‘I Am Woman’ singer Helen Reddy dies at 78 in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, September 30

Helen Reddy, who shot to stardom within the 1970s along with her feminist anthem “I Am Woman” and recorded a string of different hits, has died. She was 78.

Reddy’s kids Traci and Jordan introduced that the actress-singer died Tuesday in Los Angeles.

“She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and a truly formidable woman,” they stated in a press release.

“Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever.” The Australian-born singer loved a prolific profession, showing in “Airport 1975” as a singing nun and scoring a number of hits, together with “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” from “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Ain’t No Way To Treat a Lady,” “Delta Dawn,” “Angie Baby” and “You and Me Against the World.” Reddy’s model of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” in 1971 launched a decade-long string of Top 40 hits, three of which reached No. 1.

Two years later she gained the most effective feminine vocal pop efficiency Grammy Award for “I Am Woman,” shortly thanking her then-husband and others in her acceptance speech.

“I only have 10 seconds so I would like to thank everyone from Sony Capitol Records, I would like to think Jeff Wald because he makes my success possible and I would like to thank God because she makes everything possible,” Reddy stated, hoisting her Grammy within the air and leaving the stage to loud applause.

“I Am Woman” would grow to be her greatest hit, utilized in movies and tv collection.

In a 2012 interview with The Associated Press, Reddy cited the big success of “I Am Woman” as one of many causes she stepped out of public life.

“That was one of the reasons that I stopped singing, was when I was shown a modern American history high-school textbook, and a whole chapter on feminism and my name and my lyrics (were) in the book,” she instructed the AP.

“And I thought, `Well, I’m part of history now. And how do I top that? I can’t top that.’ So, it was an easy withdrawal.” Reddy’s demise comes lower than three weeks after the discharge of a biopic about her life referred to as “I Am Woman.” A performer since childhood, Reddy was a part of a show-business household in Melbourne.

She gained a contest that introduced her to the United States and launched her recording profession, though she first needed to overcome concepts about her sound.

“In my earlier days in Australia, I was considered to be more of a jazz singer. When I won the contest that brought me to this country, one person said, ‘The judges didn’t feel you could have a recording career because you don’t have a commercial sound.’”

Reddy retired from performing within the 1990s and returned to Australia, getting her diploma in medical hypnotherapy. — AP