Maltese Australian's roots in Xagħra

I refer to the news item about Maltese/Australian singer JayP carried in timesofmalta.com. Viewers of my TVM programme Waltzing Matilda would surely remember that JayP featured in one of the recent editions. He was interviewed by Maltese programme senior producer Marlene Galea of SBS Radio Melbourne.

Although born in Australia, Joseph Portelli's family returned to Xagħra, Gozo when he was six months. He was back in Australia at the age of nine but returned to Gozo at 11, only to go back to Australia at 14.

In the interview JayP relates why he called his album 1565 Patiently Waiting and also talks about why one of the numbers in the album is entitled 1565.

JayP, who is also linked to Alzheimer's Australia, says that he began his musical journey in Xagħra.

It is also worth mentioning that in February he entertained with his music during the dinner dance organised in Melbourne by the Maltese Community Council of Victoria and the Maltese/Australian Business and Professional Association of Victoria which welcomed President Emiritus Eddie Fenech Adami and Mrs Fenech Adami.

The Waltzing Matilda edition referred to above was transmitted on May 21 and can be viewed through the On Demand Library of www.di-ve.com.