Biography
Yvonne Elliman was never confused when it came to choosing a career. She formed her first group, the We Folk, in Hawaii while still in high school. She moved to London in 1969 and immediately began bustling on the streets of London which eventually lead to a fill in slot at the Pheasantry folk club, located on Kings Road in Chelsea. It was there that songwriters Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice discovered her. The duo offered her the role of Mary Magdalene in their new rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar - a role brought her instant fame. Yvonne also played the Magdalene character in the film version of Superstar, for which she won a Golden Globe award and it also gave her a hit with "I Don't Know How to Love Him." The hit single became the title of her debut album, which was released in 1972. In 1973, Deep Purple's new vanity label Purple Records signed Yvonne. The resulting record, "Food of Love" featured a guest appearance by Pete Townsend on the Who classic "I Can't Explain". During this time, she appeared in the American production of Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway, where she met Bill Oakes, the president of RSO Records; the two married soon afterward. A meeting with Eric Clapton led to a 5 year stint as a member of Clapton's band. Looking back, Yvonne says "I was in seventh heaven during the [Clapton] 461 Ocean Boulevard sessions. I couldn't believe I was in the same room with Eric Clapton. I was in such awe I would crawl underneath the piano and watch him play guitar from there." Clapton’s label RSO signed Yvonne on as a solo act in 1975, releasing the Steve Cropper-produced Rising Sun. Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb wrote the title song for Yvonne's next album, 1976's “Love Me”. The song became a U.K. hit, paving the way for her greatest chart success; her appearance on the Bee Gees penned the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Robert Stigwood decided that Yvonne should cover the Bee Gees "If I Can't Have You". “If I Cant Have You” was an international hit and was included on Yvonne's “Night Flight” released in 1978. The following year, the album "Yvonne", was released which featured the hit single, and often remixed, "Love Pains". After a US tour with Leo Sayer, Yvonne concentrated on soundtrack work, singing “Your Precious Love” with long-time friend Stephen Bishop on the Roadie soundtrack, and singing the title song for the Matthew Broderick vehicle War Games. The next decade found Yvonne re-married and settled into family life. While focused on raising her two children, Sage and Ben, Yvonne discovered her passion for baking - eventually winning first prize for her Rhubarb Pie in the 1998 Malibu Pie Cook Off. Meanwhile, some of Yvonne’s best known songs were covered by other artists; Liza Minnelli had a minor hit with “Love Pains” in 1989. Kim Wilde and pop/rap band LFO both scored hit singles with “If I Can?t Have You?”, in 1993 and 1998 respectively. Eve’s Plumb also recorded a riott grrrl version of “If I Can’t Have You? that appeared on the ?Spirit of '73: Rock for Choice? album released by Sony in 1995, and Sandra Bernhard chose to cover her own version "Everything's Alright" (from JC Superstar) on her “Excuses For Bad Behavior Pt 1” cd. Two of Yvonne’s own recordings also received somewhat of a revival; "If I Can’t Have You" appeared prominently in Adam Sandler's "Big Daddy" in 1999, and Fatboy Slim sampled "I Can’t Explain" (from “Food Of Love"), which became the 1997 dance floor hit called "Going Out Of My Head". The Fatboy Slim connection also resulted in Yvonne's original version of "I Can’t Explain” being included on the compilation "A Break From The Norm" in 2000. Shortly after Returning to Hawaii in 2001, Yvonne was invited to perform at a 2003 tribute to Sir Tim Rice in El Paso, Texas. "The nostalgia was overwhelming", Yvonne recalls, "and the vibe from the audience was filled with love. I was blown away! I'd do it all over again- not just to perform, but to be in that great little town with the big-hearted people." A noteworthy appearance on the PBS Special "Disco Inferno", in 2004 reminded fans that Yvonne Elliman was indeed back and in top form. Feeling rejuvenated being on stage again, Yvonne began writing songs and performing locally in Hawaii. This led to a meeting with Allen Alexander and Kevin Hirasa who decided it was time that Yvonne Elliman return to the studio, once again. The resulting 2004 EP entitled "Simple Needs" found Yvonne returning more to her rock-oriented roots. In the summer of 2006, Yvonne joined her former Jesus Christ Superstar players for Ted Neely's swansong as Jesus at the Ricardo Montobon Theatre in Los Angeles. Yvonne continues to write and perform in Hawaii, and is currently planning a full length version of the “Simple Needs” EP.