John Laws
Updated: Wikipedia source
Richard John Sinclair Laws CBE (8 August 1935 – 9 November 2025) was an Australian radio announcer who had a broadcasting career spanning 71 years. His distinctive voice earned him the nickname Golden Tonsils.
Infobox
Born
Richard John Sinclair Laws(1935-08-08)8 August 1935Wau, Territory of New Guinea (now Papua New Guinea)
Died
9 November 2025(2025-11-09) (aged 90)Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupations
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Years active
1953–20072011−2024
Employer(s)
3BO (1953–1957)2UE (1957–1959, 1964–1969, 1979–1985, 1988–2007)2GB (1962–1964, 1985–1988)2UW (1969–1979)Network Ten (1998)Foxtel (1998–2000)2SM (2011–2024)
Spouses
mw- Sonia Zlotkowski (m. 1956; div. 1964) Yvonne Helstrom-Roux (m. 1965; div. 1974) Caroline Hagon (m. 1976; died 2020)
Children
5
Employers
mw- 3BO (1953–1957)2UE (1957–19591964–19691979–19851988–2007)2GB (1962–19641985–1988)2UW (1969–1979)Network Ten (1998)Foxtel (1998–2000)2SM (2011–2024)
Tables
List of albums, with Australian chart positions · Discography › Studio albums
AUS
AUS
Title
AUS
Rollin' Free
Rollin' Free
Title
Rollin' Free
Album details
Released: 1971
Format: LP
Label: His Master's Voice (SOELP-9765)
Peak chartpositions
-
Motivatin' Man
Motivatin' Man
Title
Motivatin' Man
Album details
Released: 1971
Format: LP
Label: RCA Victor (SL-101975)
Peak chartpositions
-
Rocks in M' Pocket and Dirt in M' Shoes
Rocks in M' Pocket and Dirt in M' Shoes
Title
Rocks in M' Pocket and Dirt in M' Shoes
Album details
Released: August 1972
Format: LP
Label: RCA Victor (SP-114-G)
Peak chartpositions
25
The Mind and the Music
The Mind and the Music
Title
The Mind and the Music
Album details
Released: 1973
Format: LP
Label: RCA Victor (SP-125-G)
Peak chartpositions
-
Let Him Roll
Let Him Roll
Title
Let Him Roll
Album details
Released: 1975
Format: LP
Label: RCA Victor (SP-154-G)
Peak chartpositions
-
You've Never Been Trucked Like This Before
You've Never Been Trucked Like This Before
Title
You've Never Been Trucked Like This Before
Album details
Released: July 1976
Format: LP
Label: RCA Victor (VPL1-0121)
Peak chartpositions
69
In Love Is an Expensive Place to Die
In Love Is an Expensive Place to Die
Title
In Love Is an Expensive Place to Die
Album details
Released: 1976
Format: LP
Label: Ultimat (ULP-2002)
Peak chartpositions
-
You Must Remember This
You Must Remember This
Title
You Must Remember This
Album details
Released: August 1977
Format: LP
Label: RCA Victor (VPL1-0147)
Peak chartpositions
91
Just You and Me Together Love (with Henry Mancini)
Just You and Me Together Love (with Henry Mancini)
Title
Just You and Me Together Love (with Henry Mancini)
Album details
Released: 1977
Format: LP
Label: RCA (PL 12362)
Peak chartpositions
-
A Tribute to the Anzacs
A Tribute to the Anzacs
Title
A Tribute to the Anzacs
Album details
Released: 2000
Format: CD
Label: Southland Music Distribution (SLM736CD)
Peak chartpositions
-
| Title | Album details | Peak chartpositions |
| AUS | ||
| Rollin' Free | Released: 1971 Format: LP Label: His Master's Voice (SOELP-9765) | - |
| Motivatin' Man | Released: 1971 Format: LP Label: RCA Victor (SL-101975) | - |
| Rocks in M' Pocket and Dirt in M' Shoes | Released: August 1972 Format: LP Label: RCA Victor (SP-114-G) | 25 |
| The Mind and the Music | Released: 1973 Format: LP Label: RCA Victor (SP-125-G) | - |
| Let Him Roll | Released: 1975 Format: LP Label: RCA Victor (SP-154-G) | - |
| You've Never Been Trucked Like This Before | Released: July 1976 Format: LP Label: RCA Victor (VPL1-0121) | 69 |
| In Love Is an Expensive Place to Die | Released: 1976 Format: LP Label: Ultimat (ULP-2002) | - |
| You Must Remember This | Released: August 1977 Format: LP Label: RCA Victor (VPL1-0147) | 91 |
| Just You and Me Together Love (with Henry Mancini) | Released: 1977 Format: LP Label: RCA (PL 12362) | - |
| A Tribute to the Anzacs | Released: 2000 Format: CD Label: Southland Music Distribution (SLM736CD) | - |
List of albums, with Australian chart positions · Discography › Compilation albums
AUS
AUS
Title
AUS
John Laws
John Laws
Title
John Laws
Album details
Released: 1973
Format: LP
Label: RCA Australia (VCL1-0029)
Peak chartpositions
-
For No Reason at All
For No Reason at All
Title
For No Reason at All
Album details
Released: June 1981
Format: LP
Label: J&B Records (JB074)
Peak chartpositions
95
| Title | Album details | Peak chartpositions |
| AUS | ||
| John Laws | Released: 1973 Format: LP Label: RCA Australia (VCL1-0029) | - |
| For No Reason at All | Released: June 1981 Format: LP Label: J&B Records (JB074) | 95 |
List of singles, with Australian chart positions · Discography › Charting singles
1972
"No Name"/"Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast"
Role(s)
37
1975
"And Yet and Yet"
Role(s)
99
| Year | Title | Peak chartpositions |
| AUS | ||
| 1972 | "No Name"/"Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast" | 37 |
| 1975 | "And Yet and Yet" | 99 |
· Awards and honours › Australian Record Awards
1975
Let Him Roll
Role(s)
Country Music Album of the Year
Notes
Won
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1975 | Let Him Roll | Country Music Album of the Year | Won |
· Awards and honours › Mo Awards
1998
John Laws
Role(s)
John Campbell Fellowship Award
Notes
Won
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
| 1998 | John Laws | John Campbell Fellowship Award | Won |
References
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://archive.today/20121230081840/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/voice-of-the-people-signs-off/story-e6freuy9-1111113823314
- Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Memories-of-polio-and-those-who-wrestled-with-it/2004/12/06/1102182223039.html
- Bandthttps://web.archive.org/web/20081120093315/http://www.bandt.com.au/news/5e/0c01bb5e.asp
- The Sunday Telegraphhttp://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24895942-5001031,00.html
- Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/04/1088879369278.html
- Glen Lewis Real Men Like Violence: Australian Men, Media and Violence Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst 1983 p. 31
- Ann Pender, "Friday essay: Barry Humphries' humour is now history – that's the fate of topical, satirical comedy" The Cohttps://theconversation.com/friday-essay-barry-humphries-humour-is-now-history-thats-the-fate-of-topical-satirical-comedy-117499
- Valda Marshall, "John the Beast is a Poet at Heart" Sydney Sun-Herald 30 August 1970 p. 114
- "Liv Launched" Melbourne Age 12 March 1970 p. 38
- John Pinkney, "Fred stands in for Freud", Melbourne Age 28 May 1970 p. 2
- Melbourne Age TV-Radio supplement, 5 February 1970 p. 10
- Melbourne The Age TV-Radio supplement, 19 November 1970 p. 11
- "Laws quits as TV host", Sydney Morning Herald 14 January 1971, p. 6
- Valda Marshall, "It's a Happening World" Sydney Sun-Herald 11 April 1971 p. 82
- The Sunday Mail
- The Sunday Mail
- The Courier-Mail
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/golden-tonsils-signs-off/2007/06/25/1182623775067.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
- The Agehttp://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/11/30/1196037119005.html
- Herald Sunhttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/laws-calls-it-a-day/story-e6frf7l6-1111115006445
- Enough Rope with Andrew Dentonhttp://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1100812.htm
- NSW Governmenthttp://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/adb/ll_adb.nsf/pages/adb_et62
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/11/03/1099362222330.html
- Nine Newshttps://web.archive.org/web/20070820095926/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=278992
- Herald Sunhttp://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22619318-662,00.html
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/laws-lunch-spat-at-hinch/news-story/07cd246a3272e0ae1d8e706502843c57?sv=4ee7b176d717134278a973eab624343dnal
- "Media Watch 20th Anniversary"http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/20th/
- Mumbrellahttp://mumbrella.com.au/john-laws-id-like-to-return-to-radio-and-kyles-annoying-and-stupid-8377
- The Sunday Telegraphhttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/john-laws-rumoured-to-be-back-on-air-by-next-month/story-e6frf7jx-1225815578674
- The Daily Telegraphhttp://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/no-radio-encore-for-john-laws-just-yet/story-e6fredq3-1225818568955
- The Spy Reporthttps://web.archive.org/web/20101118014234/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/11/12/john-laws-returning-to-radio/
- Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://archive.today/20120913111848/http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/media-matters/golden-tonsils-returns-20110131-1aa2r.html
- The Daily Telegraphhttp://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/john-laws-operating-by-laws-of-the-jungle/story-e6freuy9-1226601932426?sv=efa19ce1d167537937e1bbd6573127c0
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/laws-stands-by-interview-of-sex-abuse-victim-20130321-2git3.html
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/laws-stands-by-interview-of-sex-abuse-victim-20130321-2git3.html
- "John Laws calls male abuse victim a "wet blanket" as caller cries live on air"http://www.news.com.au/national/john-laws-calls-male-abuse-victim-a-wet-blanket-as-caller-cries-live-on-air/story-fncynjr2-1227270409561
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/john-laws-found-to-breach-radio-code-with-dangerous-suicide-insult-20210305-p5785s.html
- Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/john-laws-the-golden-tonsils-of-radio-quits-radio-again-20241008-p5kgm6.html
- Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120288874/
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://www.smh.com.au/national/john-laws-showman-salesman-therapist-and-newsman-20210317-p57bgb.html
- "John Laws weds a romantic wife", Sydney Morning Herald 28 November 1976, p. 120
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://www.smh.com.au/culture/celebrity/caroline-laws-wife-of-broadcaster-john-laws-dies-after-cancer-battle-20200224-p543ol.html
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/nov/09/john-laws-australian-talkback-radio-star-dies-aged-90
- ABC Newshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-09/veteran-radio-broadcaster-john-laws-has-died-aged-90/105989816
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/laws-unto-himself/2005/08/08/1123353260419.html
- "Winners by Year: 2008"https://web.archive.org/web/20090813152819/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2008
- "Winners by Award – Lifetime Achievement Awards"https://ariaawards.com.au/history/award/Lifetime-Achievement-Award?view=list
- LyricsFreakhttps://www.lyricsfreak.com/m/midnight+oil/who+can+stand+in+the+way_20093369.html
- Geniushttps://genius.com/Tism-five-yards-lyrics
- The Australianhttp://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/dreams-almost-over/story-e6frg6z6-1111113823180
- BBChttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rp2707jp0o
- Screen Australiahttps://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/nickel-queen-1971/617/
- Behind the Voice Actorshttps://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/movies/The-Magic-Pudding/Rumpus-Bumpus/
- "John Laws (3)"https://www.discogs.com/artist/5130624-John-Laws-3
- "John Laws – the Mind and the Music (1973, Vinyl)"https://www.discogs.com/John-Laws-The-Mind-And-The-Music/release/8722264
- "John Laws – A Tribute to the ANZACS (2000, CD)"https://www.discogs.com/John-Laws-A-Tribute-To-The-ANZACS/release/11433917
- Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
- The London Gazettehttps://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46162/supplement/21
- The London Gazettehttps://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/47549/supplement/6248
- Billboardhttps://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-11-29.pdf
- Mo Awardshttps://web.archive.org/web/20200811130738/https://www.moawards.com.au/awardwinners