Peter Allen Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Peter Allen, born Peter Richard Woolnough on February 10, 1944, in Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia, was a distinguished Australian singer-songwriter and performer. Over the course of his career, Allen became known for his energetic stage performances, flamboyant style, and memorable compositions.

In the early stages of his career, Allen formed a duo with Chris Bell, another Australian singer. They performed as "The Allen Brothers", gaining popularity in Australia and beyond. In the 1960s, while performing in Hong Kong, Allen met Judy Garland, which led to a professional relationship and a personal bond with her daughter, Liza Minnelli. The two later married in 1967, though they divorced in 1974.

One of Allen's significant achievements as a songwriter is the co-writing of "I Honestly Love You", a hit recorded by Olivia Newton-John in 1974. This song earned him a Grammy Award. Allen's own recordings were also laudable, with hits such as "I Go to Rio" and "Fly Away", establishing his reputation in the music industry. His most enduring work, "Tenterfield Saddler", delves into his Australian roots and speaks of his grandfather, who was a saddler in the town of Tenterfield. It remains an iconic song in the Australian musical landscape.

Later in his career, Allen made significant inroads in the theatre, co-writing the score for the Broadway musical "Legs Diamond" in 1988. His life and music later became the inspiration for the Tony Award-winning musical "The Boy from Oz", in which Hugh Jackman portrayed Allen.