First Australian To Have US Gold Record Sister Janet Mead Dies

Sister Janet Mead, the first Australian to achieve a gold record in the US has died, aged 84. 

Four decades before Hillsong, Australia produced another religious export, with a song that took global charts by storm with a wicked guitar lick and a far less wicked vocal performance from Mead. Pioneering the concept of the 'rock mass' in the early 70s, Mead was well ahead of her time, creating the template for progressive churches around the world to embrace modern music. 

The internationally famous nun from Adelaide took the global music world by storm in 1974 with her 'rock' rendition of The Lord's Prayer. Selling over 2 million copies around the world, the single was the first Australian export to reach the sales achievement. She was nominated for a Grammy Award for the song, losing out to Elvis Presley. The single was also certified gold here in Australia.

Despite being catapulted to fame, Mead remained a school teacher and donated all of her royalties to charity. She turned down offers to tour the US, preferring to stay in Australia, dedicating her life to helping the homeless and disadvantaged. She was a vocal supporter of worker's rights and campaigned against war. She was named South Australian of the Year in 2004 for her charity work. 

A true humanitarian and pioneer of Australia's music scene, Mead will be remembered as a giant in the history of Christian music. The Adelaide Archdiocese confirm that Sister Janet Mead passed on January 26.