Sister Janet Mead to be Inducted
Sister Janet Mead is to be inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame later this year.
Sister Mead pioneered the use of contemporary music in celebrating Roman Catholic Mass, she is credited as one of the forerunners in the development of Christian Rock. She also hosted her own weekly radio program.
She studied piano at the Adelaide Conservatorium and had a three octave vocal range with perfect pitch, she no doubt could have had commercial success as a musician, but never sought it for herself. She joined the Sisters of Mercy and became a music teacher at two local Catholic schools.
In 1973 Sister Mead recorded her version of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, it reached #3 on the Australian Charts, and sold over a million copies in the USA alone. She received a Gold record for her achievement, as Platinum status did not yet exist.
Sister Mead was nominated for a Grammy award, but lost to Elvis Presley’s ‘How Great Thou Art’. All the proceeds from ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ were donated to Charity.
Sister Janet Mead has taught many other musicians such as drummer Clare Moore (Dave Graney).
Sister Janet Mead is well loved and respected for what she has done for South Australia in and out of music.
