Ritchie Yorke is an Australian-born author, broadcaster, historian and music journalist. This instigator of political pop organised for John Lennon to meet with Pierre Trudeau, then Prime Minister of Canada, making Lennon the first political pop artist of the century. Yorke toured the world as the Peace Envoy for Lennon's 'The War Is Over, If You Want It' peace campaign in the 60s and 70s (New Book Promotion Soon).

Yorke developed a passion for rock 'n' roll in his early teens. At the tender age of 16, he discovered that equality was far from reality even in the world of rock 'n' roll. During his weekly rural radio program on his Saturday night show, Yorke played Stevie Wonder's Fingertips Pt 2 single, which was the number 1 pop R & B hit in the USA at the time. The following Monday morning Yorke was told "never play that nigger shit again". The following Saturday, Yorke barricaded himself inside the radio station and played the R & B track eight times in a row before management were able to open the studio. He was fired on the spot.

After working in London on the international career of Australian superstar Normie Rowe in the 60s, Yorke moved on to manage the international promotions for Chris Blackwell of Island Records at a time when The Spencer Davis Group were working international hit records with Gimme Some Lovin' and I'm a Man.

In 1968 Yorke became Canadian Editor of Billboard magazine and was appointed the first full-time rock writer for Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail in Toronto, the following year.

More than a year in production, the 64-hour "rockumentary" titled The Evolution of Rock (The Music That Made the World Turn 'Round) was syndicated worldwide. It would ultimately be heard by more than 50 million rock fans and won Billboard magazine's prestigious Documentary of the Year award. To coincide with the international airing of the radio series, Yorke published the acclaimed companion book The History of Rock 'n' Roll (Methuen Publications, 1976).

During the summer of 1970 Ritchie Yorke spent time with Jimi Hendrix. The resulting interview was the last one Hendrix gave before his death in September of the same year. The interview was first published in Hit Parader, a US pop monthly, and in many other publications thereafter.

In 1972, he was named Canadian Journalist of the Year (Juno Music Awards, Toronto).

While jetting around the planet, Yorke was totally unprepared for the crucial events of counter-culture journalism which would be revealed on his watch.

In the late '60s, with the rapidly disintegrating Vietnam War as a backdrop, Yorke struck up a friendship with John and Yoko Lennon involved with the Lennons in their celebrated Bed-In for Peace in Montreal in May of 1969.

Yorke later played an important key role in the Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival of September 1969. Rolling Stone magazine calls this "the second most important event in rock history" - John Lennon's historic first live performance outside The Beatles. Some claim the most important was the arrival in Memphis of Elvis Presley.

It was Yorke who organised The Beatles' meeting with communications prophet Marshall McLuhan. And, for John Lennon to meet with Pierre Trudeau - then Prime Minister of Canada -making Lennon the first political pop artist of the century, in December 1969.

The subsequent journey was unforgettable; Yorke became the Peace Envoy for "The War Is Over, If You Want It" campaign. Yorke travelled around the world on behalf of the Lennons in early l970, and grabbed headlines when he illegally crossed into Red China to present the "War Is Over" message to the Communists. He ended up on the red border holding up posters promoting peace, and miraculously escaped arrest.

He was the first media person to publicly predict the astonishing North American success of Led Zeppelin in 1969, at a time when most critics were panning them for being overly bombastic and "Pommy pretenders". Yorke toured with the band and introduced many of their concerts to an intrigued fan base.

In 1977 Yorke travelled to Los Angeles to assist Van Morrison, as his publicist, in launching his A Period of Transition album. They continue an unorthodox and unique relationship.

In the past 47 years Yorke has contributed to a huge range of publications around the world including: Bell McClure syndicate, Billboard, Chicago News, Circus, The Courier-Mail, Detroit Free Press, Fusion, Gannett syndicate, Hit Parader, Houston Post, Jazz & Pop, LA Free Press, Los Angeles Times, Melody Maker, Miss Chatelaine, Modern Hi-Fi, Mojo, New Musical Express, Ottawa Journal, Pop, Press, Rainbow Magazine, Rhythms, Rocksbackpages, Rolling Stone, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Sunday Herald Sun, Sunday Times , The Sunday Mail, The Sunday Telegraph, Toronto Globe and Mail, Toronto Telegram, TV Week, fyimusic, Brisbane Times and the Washington Post.