Mark Holden
Mark Holden | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mark Ronald Holden April 27, 1954 Calvary Hospital, North Adelaide, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor, television personality, record producer, songwriter, barrister |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Known for | Pop singles in the 1970s; judge on Australian Idol and The X Factor; songwriting and production career in Los Angeles; barrister |
Mark Ronald Holden (born 27 April 1954) is a multifaceted Australian artist and professional, recognized as a singer, actor, television personality, record producer, songwriter, and barrister. During the 1970s, he emerged as a pop icon with four singles reaching the top 20: "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" (May 1976), "I Wanna Make You My Lady" (September 1976), "Last Romance" (November 1976), and "Reach Out for the One Who Loves You" (October 1977). Holden was a regular figure on the national music program Countdown, noted for his polished appearance, signature white dinner jacket, and distribution of carnations—a gesture that earned him the nickname "The Carnation Kid". In the 1980s, he pursued songwriting in Los Angeles, contributing compositions recorded by artists such as Meat Loaf, Joe Cocker, Gladys Knight, Bob Welch, and Steve Jones. He served as an original judge on Australian Idol from 2003 to 2007 and appeared on the inaugural season of The X Factor in 2005.
Early life
Mark Ronald Holden entered the world on 27 April 1954 at Calvary Hospital in North Adelaide, born to Helen (née King) and Ron Holden. His paternal lineage was connected to the Holden and Sloggetts Travelling Circus; however, his father pursued architecture while his mother worked as an educator.
In the mid-1960s, Holden began his musical journey after receiving a guitar from his elder brother Craig. He attended Westminster School, where he formed a band and undertook classical vocal training. In 1972, he commenced law studies at the University of Adelaide, dedicating three years to this pursuit.
Motivated by a neighbour’s encouragement, Holden auditioned for Adelaide Tonight, a local television program hosted by Ernie Sigley, performing original compositions alongside "I'll Walk with God". Following positive reception, he appeared on Sigley’s Melbourne show in 1973 while managing both his academic commitments and musical aspirations.
1974–1977: Rise in music
In 1974, Holden participated in Showcase '74, a Network Nine talent competition where he performed self-written folk songs and achieved fifth place. John Bromell of Essex Music advised him to relocate to Sydney and facilitated an introduction to EMI producer Peter Dawkins, who subsequently signed him. Holden’s debut album, Dawn in Darkness, was released in 1975 featuring songs he authored or co-authored.
Between 1975 and 1976, Holden took on the role of Joseph in Sydney’s Seymour Centre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, marking him as the first global pop star to headline this role.
April 1976 saw the release of his rendition of Eric Carmen’s "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", which reached number 13 on the Australian Kent Music Report. Follow-up singles "I Wanna Make You My Lady" and "Last Romance" climbed to number 11 each. His sophomore album, Let Me Love You, was also launched during this period. At the 1976 TV Week King of Pop Awards, Holden earned recognition as Most Popular New Talent.
In 1977, his singles "Hey, My Love" and "Reach Out for the One Who Loves You" attained positions 32 and 17 respectively on the charts. September saw the release of his third album, Encounter. Both Let Me Love You and Encounter were awarded double gold status for shipping over 50,000 units each.
1976–1978: Television and Film Endeavors
In 1976, Holden portrayed the character Greg Mason in the television soap opera The Young Doctors. His filmography during this period included roles in Blue Fire Lady and the 1977 production Newsfront, as well as appearances in Reach for the Stars and Case for the Defence in 1978.
At the Logie Awards of 1977, Holden earned accolades for Most Popular Australian TV Teenage Personality and received the George Wallace Memorial Logie Award recognizing Best New Talent. He successfully defended his title as Most Popular Australian TV Teenage Personality in the subsequent year, 1978.
1979–1983: Pursuing a Music Career in Los Angeles
Holden relocated to Los Angeles in 1979, where he secured a contract with the American label Scotti Brothers Records. His debut single under this label, "Stay," co-written alongside Gloria Sklerov, did not achieve chart success but was later interpreted by John Schneider. He also recorded "Scintillating Lady," a collaboration with Roger Atkins, which was intended to launch his presence in the U.S. market through a live performance on CBS. Unfortunately, complications from wisdom teeth extraction prior to the broadcast impaired his performance, resulting in the track remaining unreleased. Subsequently, Holden and Scotti Brothers Records ended their professional relationship.
In 1983, he released his fourth studio album titled Mark Holden via Casablanca Records, having contributed as co-writer on every song. Despite this effort, the album did not chart, leading him to concentrate more on songwriting and production roles.
1984–1996: Transition to Music Production in Los Angeles
After the commercial disappointment of Mark Holden, he redirected his career towards songwriting and producing. Along with Anthony Curtis and Dan Wilson, he established Multimedia, through which he co-wrote two Top Ten hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the Temptations: "Lady Soul" (1986) and "Look What You Started" (1987). His songwriting portfolio expanded to include successful tracks for artists such as Tracie Spencer, Joey Lawrence, Will Downing, and a number one dance hit featuring Kathy Sledge. Over 50 cover versions of his songs were performed by notable musicians including Belinda Carlisle, Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, The Manhattans, Donny Osmond, José Feliciano, Fleetwood Mac, and David Hasselhoff. Additionally, he nurtured and produced talents like model-actress Milla Jovovich for EMI Records, achieving a US Top Ten Post Modern hit along with favorable reviews like a three-star rating from Rolling Stone.
From 1992 through 1995, Holden collaborated extensively with David Hasselhoff, overseeing album production and managing musical ventures across Europe where Hasselhoff attained multi-platinum sales. A highlight of this partnership was co-writing the Top Ten European single "Wir Zwei Allein Heut Nacht" ("Together alone tonight"). Actor Jeremy Jackson of Baywatch fame also signed with Holden’s production company, scoring two European hits including a Dutch Top 5 single titled "You Can Run."
In 1995, following the arrival of their second child Katie and amid escalating violence in Los Angeles, Holden and his partner Anna decided to relocate back to Australia in September 1996.
1996–2007: Marjac Productions, Australian Idol & The X Factor
In 1996, Holden briefly returned to his legal studies before redirecting his attention to the music industry, forming a partnership with Jack Strom, the producer behind Red Faces on Hey Hey It's Saturday. Together, they discovered Vanessa Amorosi at age 15 in 1999, propelling her career with the release of her album The Power, which reached number one and achieved quadruple platinum status in Australia. Amorosi's track "Shine," co-written by Holden, earned the Most Performed Australian Work award at the 2001 APRA Music Awards. MarJac Productions, established by Strom and Holden, also played a pivotal role in launching the careers of artists such as Delta Goodrem, Nikki Webster, and Sophie Monk.
In 1999, Holden performed "100 Years of Australian Music" and hosted the Silver Jubilee edition of Countdown. He joined as a judge on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003 and continued in this role for five seasons until 2007. During this time, he executive-produced the double platinum "Final 12" cast album, which featured the chart-topping single "Rise Up," co-written alongside Amorosi. His trademark exclamation "Touchdown" became a memorable highlight on the show.
Holden signed and managed beatboxer Joel Turner from Idol in 2004. Turner's single "These Kids" reached number one on the ARIA Charts and was certified double platinum; their self-titled album also achieved platinum certification. That same year, Holden released a live DVD/CD entitled Live at the George Ballroom, while his family ensemble, The Holdens, paid homage to country music icon Tex Morton with their album A Tribute to Tex Morton.
In 2005, Holden served as a judge on the inaugural season of The X Factor Australia, alongside John Reid and Kate Ceberano. The R&B group he mentored, Random, won the competition—marking the first group victory worldwide in the franchise. Later that year, he appeared as a guest host on Network Ten’s Good Morning Australia.
By late 2005, Amorosi ended her seven-year affiliation with MarJac to join Ralph Carr Management. Subsequently, conflicts emerged between Holden and Sony BMG regarding contracts for Delta Goodrem and Joel Turner, culminating in legal disputes during 2006.
Throughout 2007, Holden appeared in television series including The Starter Wife and Pizza, co-hosted radio programs such as Nova FM’s The Drive Home, and led The Dicko, Holden and Chrissie Show. Following the conclusion of the fifth season of Australian Idol, he was informed that his judging role would not be extended.
2008–present: Theatre, Dancing with the Stars and autobiography
From January through May 2008, Holden portrayed Lee Gordon—the manager of Johnny O'Keefe—in the production Shout! The Legend of The Wild One. In 2010, he underwent surgery to remove cancer from his neck area, which impacted his vocal cords.
Holden made a guest appearance as Doctor Wallace in Season 5 of Sea Patrol (2011) and between 2010 and 2012 acted as a substitute presenter on various ABC Local Radio shows with an emphasis on musical topics.
Between 2012 and 2014, he conducted research into his great-uncle Aldophus Holden's travelling circus from the 1890s. This project resulted in five short films accompanied by a soundtrack recorded by family members. The documentary titled Holden Brothers Travelling Circus along with its soundtrack was released on iTunes in September 2014.
To support this venture, Holden featured on Celebrity Come Dine With Me Australia in January 2014. In August that year, he participated in the fourteenth season of Dancing with the Stars to raise awareness for the circus project. Although initially well-received, his third-week clown-themed dance attracted widespread criticism for its quality; it earned him the lowest score and led to his elimination. Following this performance, Holden issued a public apology.
Subsequently, he independently released the Holden Brothers Travelling Circus CD/DVD set in December 2014. In May 2017, Holden published his memoir titled My Idol Years. He also took on production duties for Judith Durham’s 2018 album called So Much More.
At the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June 2018, Holden announced a limited edition release of Mark Holden – The Lost '80s Album, featuring songs from his songwriting period during his time in Los Angeles.
In September 2020, Holden collaborated with his daughter Katie to launch The Idol Archives podcast series, providing exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with former contestants from Australian Idol.
Personal life
At the age of 20, Holden became a parent with the birth of his son Cane in 1974, followed by his daughter Katie in 1995.
He obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Adelaide in 2001, having completed the course externally via Monash University. His pursuit of a music career caused a delay in finishing the degree, which he had nearly completed by 1974. In November 2009, he was admitted to the Victorian Bar and currently practices law full-time at the Victorian Bar.
Holden has experienced several bone fractures attributed to osteoporosis and featured in a related awareness campaign broadcast on Channel 7. In 2010, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, with a recurrence made public in September 2015.
Since 2006, he has been a dedicated supporter and ambassador for the Adelaide Football Club, as well as an ambassador for Blue September, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and support for men battling cancer.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Position |
Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| Dawn in Darkness | - | ||
| Let Me Love You |
|
20 |
|
| Encounter |
|
40 |
|
| Mark Holden |
|
- |
Soundtrack albums
| Album Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| The Holden Brothers Travelling Circus (credited to The Holden Brothers Travelling Circus) |
|
Compilation albums
| Album Title | Release Information |
|---|---|
| Moments |
|
| The Lost 80s Album |
|
DVD and Extended Play Releases
| Title | Release Information |
|---|---|
| Live at the George Ballroom |
|
Singles
| Year | Single Title | Chart Rankings | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| 1976 | Never Gonna Fall in Love Again | 13 | Let Me Love You |
| I Wanna Make You My Lady | 11 | ||
| Last Romance | 11 | ||
| 1977 | Hey, My Love | 32 | single only |
| Reach Out for the One Who Loves You | 17 | Encounter | |
| Let's Go Dancing | - | ||
| 1978 | First Thing in the Morning | - | |
| 1979 | Stay | - | single only |
| 1983 | For You | 90 | Mark Holden |
| Who Do You Love | - | ||
| Alice | - |
King of Pop Awards
The King of Pop Awards were determined by votes from TV Week readers between 1967 and 1978.
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | himself | Best New Talent | |
| 1976 | himself | Most Popular New Talent |