'Magic': Legendary Musicians Gathered At Renée Geyer's Bedside

Yesterday, the tragic news of Renée Geyer's passing was revealed. The Australian music icon died at the age of 69 peacefully surrounded by family and friends from complications following hip surgery. While in the hospital, it was discovered that she also had inoperable lung cancer. 

Her manager today thanked fans for the messages and support, as well as the staff at the University Hospital in Geelong. She went on to recall the "magic" that occurred at Renée Geyer's bedside: musicians Yuri Pavlinov, Jex Saarelaht, Charlie Owen and Paul Kelly played music to Geyer while she was in the ICU; an "unforgettable" experience.

Asked in 2008 to describe herself, Renée Geyer replied: “Triple F: foolish, feisty, fun-loving and frightful. I’m too big a personality to keep it to three.”

The trailblazing singer always did things her own way. 

Renée Rebecca Geyer was born in Melbourne in 1953, the youngest of three children to Edward and Ella, who met in Palestine after World War II. Ella, a Holocaust survivor, was from Slovakia; Edward was from Hungary.

Renée described herself as “a white Hungarian Jew from Australia sounding like a 65-year-old black man from Alabama”.

“I’m lucky I was born with an old voice,” she said.

Renée also sang on records by countless artists, including Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Neil Diamond, Joe Cocker, Julio Iglesias, Chaka Khan, Sting, Men At Work, Ian McLagan, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly, Stephen Cummings, Dragon, Sérgio Mendes, Even, Toni Childs, Hoodoo Gurus, TZU and Russell Morris. Read the rest of The Music's Jeff Jenkins' obituary for the iconic singer here.

Geyer's legacy lives on, and tributes have begun to pour from her peers and music lovers alike. Jimmy Barnes wrote, "There was no one like you," Bonnie Raitt commented, "She was also my good friend and will remain an inspiration and in my heart always," Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett said, "One of the very best voices we ever had the privilege to hear," Marcia Hines called Geyer her "sister in song," and Double J's Zan Rowe called Geyer "a force, terrifying by reputation but probably cos she had to be." View more tributes below.

As a young man I spent so many nights sitting at the mixing desk with Renee’s sound guy shaking my head and wondering where that voice came from. I had the pleasure of working with Renee in the studio and on the stage she never disappointed me. RIP Renee. There is no one like you pic.twitter.com/1XuqFOG65Q

— Jimmy Barnes (@JimmyBarnes) January 17, 2023

Shocked and so saddened to hear of the sudden passing of another friend and one of the greatest singers I’ve ever known, Australia’s incomparable Renee Geyer. Her husky, powerful and deeply soulful voice and phrasing has blown me away since I first heard her...

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— Bonnie Raitt (@TheBonnieRaitt) January 17, 2023

Oh dear, big loss. Condolences to family, friends, fans. Sang with Renee at a charity show back in the day, of course she blew the roof off. One of the very best voices we ever had the privilege to hear. ‘Renee Geyer dies aged 69 https://t.co/92ml2WEQwy via @ABCaustralia

— Peter Garrett (@pgarrett) January 17, 2023

A shocking loss. Renée Geyer opened a path for so many, and floored us with her incredible voice. She was a force, terrifying by reputation but probably cos she had to be. Vale, legend.
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— Zan Rowe (@zanrowe) January 17, 2023

Renée Geyer - The US had Aretha, the UK Dusty Springfield. We had Renée. She taught us all so much. She knew not only what music was, but where it came from. We had an inkling, but so much of it was so far away.

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— Colin Hay (@ColinHay) January 17, 2023

The diva, the brutal, the shapeshifter, the irreplaceable Renee! You strutted into our hearts and lives with your soul on your sleeve. I will miss you. RIP #ReneeGeyer pic.twitter.com/866gG58kEM

— Kate Ceberano AM (@KateCeberano) January 17, 2023

Fly on soul Queen RIP Renée Geyer ♥️♥️ another great voice gone x pic.twitter.com/MC9yrxAie3

— Troy Cassar-Daley (@troycassardaley) January 17, 2023

Renée Geyer. A game changer. A soul diva. My sister in song.

Heart felt condolences to her family and friends, and to the Australian music industry as a whole who have just lost a person who possessed one of the greatest voices I have ever heard. pic.twitter.com/MdWwHaozO2

— Marcia Hines (@TheMarciaHines) January 17, 2023

I reckon Michael Gudinski is organising a gig for Renee Geyer right at the moment - well, as soon as they've finished today's fight and the makeup drink.

— Bernard Zuel (@BernardZuel) January 17, 2023

Yesterday, we also chose the eight Renée Geyer songs you need to know. Check them out HERE.