The high flying Melbourne Demon is best and fairest on the football field but will he achieve the same results on stage?
“I am genuinely interested in music so who could turn down the chance to meet some great musicians and people? Having played football in some capacity for over 16 years, It Takes Two allows me to do something different.” Russell said.
It was television that first brought Russell Robertson to the public eye – he was drafted to the Melbourne Football Club from Tasmania’s under 18s after recruiters saw him featured in a home video on the Footy Show’s ‘Almost Football Legends'.
Making his debut in 1997, Robertson soon became known as one of the game’s best high-flying forwards, taking numerous “Marks of the Week” and twice leading club goal kicking.
The 2003 Best & Fairest winner had a golden year in 2005, playing for Australia in the International Rules series against Ireland. He was named the Leading Goal Kicker that year, an accolade he had previously enjoyed in 2001.
Last year Robertson experienced a setback after a strong start to the season. An awkward landing during the Melbourne vs Hawks game saw him injuring the medial ligament in his knee, missing seven weeks of football.
Recently he signed a two-year contract with the Demons which will see him to the end of 2009.
A sought-after corporate speaker, Robertson is already well-known to viewers of The Footy Show and Before The Game. A talented singer/guitarist, Robertson has played in numerous bands including No Soup For You and the Russell Robertson Trio.
Robertson celebrated his first anniversary with wife Brooke Aust, a former Melbourne Storm cheerleader, last October.
Russell Robertson is supporting THE REACH BROADBRIDGE FUND to honour the life of Troy Broadbridge and the values for which he stood - honesty, integrity, determination, courage and acceptance of difference. The Fund makes a significant, positive difference in the lives of young people both in Australia and Thailand through Reach's activity based educational programs.
“Troy Broadbridge and I played football together for seven or eight years, I lost one of my great mates when he passed away in terrible circumstances. Trisha is doing a fantastic amazing job raising funds in the memory of a great mate. The fund helps others who are in great need and whose standard of living is very ordinary.” said Russell.
Russell is being mentored by Kate Ceberano.
Kate Ceberano has been belting out tunes for over 20 years and is one of the country’s best known and loved singers, and can also add Australia’s favourite ‘dancer’ to the list.
Renowned for her soulful and powerful vocal style, Kate has won nearly every entertainment award in Australia. She has released five platinum records and four gold albums, selling over 1 million albums in this country alone.
The sultry singer first came to prominence during her mid-teens as the lead singer for funk band I’m Talking. After one album, the group broke up leaving Kate free to purse a solo career.
And what a career it’s been. Her second solo album You’ve Always Got The Blues earned her an ARIA Award for Best Female Artist but it was the triple platinum selling Brave in 1989 that really set the charts on fire. It was the first album by an Australian female to reach the national No.1 spot and it produced four hit singles including Bedroom Eyes.
At the end of 1990, she received three prestigious MO Awards for Jazz Performer, Female Rock Performer and Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year.
In 1992, Kate performed the role of Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar to rave reviews. She followed this with her own late-night cabaret-style show on ABC TV called Kate Ceberano And Friends (1993-1994). Since then, she has released the critically acclaimed album Blue Box and her self-penned smash Pash. Next came The Girl Can Help It followed by the highly successful 19 Days in New York.
2007 was a busy year for Kate, having taken out the title of Dancing with the Stars Series Six champion, partnering former Olympic swimmer Daniel Kowalski for It Takes Two series two, and releasing and touring the 80’s inspired Nine Lime Avenue which describes a collection of songs connected to different memories from that time. The album achieved Platinum sales in Australia, and was followed by a sell-out National theatre tour.
The Melbourne-born songstress is married to music video director Lee Rogers, who has directed several of her music videos. They have a daughter Gypsy, who was born in January 2004.
Kate returns to It Takes Two to belt out tunes when she pairs up with a new celebrity hoping to win over the judges and audience once again.
Kate Ceberano's Official Website
Kate Ceberano's Myspace
Kate Ceberano on iTunes
