By Alesha Capone
Hoppers Crossing singer, musician and producer Steven Gee has survived life-threatening illnesses to return to the stage.
Gee was diagnosed with the blood disease Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) – the same condition which claimed his late mother Jovanka, whom he spent many years caring for.
Gee’s illness mutated into haemolytic anaemia, a disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made.
“I went to hell and back with that,” Gee said.
“I was haemorrhaging blood like someone sliced the jugular vein in my throat.”
Gee has now been in remission for about two years and has put together a show with wife Michele, in which she stars as Tina Turner and he as Elvis.
Gee is a veteran of the stage.
He was only nine years old when he won his first music competition, in which he performed an Elvis Presley song.
In 1993, he appeared on New faces with Bert Newton and was offered a recording contract.
Gee said it was a “crazy” time in his life, when he sold 5000 cassettes at local shops and gigs.
Gee was also invited to audition to appear alongside Marina Prior in West Side Story.
Gee said he turned up for the audition where he met another “tall and lanky” singer trying out for the same part.
“Me and the other man introduced ourselves. I said, ‘I’m Steve,’ and he said, ‘I’m Hugh Jackman’,” Gee said.
Gee said he was cast ahead of Jackman, who was deemed too tall for the role.
Gee said he was delighted but that he did not realise joining the show meant he would have to tour interstate.
He turned down the role as he was his mum’s carer and couldn’t travel.
Gee said that when he decided to become his mum’s carer, he chose to work as a singer in the evenings, leaving him free to look after his mum during the day, while a carer visited her at night.
Jovanka died about three to four years after being diagnosed with Immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
Gee was putting together a Blues Brothers Show when he too was diagnosed with the disorder.
The Australian Tina Turner Show was scheduled to be held at the Clayton RSL on August 7, but a later date will be set due to the pandemic.
