Helen Reddy

About

Helen Reddy was an Australian-American singer, actress, television host, and activist born in Melbourne to a show business family on October 25, 1941. She began her entertainment career at age four, performing on radio and television before winning a talent contest on the television program Bandstand in 1966, earning a ticket to New York City and a record audition. After an unsuccessful initial singing career in New York, she relocated to Chicago and then Los Angeles, where she released her debut singles "One Way Ticket" and "I Believe in Music" in 1968 and 1970 respectively. The B-side "I Don't Know How to Love Him" reached number eight on the Canadian pop chart, leading to her signing with Capitol Records. Reddy passed away on September 29, 2020.

Throughout the 1970s, Reddy became one of the era's most successful recording artists, achieving remarkable chart dominance with 20 Hot 100 entries, 19 of which were also Canadian pop hits. Four of her singles earned Gold certification from the RIAA for sales exceeding one million copies. Her breakthrough song "I Don't Know How to Love Him" sparked a 1971 album and a ten-year tenure with Capitol Records, while her anthem "I Am Woman" became the first of three number-one Hot 100 hits. "Delta Dawn" also topped the Adult Contemporary chart, and "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" reached number three on the Hot 100. Through her powerful voice and meaningful material, Reddy left an enduring mark on popular music and became an iconic figure in entertainment history.