Australian musical industry icon Glenn Wheatley dead at 74

The Australian music scene is today mourning the loss of Glenn Wheatley who had died from COVID-19- related complications.

He was aged 74.

The music promoter had been sick with coronavirus for the past few weeks, and is believed to have passed away in Melbourne yesterday.

Wheatley became a major behind-the-scenes figure in the music industry after launching the career of legendary singer John Farnham and later oversaw Delta Goodrem's career.

Glenn Wheatley and Delta Goodrem at the 2003 Logies

Brisbane-born Wheatley played bass in the Masters Apprentices during the 1960s.

He then soon moved to management, overseeing the Little River Band in the 1970s and launching them in the US.

But it was Wheatley's partnership with John Farnham during the 1980s that established him as a music industry heavyweight.

Wheatley even mortgaged his own home, putting everything on the line to help pay for the recording of the hit album 'Whispering Jack'.

It was one of music's greatest gambles but paid off as Farnham catapulted to global success.

The album, which included the famous anthem You're The Voice, sold more than 1.6 million copies.

Later, Wheatley managed Delta Goodrem after discovering the pop singer as a youngster. He also worked with rock musician James Reyne.

But there were also low points for Wheatley.

In 2007 he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for tax evasion following an inquiry by the Australian Taxation Office into offshore tax havens.

It is understood that Wheatley contracted COVID-19 around Christmas time and has spent recent weeks in a Melbourne hospital in ICU, battling the illness.