IT'S BEEN A TOUGH 12 MONTHS'

John Farnham's sons pay tribute and open up about their father's health battle

He may be going through some tough times with his health, but as he turned 74 on July 1, John Farnham felt the outpouring of love from his family and fans.

In a touching tribute to the legendary singer, his youngest son James took to Instagram with a series of throwback pictures of the pair, along with a heartfelt birthday message."You just had one of the hardest 12 months, and you smashed it! It doesn't matter if it's a concert stage or the stage of life, you always give it everything no matter what!" proud James wrote.

"You're an inspiration to me and I'm sure many others. Thanks for everything. You're the greatest...

In recent months, the man known universally as "The Voice" has had to lean on James, his eldest son Rob and wife Jill, with the family nursing him at their small farm outside Melbourne following his hospitalisation in late March for a chest infection.

The sickness came just eight months after John's miracle recovery from mouth cancer.

Soon after, singer-songwriter Rob said, "He's good. He's in recovery. It is a fairly long road - as cancer is - but he's doing may be going through some tough times with his health, but as he turned 74 on July 1, John Farnham felt the outpouring of love from his family and fans.

In a touching tribute to the legendary singer, his youngest son James took to Instagram with a series of throwback pictures of the pair, along with a heartfelt birthday message.

"You just had one of the hardest 12 months, and you smashed it! It doesn't matter if it's a concert stage or the stage of life, you always give it everything no matter what!" proud James wrote.