Renée Geyer, an Australian jazz and soul singer known for her hit songs Say I Love You and It’s A Man’s Man’s World, has passed away at the age of 69.
According to her record label, the Mushroom Group, Geyer was in the hospital for hip surgery in Geelong when she died from complications after the surgery.
Additionally, it was revealed that she had been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. The statement from her label also revealed that Geyer had recently performed to a full house and was looking forward to a busy year ahead.
She is remembered as a beloved and respected artist, a force of nature, and a national treasure. Her passing has left a significant void in the Australian music industry and has saddened her fans and colleagues.
Born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1953, Geyer began her singing career as a teenager in the 1970s, and over the course of her five-decade career, she rose to fame with a string of hit songs.
Despite being nominated for Aria awards multiple times, Geyer never won. However, her contributions to the music industry were recognized through her induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Music Victoria Hall of Fame in 2013.
Additionally, she was honored with the lifetime achievement award at the Australian Women in Music Awards.
Geyer’s career took her to the United States for a decade, but she returned to Australia in the mid-1990s and continued to release albums and tour.
Her 2003 album Tenderland reached number 11 on the ARIA albums charts. Her passing leaves a giant void in the Australian music industry and has saddened her fans and colleagues around the world.
Tributes
The music world is mourning the loss of renowned singer-songwriter Renée Geyer, and touching tributes from her contemporaries have been flooding social media as a result.
Renée Geyer. A game changer. A soul diva. My sister in song.
Heart felt condolences to her family and friends, and to the Australian music industry as a whole who have just lost a person who possessed one of the greatest voices I have ever heard.
— Marcia Hines (@TheMarciaHines) January 17, 2023
The diva, the brutal, the shapeshifter, the irreplaceable Renee! You strutted into our hearts and lives with your soul on your sleeve. I will miss you. RIP #ReneeGeyer
— Kate Ceberano (@KateCeberano) January 17, 2023
Love this. Renee Geyer in full flight was something to behold.
— Matt (@elwoodius) January 18, 2023
Deborah Conway on Renee Geyer: “The first time we met she tried to punch me out.“
— Neil McMahon (@NeilMcMahon) January 18, 2023
Our thoughts are with the late singer’s family, friends, and the entire community of fans during this difficult time. Her impact on Australian music will be remembered forever – may she rest in peace.
