Kenneth Weate was a musician and singer who got famous only as the ex-husband of American singer Helen Reddy. She had released dozens of albums including Ear Candy, Helen Reddy, I Don’t Know How to Love Him, and many more.
As a matter of fact, Kenneth only got recognized in the media after his marriage to his ex-wife Helen. But, did you know they were already married before Reddy was famous? Well, there are lots of questions behind the closed door to be answered.
Stick with us until the end to find every untold and interesting fact of Kenneth Weate’s life!
Who Are Kenneth Weate Parents? Know About His Age
Kenneth Weate was born Kenneth Claude Weate in 1928 in Melbourne, Australia to Claude Gifford Weate (father) and Eunice Gladys Jessie Wheeler Weate (mother). Similarly, he also shared a younger sibling Bruce Gifford Weate.
Talking about his ethnicity, Weate belonged to Caucasian ethnicity and he was Australian by nationality.
On the other hand, his ex-wife Helen was born during World War II on 25 October 1941 to actress Campbell (née Lamond) and writer plus actor Maxwell David “Max” Reddy.
Kenneth Weate Was The First Husband Of Helen Reddy
Before getting straight into their marital relationship, let’s know how their love life started. Well, as we all know both Kenneth and his ex-wife Helen were Melbourne natives. But, did you know Kenneth was a family friend of the singer, Helen?
Kenneth and his former wife were in a marital relationship for six yearsMoreover, the reason behind Reddy’s marriage to her ex-hubby Weate was to go against her parents’ desire for her to follow in their footsteps as an actress. At the young age of 20, Helen exchanged her vows with Kenneth in 1961. Their wedding was held in a very private ceremony with only limited guests.
They Shared A Daughter During Their Six Years Of Marital Relationship
On January 19, 1963, they welcomed their only daughter Traci Wald Donat. But, unfortunately, Kennet’s marital relationship with his ex-wife Helen ended when their daughter was just three years old in 1966.
Kenneth’s daughter Traci (left corner), his ex-wife Helen (middle)Soon after their divorce, Reddy got full custody of their daughter Traci, and the mother-daughter duo relocated to Los Angeles.
Did Kenneth Re-Marry After The Split From His Ex-Wife Helen?
After the split from his then-wife, Kenneth didn’t make any public appearances. So, the fact that Weate was married or not is still under the radar.
On the other hand, his former spouse Helen found her love for the second time. Two years after moving to LA, she came across a 22-year-old secretary Jeff Wald at the William Morris Agency, in 1968. Surprisingly, the duo walked down the aisle three days after their first meeting.
Later, Helen along with her daughter Traci decided to move with her new hubby Jeff at the Hotel Albert in Greenwich Village. Similarly, Helen and her second husband even welcomed their son Jordan Sommers on December 12, 1972. Unfortunately, after a decade, the couple decided to part ways on January 2, 1981, and finalized their divorce in January 1983.
Kenneth’s ex-wife Helen and her two kids with her ex-husband JeffFurthermore, in 1984, Kenneth’s ex-wife Helen Reddy was married for the third time to a professional drummer Milton Ruth. However, just like her previous two marriages, her relationship with Ruth also ended in divorce after 11 years in 1995.
Kenneth’s Ex-Wife Has Won A Grammy Award
Kenneth Weate’s then-spouse started her professional career of singing in 1966. She made her first debut single One Way Ticket in 1968, but it was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, her debut album I Don’t Know How to Love Him gained decent popularity.
Apart from this, his ex-wife Helen grabbed the media attention with her single titled I Am Woman, which was released in December 1972 and it also ranked #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Henceforth, she made several albums like Ear Candy, Center Stage, Play Me Out, Helen Reddy, Imagination, Feel So Young, and many others.
Kenneth Weate Died Before Seeing His Grandchild: Also Know About His Daughter Traci’s Current Life
Helen Reddy’s ex-spouse died on 11 April 1970 at the age of 42 in Melbourne City, Victoria, Australia. His funeral took place at Fawkner Memorial Park. However, he couldn’t live until his daughter gave him the title of grandfather.
Kenneth was buried in 1970His granddaughter, Lily Donat was born after his death. But, thankfully Traci’s mother Helen could spend some years of her life with Lily. Similarly, Helen and her grandchild shared a great bond and were very close. Besides, Lily is doing well in her career and following in her grandmother’s footsteps.
Kenneth’s granddaughter LilyAside from that, the late musician’s daughter Traci is a herbalist and is the owner of a company named Simples. She started the business in 2017 and is currently into it with lots of passion and energy. Furthermore, Traci makes a tonic through every herbal plant which is safe to drink, and her business seems to be doing well as it is getting a lot of good reviews from customers.
His Ex-partner Helen Reddy Has Also Passed Away
Sadly, the aspiring artist Helen is no longer in this world. She passed away on September 29, 2020, in Los Angeles. Helen Reddy died at the age of 78 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Calabasas, California, U.S. Sources say, she suffered from Addison’s disease. At the young age of 17, she also had her kidney removed.
However, the exact reason for her passing is yet to be revealed. Besides, Kenneth’s daughter also shared a post regarding her death. She wrote,
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother. She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother, and a truly formidable woman. Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever.”
How Rich Was Kenneth Before His Death?
Kenneth had earned a good amount of money as a musician and singer. He was estimated to have a net worth of $100,000 until his death. Besides, his ex-wife made a hefty amount of wealth and was estimated to have a net worth of $3 million.