John St Peeters was born in Melbourne, in 1956, to
Italian-born parents, Pasqualino Lo Piccolo – a greengrocer – and Giovanna (née
Basile). He grew up in Richmond with a younger sister, Josephine
"Jo". Early in his career he
performed as Johnny Lo Piccolo. From the age of 11 he played piano accordion on
TV talent quests, such as Brian and the Juniors, New Faces, variety shows,
including In Melbourne Tonight, and at clubs in Melbourne.
John St Peeters and the Sharells were formed in 1974, as a
vocal trio, with two female vocalists, Niki Nicholls and Kim Julin. They
performed "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" on the Ernie Sigley Show
in May 1975. They toured Australia, North America and South-East Asia before
issuing a single, "Take Me if You Want Me", in October on the Astor
label. He resumed his solo career in 1976 with a disco-based single, "You
Know that You're Sexy", in November of that year.
Peeters signed with EMI Records, which issued his next three
singles, "Shiny Side Up" (June 1977), "Fadin' Away"
(October) and "Love the Way You Move" (December): At the King of Pop Awards of 1977 St Peeters
won Most Popular New Talent. In the following year his contract was taken up by
RCA Records. He released his next single, "Deep Inside of Me",
co-written by Peeters and Aldo Lennard,
He followed with his debut album, So Many Ways (1978), produced by
Spencer Lee. In 1979 he formed the John St Peeters Band and toured the
Australia club circuit. He appeared on
teen pop music TV show, Countdown, from 1976, he co-hosted an episode in June
1978. He later reflected "The biggest thrill of all, though, was making it
on the biggest television music show that existed during those years —
Countdown, hosted by Molly Meldrum. What a fantastic experience that was."
He premiered his single, "Wonder World", on the show in March 1980;
it is the theme song for Simon Townsend's Wonder World, a children's variety TV
series.
