Few would disagree either that the Capitol Theatre was the perfect place to do it. This stage has held rock concerts, musicals, comedy and drama - the creative buffet that made up this public life.

In the same room, albeit a significantly renovated  version, where he first played Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar more than 40 years ago, friends, family and fans mixed.

Everyone was given the sheet music for one of his best known songs, Six Ribbons and time to practise in their heads. This was not an occasion to hold back or hold it in.

John Paul Young, who was in Superstar, and Simon Gallaher, who a decade or so later would appear alongside English in The Pirates Of Penzance, committed to singing for him.

Trevor White, Jesus to English's Judas spoke of meeting English at the cattle call for Superstar.

"This enthusiastic, gushing with excitement guy" who would become his friend over thousands of performances.

"Every night would be different," White said. "It was an incredible thing to be part of. So many great times and laughs."

In the room, were figures from the music publishing industry, musical theatre representatives such as impresario Peter Cousens, actors and singers such as John Waters, who sang Turn The Page, and enough well-lived rock faces, such as Peter Cupples, to fill a beer barn on a classic pub rock night sometime in the late 1970s.

Most were mouthing the words as footage played of English singing his dark-hued hit Hollywood Seven. "Hollywood Seven dreams to rent 'til your name goes up in lights". Everyone was held fixed by even older TV film of English singing Judas' powerhouse number Heaven On Their Minds. 

Later would come the women who played opposite him, from Marcia Hines and Julie Anthony to Amanda Muggleton and Marina Prior. All of them enamoured of his graciousness and care as much as his talent and performance.

As Anthony said, "he was everybody's friend". His former manager Peter Rix spoke fondly of the "glory days" he and English "ran amok" through the industry in the manner of English's beloved footy team, the Parramatta Eels, on an end of year trip. Except, of course, that the footy team had a week of it while English and friends went at it for months at a time.

But Rix also ran through the vast array of talents of a man who was a star in every area he worked, from pubs to TV to fame in Scandinavia.

"He found a way to connect with you," Rix said.

"With Jon you always knew he was going to go just that little bit further."

And for his final full house, so did his friends and family.