April Byron Potts

April Byron Potts, a loving mother and doting grandma, a star on Earth, has 'left the building' to head to Heaven.

April was born in the beautiful village of Warburton, Australia, to her mother Jean Scarfe Potts. April was an Australian pop/rock music pioneer, who rocked the "role" women were expected to play since childhood. After leaving St Peter's Collegiate Girls School in Adelaide, Australia, early to pursue her music career, April became a highly successful artist in her teens. She was the first chart-topping female artist to record with the Bee Gees, the first female star of The Go! Show, and one of the leaders of the second wave of pop/rock music in Australia in the '60s. April's first recording on Festival's Leedon Label, 'Make the World Go Away', won the 3UZ (Melbourne) Golden Sound Award 1963–64 for best-produced song in Australia. April was also awarded the 5KA (Adelaide) Best Female Artist Award 1964–65, as well as several other coveted awards including Queensland Entertainer of the Year. She toured and collaborated with the top names in music including Rick Springfield, Johnny O'Keefe, Ricky May, her first love Johnny Farnham, Normie Rowe (her dear friend to this day), and most recently her beloved Beeb (and Donna!) Birtles in Nashville, TN.

In 1965, April lost her 'Go! Show' position due to her pregnancy with daughter Cinderella. April's fierce tenacity and loyalty to family led her to keep her child at the tender age of 18 against all odds and at great cost to her career. But her talent and drive could not be squashed by any patriarchal system, and she helped pioneer the feminist movement (along with her friend Helen Reddy) with these brave actions which now allow women to work and thrive with or without husbands or children. April rebuilt her career with Cinderella on her hip, and then later on stage performing next to her. Then in 1969, youngest daughter Candy arrived – who later cared for her 24/7 during her grueling three-year battle with cancer.

In 1978, April was asked to come to Los Angeles to test for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in the continuation of Gone With The Wind. April moved to America with her daughters, mother, and brother Ted Potts, who were her manager and tour manager throughout her career, settling in Beverly Hills, California. While the film project was shelved, April continued her music career in America, collaborating once again with Barry Gibb, recording his song in Nashville, TN, and while caring for her children, and eventually grandchildren, with incomparable devotion, vigilance and honor.

April dedicated her entire life to the health, safety and careers of her loved ones, and worked on her craft tirelessly until the very end, leaving the Earth with many irons still in the fire. She is survived by daughters Cinderella Potts and Candy Potts; granddaughters Ashlee, Melanie and Emmalee Abrams, and grandson Kingsley Knecht.