Karen Knowles (born 4 March 1964) is an Australian singer-songwriter and record producer, and former television personality.

Biography

1975-1980s: Early career

Knowles was educated in Melbourne at the Methodist Ladies' College. She became nationally famous on the popular television program ''

Young Talent Time ''Young Talent Time'' is an Australian television variety program produced by Lewis-Young Productions and screened on Network Ten. The original series ran from 1971 until 1988 and was hosted by singer-songwriter and record producer Johnny You ...

'', and was a member of the Young Talent Team from 1975 to 1980. Knowles first appeared as a contestant on Young Talent Time in 1974 whilst attending Donvale Primary School east of Melbourne. In 1980, she signed with

Fable Records Fable Records was an Australian independent record company which operated from 1970 to 1984. It was one of the most successful and productive Australian 'indie' labels of the period, issuing over 300 singles and dozens of EPs and LPs. Fable made ...

and became the first Australian schoolgirl to receive a Gold record with her Top Ten single "Why Won't You Explain" in 1981. Her first album ''You Are The Reason'' was certified platinum in 1982. Her second album, ''Loves Us All'', was also released in 1982. In 1983, her third album ''The Third Time'' was released and she had a Top 30 single "You Don't Know Love" in 1984. In 1984 Knowles left the Fable label and moved to London.

1988-2000: Return to Australia

Knowles returned to Australia in 1988 and featured in the stage musical '' Big River'' during its eighteen-month national tour. For her performance as southern belle, Mary Jane Wilks, Knowles received a nomination for a

Green Room Award The Green Room Awards are peer awards which recognise excellence in cabaret, dance, drama, fringe theatre, musical theatre and opera in Melbourne. The awards were started in 1982 when Blair Edgar and Steven Tandy formed the Green Room Awards A ...

for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. In 1990 Knowles joined

The Seekers The Seekers were an Australian folk-influenced pop quartet, originally formed in Melbourne in 1962. They were the first Australian pop music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States. They were ...

. In 1991, Knowles, along with the group's main songwriter Bruce Woodley and the National Boys Choir, recorded the song ''I Am Australian''. In 1991 Knowles recorded and produced her fourth album ''A Night of Carols'', featuring the Australian Girls Choir. In 1992, Knowles traveled to the United States to record ''Moonglow'', her fifth album. During 1997 Knowles wrote and performed a new musical composition at the Aboriginal Reconciliation Convention. In 1998, Knowles was appointed as one of the Inaugural Ambassadors for

Reconciliation Reconciliation or reconcile may refer to: Accounting * Reconciliation (accounting) Arts, entertainment, and media Sculpture * ''Reconciliation'' (Josefina de Vasconcellos sculpture), a sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellos in Coventry Cathedra ...

by the

Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Reconciliation in Australia is a process which officially began in 1991, focused on the improvement of race relations between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia and the rest of the population. The Council for Aboriginal ...

. Also in 1998, she was nominated for an Australian Humanitarian Award for her Services to the Arts. In 1999 Knowles recorded and released her sixth album ''By Request'', a compilation of some her most requested songs.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Awards and nominations

TV Week / Countdown Awards

Countdown A countdown is a sequence of backward counting to indicate the time remaining before an event is scheduled to occur. NASA commonly employs the terms "L-minus" and "T-minus" during the preparation for and anticipation of a rocket launch, and eve ...

'' was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974–1987, it presented music awards from 1979–1987, initially in conjunction with magazine ''

TV Week ''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news. Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...

''. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards. , - , 1980 , Herself , Best New Talent , , -

References

External links

Official website

It Takes Two website

Karen Knowles' discography

Wiilpa
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knowles, Karen 1964 births Living people Australian television actresses Australian songwriters Singers from Melbourne People educated at Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne 20th-century Australian women singers