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Biography
Use Australian English|date=October 2011Use dmy dates|date=October 2011Infobox musical artist|name = Anthony Callea|image = AnthonyCalleainconcertDec08.jpg|caption = Callea performing at The Palms at Crown Concert , 8 December|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Anthony Cosmo Callea|birth_date = Birth date and age|df=y|1982|12|13|death_date =|origin = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia|genre = Pop music|Pop |occupation = Singer-songwriter , musical theatre actor |years_active = 2004–present|label = Sony Music Australia (2004-2009) Independent record label|Independent (2011 - present) |website = URL| http://www.anthonycallea.com.au Anthony Cosmo Callea (born 13 December 1982) is an Australian singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the 2004 season of Australian Idol when he became runner up. He was signed to Sony Music Australia until 2009 and is now an independent artist. Callea's debut single " The Prayer (Celine Dion and AndreaBocelli song)|The Prayer " is the fastest selling single by an Australian artist,cite news|url= http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/anthony-callea-takes-a-road-trip/story-e6frewz0-1226096410144|title=Anthony Callea =Daily Telegraph|date=18 July 2011 | first=Kathy | last=McCabe held the No.1 spot on the ARIA charts for a five week run, a record for the debut single from an Australian Idol contestantcite web|url= http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20050120-0000/issue777.pdf|title= The Aria Report|date=17 January 2005 It was the second highest selling Australian single of the last decade. http://www.aria.com.au/documents/ARIAEndOfDecadeCharts.pdf ARIA’s End Of Decade Charts*(PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010. Callea has accumulated a string of awards including an ARIA Music Award , Channel V Artist of the Year, Pop Republic Artist of the Year, MTV Viewers' Choice Award, Variety's Young Entertainer of the Year, MO Award and a Gospel Music Award and is known for his powerful trained voice and his versatility in a range of genres in releases and live performances. All but one of the tracks on his second album A New Chapter were co-written by Callea. October 2011 saw Callea release his first new music in four years "Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh" This was self fundedcite web|url= http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/callea-goes-it-oh-oh-oh-oh-so-alone/story-e6frf96x-1226173977651|title= Callea goes it oh oh oh oh so alone|date=23 October 2011 released and distributed as a fully independent venture through his own production company, Vox Enterprises. The dance/pop track was co-written in LA with two times Grammy nominated and official DJ for the Black Eyed Peas "Poet Name Life"cite web|url= http://www.asianjournal.com/aj-magazine/midweek-mgzn/5011-two-time-grammy-nominee-poet-name-life.html|title= Two-time Grammy Nominee POET NAME LIFE|date=23 October 2011 It signals a departure from the ballads for which he is known and was released in digital format only. His albums, DVD and singles have all debuted in the ARIA Charts Top 20 with the exception of "Oh Oh Oh Oh" released 7 October 2011. http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp? interpret=Anthony+Callea Discography Anthony Callea Australian-charts.com Retrieved 15 October 2011 However, this track debuted at No.6 on the Official Independent Music Charts AIR Charts , http://ausindies.com/charts.html? chart-type=1& w=42 AusIndies.com Retrieved 18 October 2011 and in its first week was No.17 on the Aria Top 20 Australian Singles Chart. http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_australian.asp? chart=1U20AUS& chart2=1G20AUS ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles Chart ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association Retrieved 16 October 2011
Biography
Early years
In his first venture into television Anthony Callea, credited as Anthony De Fazio, appeared in an episode of Funky Squad , "The Wrong Side of the Tracks", in 1995.
Anthony Callea began entering talent contests as a child and trained with the Johnny Young|Johnny Young Talent School . He auditioned and was selected for the final 30 in the television series Australian Idol in 2004. Based on viewer votes, he did not make it through the first round of competition, but was invited back as a "Judge's Choice Wildcard", where his performance earned him a place in the final twelve.
Over the weeks of the competition, his popularity with the Australian public grew. During his run on the show, he gave several performances that earned him high praise from the judges, including his rendition of Simon & Garfunkel 's " Bridge over Troubled Water ", Foreigner (band)|Foreigner 's " I Want to Know What Love Is " and AndreaBocelli and Celine Dion|Céline Dion 's duet "The Prayer." Judge Ian 'Dicko' Dickson said Callea's performance of the latter was the finest he had seen during his two years with the show. The competition concluded in November 2004 with Callea finishing as runner-up to Casey Donovan (singer)|Casey Donovan . He cited Cosima De Vito as his favourite contestant of the first series of Australian Idol. Callea was the first idol contestant in the competition that had never been included in the bottom three for the contestants who had the lowest votes each week.
Top 9: Disco Night - " Car Wash (song)|Car Wash " by Rose Royce
Top 8: Idol's Choice - " The Prayer (Celine Dion and AndreaBocelli song)|The Prayer " by AndreaBocelli and Celine Dion|Céline Dion
Top 7: Beatles Night - " I Saw Her Standing There " by The Beatles
Top 6: 80's Night - " I Want to Know What Love Is " by Foreigner (band)|Foreigner
Top 5: R'n'B Night - " Back at One (song)|Back at One " by Brian McKnight
Top 4: Big Band Night - "Fever" and " Route 66 (song)|(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 " by Nat King Cole
Top 3: 70s Night - " Hold the Line " by Toto (band)|Toto and " Bridge over Troubled Water (song)|Bridge over Troubled Water " by Simon and Garfunkel
Top 2: " Listen with Your Heart " (Winner's Single) by Diane Warren , " Walking Away (Craig David song)|Walking Away " by Craig David and " Glory of Love " by Peter Cetera
Grand Final: " The Prayer (Céline Dion and AndreaBocelli song)|The Prayer " by AndreaBocelli and Celine Dion|Céline Dion
Post- Idol career
2005–2006: Anthony Callea
Callea was immediately signed to Sony BMG|Sony/BMG Records , and his first single," The Prayer " was released in December 2004. It debuted on the ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart at number one, and remained there for five consecutive weeks. Within seven weeks, it was certified four times Music recording sales certification|platinum , selling in excess of 280,000 copies.cite web|title=ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles|url= http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2004.htm|work= Australian Recording Industry Association |accessdate=14 November 2006 In 2010 ARIA named it as the second highest selling single of the last decade, which also made it the second highest selling Australian artist song of that decade. His next single, the double A-side " Rain / Bridge over Troubled Water " spent two weeks at number one. His Anthony Callea (album)|self-titled album debuted at number one on the week of 4 April 2005, and remained at the top of the chart for three weeks. His third single "Hurts So Bad" debuted at number ten on the ARIA Charts, while the album's final single, "Per Sempre (For Always)" debuted at number five.
Callea's DVD Live in Concert was released on 7 November 2005. It debuted at #3 in the ARIA DVD Chart and awarded Platinum status.
2006–2007: A New Chapter
Callea released the single " Live for Love " on 4 November 2006, the first from his second album A New Chapter , the only song on the album which he did not co-write. Both the single and the album, released on 25 November 2006, debuted at number 9. The album contains a mix of genres characteristic to Callea, including power ballads and more up-tempo songs. Callea also contributed his version of the Brian McKnight song, "Home", to the compilation album Home: Songs of Hope & Journey , which was released in order to raise funds for BeyondBlue, an anti-depression organisation. The second single " Addicted to You (Anthony Callea song)|Addicted to You " debuted at no. 19 when released in February 2007.
2012: Third studio album
Callea is no longer with Sony and will release his third album as an independent artist. The first single is called "Oh Oh Oh Oh", and was released on 7 October 2011. http://www.anthonycallea.com/ It has not as yet charted in the ARIA Charts|ARIA Top 100 , but has reached No.17 on the Australian Singles Chart which is for Australian artists only.
Charity work
Callea has been involved with many charities. He was part of the Tsunami Relief Telethon and was invited to perform at the Red Cross Ball in the presence of Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark. Callea has worked with The Starlight Foundation, the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital, The Mirabel Foundation and The Salvation Army . More recently, Callea was the ambassador for the 2007 Perth Telethon for the Royal Children's Hospital and in November 2007 was appointed the official ambassador for Vision Australia . For the second year Anthony has been appointed the official ambassador for 2009's Vision Australia 's Carols By Candlelight . This will be the sixth year in a row Callea has performed at this event and cites this as one of the highlights of the year.
Tours
Headlining tours
In July 2005, Callea embarked on an extensive east coast of Australia tour adding dates along the way during his Anthony Callea Tour 2005 . Supporting Callea on tour was Tina Cousins . From July to September 2007, Callea embarked on his A New Chapter tour with his four-piece band. Callea performed the songs in his album A New Chapter as well as some of his classic songs, playing eighteen shows across the country.
On 6 December 2008, Anthony Callea took a night off from his successful run in Wicked and returns to the music stage for an exclusive Australian show at The Palms at Crown in Melbourne.
Overseas concert
In August 2011 Callea will be a headline act performing at the Stockholm Pride Festivalcite news|url= http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/anthony-callea-takes-a-road-trip/story-e6frewz0-1226096410144|title=Anthony Callea takes a road trip|work=Daily Telegraph|date=18 July 2011 | first=Kathy | last=McCabecite news|url= http://www.stockholmpride.org/en/2011/Programblogg/Stockholm-Pride-presents-Party-Night/|title=Stockholm Pride presents|work=Stockholm Pride org|date=18 July 2011 which is the largest Pride celebration in the Nordic region where he will also sample new music.
Musicians combined tours
At the Tattoo Spectacular 2007, Callea performed his songs with accompaniment by the massed bands and the Tattoo Choir. The event combined a cast and crew of almost 900 musicians, performers, dancers and singers.
Callea and several other leading Australian performers have been invited to perform with the Sydney Symphony at the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House . The performance has been described as a tribute to the greatest film songs ever written and is scheduled from 7 to 10 May 2008.
Supporting tours
During the Australian leg of Diana Ross 's I Love You (Diana Ross album)|I Love You 2006 tour, Callea performed as her support act. During the Australian leg of Westlife 's Face to Face Tour , Callea performed as their support act, Westlife's Arena Tour in February 2007. On 26 March 2008, Celine Dion commenced the Australian leg of her Taking Chances Tour|Taking Chances world tour. Callea performed as the special guest support act.
Anthony Callea had been announced as the special guest of the Australian leg of Whitney Houston 's Nothing but Love World Tour opening in Brisbane on 22 February 2010. The arena tour played in Brisbane, Hope Estate Hunter Valley, Sydney, Melbourne, and finishing in Adelaide.
Notable performances
Performed a one off special concert for the Australian Flood Victims at Rally For Relief at Rod Laver Arena Melbourne on January 2011 http://www.undercover.fm/news/13373-anthony-callea-to-perform-for-flood-victims-today
In February 2009 Anthony was joined by his long-time idol Tina Arena to perform an impromptu performance of The Prayer at the re-launch of Melbournes Grand Hyatt cite web|title=Anthony Sings An Impromptu Performance Of 'The Prayer' With Tina Arena|url= http://www.last.fm/music/Anthony+Callea/+news/2j5bji_anthony_sings_an_impromptu_performance_of_%27the_prayer%27_with%0Atina_arena%21 cite web|title=Anthony Callea and Tina Arena|url= http://www.instylemag.com.au/Gallery/Party-shots-Grand-Hyatt-Melbourne
Was handpicked to sing for Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II in March 2006 at Commonwealth Day Church Service in Sydney
Tribute performance at the Logie Awards of 2005|2005 Logies Awards for 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 tsunami Countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|victims
In 2005, on what was to be Luciano Pavarotti final trip to Australia, the request of Pavarotti, Callea was flown over to Perth to sing at a Gala event that was being held in his honour.
Performed number-one hit "The Prayer" at the ARIA Music Awards of 2005|2005 ARIA Music Awards after winning the highest selling single of the year.
Television work
It Takes Two series 2
In 2007, Callea was one of the professional voices on the Seven Network 's weekly musical competition program, It Takes Two (Australian Television)|It Takes Two , in which celebrities from non-musical fields were teamed with professional singers to perform a duet each week. Callea was paired with radio DJ Jo Stanley and finished in second place, competing against Jolene Anderson and David Campbell (Australian musician)|David Campbell at the finals.
Performances
Week One: The Veronicas - " 4ever (song)|4ever " (Pop)
Week Two: Chaka Khan - " I Say a Little Prayer " (Songs from the Movies)
Week Three: Kelly Clarkson - " Because of You (Kelly Clarkson song)|Because of You " (Ballad)
Week Four: Blondie (band)|Blondie - " Call Me (Blondie song)|Call Me " (No. 1 Hits)
Week Five: Peaches & Herb - " Peaches & Herb|Shake Your Groove Thing " (Disco)
Week Seven: Diana Ross - " You Are Everything " (Motown)
Week Eight: Judy Garland - " Get Happy (song)|Get Happy " (Swing) & Joan Jett - " I Love Rock 'n' Roll " (Rock)
Week Nine: Anthony Callea - " The Prayer (Celine Dion and AndreaBocelli song)#Anthony Callea version|The Prayer " (A song their mentor was famous for) & Chuck Berry - " Johnny B. Goode " (Rock & Roll)
Week Ten (Finale): Encore performances of Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You", Judy Garland's "Get Happy", and a new performance of Irene Cara 's " Flashdance... What a Feeling "
It Takes Two series 3
In 2008, Callea again performed as one of the professional voices on the Seven Network 's weekly musical competition program, It Takes Two (Australian Television)|It Takes Two , in which celebrities from non-musical fields are teamed with professional singers to perform a duet each week. Callea's partner for season three was ironwoman Candice Falzon . The third series began airing on 12 February 2008. Callea and Falzon were eliminated in week seven, finishing in fifth place.
Performances
Week One: Mentors Group Performance: " Get Ready (The Temptations song)|Get Ready "
Week One: KT Tunstall - " Suddenly I See " (Pop)
Week Two: Thelma Houston - " Don't Leave Me This Way " (R& B/Soul)
Week Three: Faith Hill - " This Kiss " (Country)
Week Four: Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston - " When You Believe " (Ballad)
Week Four: Mentors Group Performance: " Born to Hand Jive " from Grease (musical)|Grease
Week Seven: The Veronicas - " Hook Me Up (song)|Hook Me Up " (Rock)
Week Ten Grand Final: Cast Medley: Roxette - " The Look " (80's)
Week Ten Grand Final: Mentors Group Performance: Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. - " You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) "
Ultimate School Musical: Fame
In January 2010 it was confirmed that Callea joined the cast of Foxtel's Ultimate School Musical: Fame ,cite web|url= http://www.fox8.tv/shows/ultimate-school-musical/about|title= Ultimate School Musical|work=Foxtel Fox 8|date=24 March 2010 filming the series alongside Ruby Rose and others in Melbourne.
Ultimate School Musical: Fame features school children attempting to put on a professional musical in just six weeks. Callea is the series' voice coach.
After an extensive audition process across high schools throughout Australia, the students of Essendon Keilor College in Melbourne won the much sought after opportunity to be cast in Ultimate School Musical: Fame , a 10-part series to premiere exclusively on FOX8 under the guidance of director Eddie Perfect,theatre producer John Frost, choreographer Kelley Abbey and singer Callea.cite news|url= http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/denyer-granted-new-sunrise/story-e6frfmyi-1225822954973|title= Idol's fame on screen|work=Sunday Telegraph|date=24 January 2010 | first=Richard | last=Clune
Theatre/Musicals
Dead Man Walking
In September 2007, in his first musical production, Callea played a supporting role in Dead Man Walking (opera)|Dead Man Walking , the true story of Sister Helen Prejean , an unconventional nun, who accompanies murderer Joe de Rocher to his death by execution. It explores the opposing desires for vengeance and forgiveness in this extreme situation, and the commitment required to love or to hate a fellow human being.
Rent
In November 2007, Callea played the lead role Mark Cohen (Rent)|Mark Cohen , a filmmaker and video artist, and Roger's roommate, in the Perth production of the critically acclaimed American Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical Rent (musical)|Rent .
This was Callea's second musical production. He starred alongside his now-partner, Tim Campbell (actor)|Tim Campbell .
On 12 February 2008, it was announced that Callea would originate the role of Boq in the Australian premiere production of the Broadway theatre|Broadway musical Wicked (musical)|Wicked , which opened in July 2008 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne . Callea played his final performance 11 January 2009.
Personal life
On 27 March 2007, after speculation and tabloid rumours dating back to his Idol appearances, Callea publicly acknowledged that he is gay by issuing a statement confirming his sexuality and thanking his fans and his then-partner, Paul.
"Yes, I am gay," Callea said. "I have no issue with my sexuality now, but it's taken time to become confident with who I am and happy with who I am. I'm comfortable enough to come clean now. It's a weight off my shoulders".cite web|url= http://www.anthonycallea.com.au/newsEvents/home.do? newsId=20030829004424 | title =Anthony Callea's Official Site|accessdate=27 March 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070422133921/ http://www.anthonycallea.com.au/newsEvents/home.do? newsId=20030829004424 |archivedate = 22 April 2007
On 30 March 2007, Michael Kirby (judge)|Michael Kirby , then a judge of the High Court of Australia , described Callea as an "admirable Australian" for coming out. Justice Kirby added, "In terms of influencing popular culture and understanding of the reality of human sexual diversity, I would trade ten judges for one popular singer."cite news|url= http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,,21477361-661,00.html |title=Gay Idol receives high praise| work=Sunday Herald Sun|date= 31 March 2007 |accessdate=1 April 2007 |last=Ross |first=Norrie
Callea has also admitted to suffering from depression in his teenage years, saying, "I went through Major depressive disorder|major depression . I hated myself. I had to see a psychologist. I wasn't talking to anybody. My parents didn't know what was wrong with me."cite news |url= http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/27/1174761391314.html |title=Anthony Callea comes out |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date= 27 March 2007 |accessdate=4 January 2008 |last=AAP Callea has since supported beyondblue , an Australian initiative against depression, by contributing his version of a Brian McKnight song, "Home", to a compilation album, Home: Songs of Hope & Journey by various Australian artists to raise funds and bring attention to the organisation and its cause.
In February 2008 he and actor/singer Tim Campbell (actor)|Tim Campbell confirmed that they were in a relationship.
Discography
Infobox artist discography|Artist = Anthony Callea |Logo = |Image = |Caption = |Studio = 2 |Compilation = |Live = |Video = 1 |Music videos = 7 |Singles = 7 |References = |Ref link = Notes and references
The following is a complete discography of every album and single released by Australian pop music artist Anthony Callea.
Studio albums
Title
Album details
Peak chart positions
Certifications
AUS http:/ / australian-charts.com/ showinterpret.asp? interpret=Anthony+Callea Anthony Callea discography
Anthony Callea
Released: 25 March 2005
Format: Compact Disc|CD , music download|digital download
Label: Sony Music Australia
Australian Recording Industry Association|AUS : 2x Platinum http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2005.htm "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2005 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA . Retrieved 10 February 2008.
A New Chapter
Released: 26 November 2006
Format: CD, digital download
Label: Sony Music Australia
AUS: Gold http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2006.htm "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2006 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA . Retrieved 10 February 2008.
Singles
Year
Title
Peak chart positions
Certifications
Album
AUS
2004
1
AUS: 4× Platinum http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2004.htm "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA . Retrieved 5 January 2012.
Anthony Callea
2005
1
AUS: 2× Platinum http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2005.htm "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2005 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA . Retrieved 5 January 2012.
http://www.bandit.fm/sonymusic/anthonycallea Sony Bandit.fm Breathe profile
http://anthonycalleanews.blogspot.com Daily News
Australian IdolAnthony Callea Persondata | NAME =Callea, Anthony | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =13 December 1982 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Callea, Anthony Category:1982 births Category:ARIA Award winners Category:Australian Idol participants Category:Australian male singers Category:Australian pop singers Category:Idol series runners-up Category:Australian people of Italian descent Category:Australian singers of Italian descent Category:LGBT musicians from Australia Category:Living people Category:Singers from Melbourne Category:Sony BMG artists
