James Valentine
AM
Born
James Matthew Valentine

(1961-09-12)12 September 1961
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Died 22 April 2026(2026-04-22) (aged 64)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupations
  • Musician
  • radio and television presenter
  • writer
Instruments Saxophone
Years active 1980–2026
Formerly of
  • Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons
  • Models
  • Absent Friends

James Matthew Valentine (12 September 1961 – 22 April 2026) was an Australian musician, and radio and television presenter. As a saxophonist, he was a member of Jo Jo Zep (1982), Models (1984–87), and Absent Friends (1989–90).

Early life and education

James Matthew Valentine was born on 12 September 1961[1] in Ballarat, Victoria.[2] His father was a car salesman and his mother taught elocution and was a part-time radio announcer. He had two older brothers.[2]

He attended Ballarat Grammar School where he learned saxophone, performing in the local area.[3] In the early 1980s Valentine relocated to Melbourne to attend university, but after getting gigs from his second year onwards, "didn't pay much attention to uni after that because [he] wanted to be a jazz musician".[4]

Music career

In 1982, Valentine joined Joe Camilleri's group, Jo Jo Zep.[5][6]

Valentine, on saxophone, and Kate Ceberano (later a member of I'm Talking), on lead vocals, were members of Diana Boss and the Extremes, a covers band which performed The Supremes material.[4] Other members included James Freud (of Models) on bass guitar, Barton Price (also of Models) on drums and Zan Abeyratne (of I'm Talking, with Ceberano) on co-lead vocals.[7] He described his experience, "The rhythm section of that band was The Models. When that finished, they asked me to go on tour with them and then I never left. All of a sudden I was in this pop band wearing black leather jackets."[4]

He joined Models in late 1984, when they relocated to Sydney and he played saxophone with them until 1987, the group broke up in June of the following year.[6][8][9] As a member of Models he appears on their studio albums, Out of Mind, Out of Sight (September 1985) and Models' Media (October 1986).[6][8]

Valentine joined Absent Friends on saxophone and clarinet in 1989. They recorded an album, Here's Looking Up Your Address (April 1990).[10] He also worked for Wendy Matthews (ex-Models, Absent Friends) on her debut solo album, Émigré (November 1990).

On 27 October 2010, Valentine as a member of the Models, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, in a presentation by Matthews, who was also a member of the band.[11]The line-up of Duffield, Ferrie, Kelly, Mason, Price and Valentine performed "I Hear Motion" and "Evolution" at the induction ceremony.[12][13]

Radio and television career

Valentine was both a radio and television presenter. He was the host of The Afternoon Show on ABC TV, a children's afternoon TV series, from February 1987 until 1990. Valentine continued at the ABC as a presenter of TVTV,[4] and later The Mix.[1]

As a radio presenter he worked on 666 ABC Canberra,[14] and presented the Afternoons show on ABC Radio Sydney as well as Upbeat each Sunday morning on ABC Jazz.[1] Valentine wrote and presented comedy sketches on air for the ABC's Humour Australia website.[15]

Valentine narrated Come Dine with Me Australia from 2010 to 2013 and Celebrity Come Dine With Me Australia from 2012 to 2014. He took over from Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck as host of ABC Radio Sydney's Breakfast[16] from Monday 13 December 2021 after the pair ended their run on Friday 10 December 2021.[17]

At the end of 2023, it was announced that Valentine would return to the afternoon program, with Craig Reucassel taking over the breakfast show.[18]

He announced his retirement from radio on 2 February 2026 to spend time on cancer treatment and to be with family.[19]

Writing

Valentine was also the author of a series of books for teenage boys, including the sci-fi novel trilogy JumpMan.[20]

Illness and death

Valentine was treated for oesophageal cancer in March 2024 and was alerted to a tumour in his omentum in June 2025.[21] He died on 22 April 2026, at the age of 64, using voluntary assisted dying.[1][22][23] Governor-general Sam Mostyn told ABC Radio that Valentine had been recommended and approved for appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia in the weeks before his death.[24]

References

General

  • McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Whammo Homepage". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2015. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.

Specific

  1. ^ a b c d King, Jennifer (22 April 2026). "James Valentine, talented musician who elevated the art of talk on ABC Sydney radio – obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  2. ^ a b Javes, Sue (20 July 2004). "Valentine's day". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  3. ^ Rollason, Bridgit (17 July 2013). "A Valentine for the Exhumed". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Shanahan, Brendan; Throsby, Corin (21 February 1997). "Flipside: Be My Valentine". Woroni. Vol. 49, no. 1. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 42. Retrieved 11 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ McFarlane, 'Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons' entry. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b c James Valentine at Australian Rock Database:
    • Jo Jo Zep (1982):  Holmgren, Magnus; Baird, Paul. "Joe Camilleri aka Joey Vincent aka Jo Jo Zep". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
    • Models (1984–87):  Holmgren, Magnus; Baird, Paul; Aubrey, Ross; Acosta, Lisa. "The Models". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
    • Absent Friends (1989–90):  Holmgren, Magnus; Francois, Ron. "Absent Friends". passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. ^ Warren, Rachel (18 July 1985). "Models proving that opposites equal". The Canberra Times. Vol. 59, no. 18, 189. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 15. Retrieved 11 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b McFarlane, 'Models' entry. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Band Members". Angelfire.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 1999. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  10. ^ McFarlane, 'Absent Friends' entry. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  11. ^ Australian Association Press (AAP) (28 October 2010). "Old talent time: ARIA honours music legends". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  12. ^ Treuen, Jason (28 October 2010). "ARIA Hall of Fame celebrates music's loved ones". The Music Network (Peer Group Media). Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  13. ^ Street, Andrew P (25 October 2010). "Models inducted into ARIA Hall of Fame". Time Out. Time Out Group. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  14. ^ Manning, James (8 October 2021). "ABC Radio reveals James Valentine new host of ABC Sydney breakfast". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Humour Australia History". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  16. ^ "James Valentine took over as Breakfast presenter for 2022". ABC Radio Sydney Breakfast. 8 October 2021. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  17. ^ Luu, Michael (10 December 2021). "Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck sign off ABC Radio Sydney breakfast show in front of live audience". ABC News. Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  18. ^ Quinn, Karl (28 November 2023). "Craig Reucassel to host ABC breakfast radio, Valentine back to afternoons". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  19. ^ Michie, Isabella (2 February 2026). "ABC radio presenter James Valentine retires after more than 30 years on air due to cancer". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  20. ^ Glover, Richard (23 April 2026). "Witty and warm, James Valentine lifted the spirits of a city". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  21. ^ Valentine, James (13 June 2025). "ABC Radio Sydney presenter James Valentine announces omentum cancer diagnosis". ABC News. Perspective. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  22. ^ "James Valentine, beloved ABC talkback radio star, dies aged 64". ABC News. 23 April 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  23. ^ Maddox, Garry (23 April 2026). "'It was beautiful': In his last hours, James Valentine delivered one final performance". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  24. ^ Hook, Chris (23 April 2026). "'Deeply missed': ABC radio presenter James Valentine dies aged 64". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2026.