Australian soul singer Renée Geyer dies aged 69

Australian soul singer Renée Geyer — who shot to fame in the 1970s and became known for her husky vocals — has died, aged 69. 

In a statement, Geyer's family said the singer passed away from complications following hip surgery.

"While in hospital, it was discovered that Renée also had inoperable lung cancer," the statement, issued on behalf of Geyer's family by the Mushroom Group, read.

"She was in no pain and died peacefully amongst family and friends.

The Melbourne-born singer rose to fame in the 1970s, spending the first few years of the decade moving between different bands, including jazz-rock group Sun, with whom she recorded the album Sun 1972.

She launched her solo career with a self-titled album in 1973.

"It wasn't a big thing that I could sing, it's just when other people started thinking I was really great," she told the ABC in an interview last year.

"People's mouths opened agape. I started thinking, 'Well, I must be pretty good.'

"So I just started doing it for a living and it was enjoyable and I kept doing it and people kept asking me back."

Her family described her as a "force of nature".

"Renée lived her life as she performed — on her own terms and to the fullest."

Rise to success 'happened quickly'

Geyer's highest-charting single, Heading in the Right Direction, was released in 1975.

The single — from her third studio album Ready to Deal — peaked at number 31 on the Kent Music Report in 1976.

Throughout her career, Geyer became a sought-after vocalist, working with Sting, Joe Cocker and Chaka Khan, among others.

"It happened really quickly," she said of her music career in a 1973 interview with the ABC.

"I don't think [I'm confident]. I'm actually quite paranoid.

She released an autobiography, Confessions of a Difficult Woman, in 2000, and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005.

Geyer was looking forward to 'busy year', family says

Geyer's life was not without brushes with controversy.

In 2017, she received a good behaviour bond over a 2015 incident where she verbally abused a hotel receptionist.

During the incident, a court was told Geyer used racist language and pushed a stationery holder and EFTPOS machine to the floor.

In 2010, she crashed her car through the window of an optometrist's store in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Elwood.

She had been diagnosed with breast cancer a year earlier and, in 2013, told the Sydney Morning Herald that she had been affected by medication she had been prescribed as part of her treatment at the time of the crash.

Geyer was still frequently performing around Australia in recent years.

"Just last month, Renée sang to a full house and was looking forward to another busy year ahead doing what she loved most — performing for her loyal fans around the country," the statement from her family read.

In 2022, Geyer said she felt lucky looking back at her career.

"I'm getting paid to do what I really like to do, and have been for over 50 years, so how lucky am I?" she said.

Music industry left 'gutted'

Charlie Owen, a multi-instrumentalist who played with Geyer on many occasions, told ABC Radio Melbourne the whole Australian music industry was feeling the loss.

Singer-songwriter Joe Matera, who was the support act at Geyer's last show in late December, told ABC Radio Melbourne the news of her death came as a "total shock."

"There was a whole year ahead, Renée had some shows booked this year and she actually asked me to support her again," he said.

On the night of their last performance, Mr Matera said Geyer spoke to him about his wife having breast cancer, which "meant a lot to me".

"She was having a laugh with the band members while she was getting ready, and then she walked out onto the stage and put on a hell of a performance," he said.

Mr Matera said the last four shows he played with her at Bird's Basement in Melbourne were sold out.

"I was really honoured to support her and to now have these memories. Her audience were very open, they loved what I did too."