JOHN FOREMAN AT 50 'THE SHOW'S NOT OVER YET'

AHEAD OF A VERY SPECIAL CONCERT, AUSTRALIA'S FAVOURITE MAESTRO REGALES TALES FROM HIS GLORIOUS CAREER

- Jenny Brown

This is 50! The birthday boy celebrates at his Melbourne home with his cavoodle, Fred.

Terrified by his first major audition, John Foreman was tempted to bail until his music teacher asked him, "What have you got to lose? You might as well give it a go! If you don't get in, all you've lost is 10 minutes of your lunchtime."

It's a lesson John still follows as he celebrates his milestone 50th birthday and a blockbuster concert with friend-for-life, Patti Newton. If in doubt, just try.

Grinning as he remembers that fateful day, John tells New Idea: "I look back with great fondness and gratitude on what was a significant turning point for me. That give it a go' approach is very sound advice."

John gladly shared this guidance with stars-of-the-future Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Anthony Callea and Casey Donovan, among others, throughout his five-year stint as Australian Idol's musical director.

It's also what earned him his first gig as a Year 10 student on the NSW Schools Spectacular.