Left on a doorstep the day he was born, Jeff Patterson started life with a poor family in Melbourne's depression-weary inner suburbs. In and out of boys' homes for truancy, his first break was boxing and then playing football for the top VFL clubs.
But who would have thought that when Jeff took off to Europe to escape his debts, he would became one of Europe's top entertainment agents, living the high life from Monaco to Paris and London? He promoted showbiz stars throughout Europe including Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Duke Ellington, Little Richard, Edith Piaf, Eartha Kitt, Tiny Tim, Herb Albert et al and managed Roy Orbison.
Jeff became a millionaire high-roller, with casino tales of Donald Trump, Omar Sharif and Grace Kelly.
He married six times and lived in Frankfurt, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Monte Carlo, Melbourne and Sydney among others.
A uniquely Australian rags-to-riches story, Jeff Patterson typifies the Australian larrikin spirit.
