Karen Knowles

Karen Knowles
Karen Knowles
Background information
Born	4 March 1964 (age 60); Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Adult contemporary
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, entertainer
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1975–present
Labels	Fable Records (1980–84)

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

Biography[edit]

1975-1980s: Early career[edit]

Knowles was educated in Melbourne at the Methodist Ladies' College. She became nationally famous on the popular television program Young Talent Time, 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 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[edit]

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 for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

In 1990 Knowles joined The Seekers. 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 by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. Also in 1998, she was nominated for an Australian Humanitarian Award for her Services to the Arts.^{[citation needed]}

In 1999 Knowles recorded and released her sixth album By Request, a compilation of some her most requested songs.

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Certification
Title	Album details	AUS ^[1]	Certification
You Are the Reason	Released: August 1981 Format: LP, cassette Label: Fable (FBSA074)	20	AUS: Platinum^[2]
Love Us All	Released: May 1982 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Fable (FBSA075)	42
The Third Time	Released: December 1982 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Fable (FBSA076)	99
Especially for You	Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cassette Label: Fable (FABA103)	-
Moonglow	Released: 1992 Format: CD, Cassette Label: VTL (VTL 017)	-
By Request	Released: 1999 Format: CD Label: Karen Knowledge (KCD021)	-

Compilation albums[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	AUS ^[1]
Wish I Was Loving You	Released: August 1983 Format: LP, Cassette Label: J&B (JB145)	19

Singles[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year	Title	Peak chart positions	Certification
Year	Title	AUS ^[1]	Certification
1980	"Why Won't You Explain"	12	AUS: Gold^[3]
1981	"You Are the Reason" / "One Step from Your Arms"	46
1981	"I Never Said I Love You"	-
1982	"Just for That"	-
1982	"Love Us All"	-
1983	"You Don't Know Love"	-

Awards and nominations[edit]

TV Week / Countdown Awards[edit]

Countdown 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. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.^[4]


Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1980	Herself	Best New Talent	Nominated

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 169. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Kent Music Report No 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum Albums 1982 (Continued)". Retrieved 26 December 2022 – via Imgur.com.
^ "Billboard Vol. 94, No. 23: Majors Flight Economics with Quirky Rock Originals". Billboard. 6 December 1982. p. A-NZ 8. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
^ "Countdown to the Awards" (Portable document format (PDF)). Countdown Magazine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). March 1987. Retrieved 16 December 2010.

External links[edit]

[aus-1] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 169. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[2] "Kent Music Report No 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum Albums 1982 (Continued)". Retrieved 26 December 2022 – via Imgur.com.

[gold-3] "Billboard Vol. 94, No. 23: Majors Flight Economics with Quirky Rock Originals". Billboard. 6 December 1982. p. A-NZ 8. Retrieved 10 November 2021.

[CountdownMarch1987-4] "Countdown to the Awards" (Portable document format (PDF)). Countdown Magazine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). March 1987. Retrieved 16 December 2010.

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