Christie Allen’s portrait

Christie Allen

  • 53 years old
  • Born Sep 12, 1954
  • Died Aug 12, 2008
  • Western Australia, Australia
We love you Christie Allen. You had a remarkable voice and talent which we will never forget. Keep singing in heaven.
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About

Pop Star

WA singer Christie Allen, one of the pop sensations of the Countdown era, has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born in the UK in 1954, Allen went on to make a name for herself in her adopted homeland of Australia as a chart topping pop singer.

Allen was performing with her brothers in a band in Perth when she came to the attention of songwriter and record producer Terry Britten.

Britten, a former member of The Twilights who would go on to a hugely successful song writing career, was impressed by Allen's vocal ability and bubbly personality.

He began working with Christie and a recording contract with Michael Gudinski’s independent record label Mushroom Records resulted.

Mushroom Records made sure that their new pop artist got plenty of national radio support and television screen time on national iconic music television program; Countdown.

She had three top 20 singles in the Australian charts in 1979 and 1980 - Falling In Love, Goosebumps and He's My Number One - and followed up with a gold album, Magic Rhythm.

Goosebumps and He's My Number One were Mushroom's two highest selling singles at the time, and Allen was voted the most popular female singer at the Countdown Awards in 1979 and 1980.

Christie went on to release another album Detours and had a handful of singles in the early 1980s.  After a hiatus, she returned to the music scene in the 1990s and rose back up the charts

Allen resurrected her music career, singing with country music bands, before Gudinski sought her out via an appeal on national radio to perform at a concert for the 25th anniversary of Mushroom Records in 1998.

She retired following that performance, before a huge crowd at the MCG on November 14 that year.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March this year, she lived out the remainder of her life in country WA.

 She is survived by her husband Mark, her daughter Christa Lea, granddaughter Ashlee and her as yet unborn granchild due in December as well as her brothers Keith, Steve and Mark.

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Memories

My Memory

Dave (Dec 01, 2008)

I was only 7 or 8 years old when I first saw Christie on Countdown but her music left a lasting impression on me. I only found out by accident that she is no longer with us, while doing a search for news about her on the Net. I can't help but smile every time I play either of her albums... What a legacy to leave us with! Rock on in the afterlife Christie xxx

Passing through..

Charlie Brain (Oct 16, 2008)

I remember one night turning on the TV, it was "RAGE" countdown episodes, he introduced Christie Allen "Switchboard" at the age of 23 at the time I was enchanted by her charisma in the song, I became obsessed by her, I looked her up everywhere. Mostly it said that after her 'Detour' album she vanished - this added to the intrigue and mistique. I started looking her up on ebay.....
I found her singles "he's my number one", and "ships that pass through the night". I love Christie Allen, although I'm not from the disco era like her - I found her captivating.
I actually shed a tear when I saw this thread trying to find rare memerobilia on her.
I love you Christie, I never knew you, but you obviously had a beautiful soul!

Charlie - Christie Allen lover, and player!

oh no

Rob (Sep 12, 2008)

I was just doing a search on her, and just found out. She was always one of those special voices I loved, and was part of growing up. She was such an inspiration. I still remember the morning I saw a clip of her on "Sounds" and thought "what an amazing voice". My tape of her from the '80's has died (from over use) and I wanted to see if anything else was available. How sad. Sympathy to all her family and friends and fans.

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