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Vale Renée Geyer

Story Published Tuesday 17 January 2023
Vale Renée Geyer

Australian soul singing legend Renée Geyer has passed away at age 69.


We are saddened by the announcement today that acclaimed soul singer Renée Geyer has died. Renée joined APRA AMCOS in 1976 and during her long career became known as a great interpreter of songs, in addition to writing and co-writing dozens of her own.

Memorable hits include her cover of James Brown's 'It's a Man's Man's World', 'Heading in the Right Direction' by Garry Paige and Mark Punch and the Paul Kelly-penned songs 'Foggy Highway', 'You Broke A Beautiful Thing' and 'Difficult Woman', to name a few.

"I always try to co-write with different people for every record. My ego as a singer is bigger than my ego as a writer, so it's always the best songs that make it,' she said about her song choices.

Renée was nominated for an APRA Music Award for 'Most Performed Jazz Work' with Carl Orr for their song 'Until'. In 2005, she was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, and in 2013 she became the first woman to be inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame. In 2018, Renée received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Women in Music Awards. She led a powerful performance the following year at the 2019 AWMA finale with Kween G and Dizzy Doolan, Katie Noonan, Zoe Hauptmann, Ali Foster and Jess Green.

We extend our condolences to Renée's family, friends and many fans.

Renée Geyer - 'You Broke a Beautiful Thing'