Tributes from across Australia’s music and media sectors continue to emerge following the death of James Valentine, with artists including Jimmy Barnes and Iva Davies reflecting on his wide-ranging impact.
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Valentine, a saxophonist best known for his work with Models before becoming a longtime broadcaster with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, died at age 64 using voluntary assisted dying at home two years after a cancer diagnosis, according to ABC.
Barnes shared a tribute on social media, writing, “James and I have known each other a long time. He loved music and I heard him play the saxophone many times with the Models. He was a funny and insightful interviewer, and I will miss hearing his gentle voice on ABC radio every afternoon. RIP James. You will be missed.”
Davies, frontman of Icehouse, also shared a detailed statement reflecting on their decades-long connection. “The ICEHOUSE team and I were very saddened to hear of the passing of James Valentine yesterday,” he wrote. “We’d known James since the early ‘80s when we met him on the road with Models. He was a great musician and I asked him to play saxophone on our Code Blue album, which he did with his renowned sense of skill and joy.”
He continued, “His move to be an innovative and much loved broadcaster at Australia’s ABC radio network meant we’d cross paths regularly – he was always engaged and fun to be around with a story or anecdote to share. James will be missed by many tens of thousands, by our ICEHOUSE team and by me. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Members of INXS also paid tribute, recalling their shared history on the Australian Made tour in the mid-1980s. “We are very much saddened to hear of the passing of our old mate James Valentine,” the band wrote. “James was an incredible musician and an amazing human. Always smiling, always positive, caring and involved.”
The statement continued, “Our lives crossed paths during the ’80s and we all became mates with James on the Australian Made tour in ’86-87 when he was a member of the Models. He of course then became a member of Absent Friends with Garry for an album and live performances.”
They added, “James later had an amazing career in TV and radio and as a writer — his wit and warmth was loved by everyone. Our sincere condolences to Joanne, Ruby and Roy. Travel safe mate — we miss you.”
The responses highlight the dual nature of Valentine’s career, which spanned both music and broadcasting. As previously reported, he performed on Models’ Out of Mind, Out of Sight, which peaked at No. 84 on the Billboard 200 and produced the single “Out of Mind, Out of Sight,” a Billboard Hot 100 entry in 1986. His work as a session and touring musician extended across multiple Australian acts throughout the decade.
In later years, Valentine became a defining voice on ABC radio, hosting programs for more than three decades, including a long-running tenure on 702 ABC Sydney’s Afternoons show. His conversational style and curiosity-driven interviews helped him build a broad national audience, expanding his influence well beyond the music industry.
Additional tributes from across the industry have emphasized that crossover impact. Valentine’s ability to move between performance and broadcasting roles positioned him as a rare figure within Australia’s creative landscape — equally at home onstage and behind the microphone.
His passing also comes amid renewed recognition of his contributions. Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn recently confirmed that Valentine had been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), acknowledging his service to both music and media.
For industry figures, the response to his death reflects not only his legacy as a musician, but also the enduring reach of his broadcasting career, which brought his voice into the daily lives of listeners for decades.
Valentine is survived by his wife and two children.
