reported that he was convicted of tax fraud in 2007 and sentenced to 15 months in prison. The report said he expressed regret and shame in court. Including that episode alongside his musical and business work gives a more complete account of the public figure being remembered.
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