John Rowles
A New Zealand entertainment icon, John was the youngest of a family of seven children, born in Whakatane New Zealand, but raised in Kawerau. His father Eddie was a Maori All Black in 1938.
John’s first performance was at the tender age of 10 when he entered and won a local Talent quest when he sang “All Shook Up”. At 15, John left school to help support his family, working in a forestry camp planting trees and for 2 years worked as a fitter and rigger. During this time he played lead guitarist in a band called “The Shadows” named after the original group, and John was the “Hank Marvin” of the group.
Moving to Auckland he gained valuable singing experience by joining a club band and later moved to Melbourne Australia after signing a nine month contract singing at the “Riverside Inn” in Melbourne with his friend Eddie Low. John went on to join “The Dingdongers” and later “The Sundowners in Sydney but left a year later to try a solo career. He was then managed by New Zealand Promoter, Graham Dent who insisted on an image and name change. Dent dubbed Rowles “The Secret” bought him new clothes, cut his hair and with the help of Lonnie Lee, taught him to put action into his songs. After appearing on “Bandstand”(with Brian Henderson) work offers poured in and promoters went crazy trying to sign him up. His first single “The End” and later his second release “Please help me I’m Falling” both charted very well in Australia
“I never stand still, I never give in, I never get disillusioned. I brush things aside and believe in myself. That’s why I survive”
These inspiring words of the consummate artist, John Rowles.
The strength and power heard in his singing, is also reflected in the man himself. A unique live performer and recording artist with alluring looks, boundless energy and endless talent, he is a true professional. John Rowles is a force in entertainment who has never relied on trends for his popularity. His talent for entertaining the public has endured the decades.
Destined to take John to stardom “IF I ONLY HAD TIME” became an instant hit when he celebrated his 21st birthday. It reached No 1 in England, New Zealand and Australia. Followed by “Hush Not a Word to Mary” which reached the top 10 internationally. John became one of New Zealand’s top pop exports and being proud of his Maori heritage he always included one of his country’s native songs in a segment of his shows.
The first record release “The Exciting John Rowles” received a Gold Disc for sales and wherever John played he had “sellout audiences”. John then went back to London to promote his next two single releases “One Day” and “Say Goodbye” With his second album release titled “That Loving Feeling” touring all over Europe.
In 1968 John appeared on “The David Frost Show” “Top of the Pops” in England and was presented with New Zealand’s highest award, the N.E.B.O.A.’s Entertainment award of the year. In 1969 he represented New Zealand in the Rio De Janiero song festival and his hit song written for this special occasion “Cheryl Moana Marie” was voted No.5 and later became a top 50 hit in U.S.A., No.1 in New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii and was chosen by the UNES CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE for the World Book of Song. It sold over 1 million copies world-wide. Still only 21 John was offered a contract to appear at “The Flamingo Hotel” in Las Vegas alongside Connie Stevens.
During his career John toured South Africa and had many more hit records. In 1972 he signed a five year contract with world famous “MONARCH ROOM” at the “ROYAL HAWAIIAN HOTEL – better known as“The Pink Palace”in the heart of Waikiki and due to public demand made Hawaii his home base, travelling back and forth to mainland U.S.A., New Zealand, Australia and performing at other international engagements. 1976 saw the release of another hit album “Rowles Gold” featuring hit song “TANIA” which quickly reached No. 1 in New Zealand and the top 20 in Australia.
Hit albums include: “Love Songs, released in 1988, “In My Wildest Dreams” recorded in Los Angeles, “From a Distance” recorded in Sydney, Australia, and “Giver and Taker of Love tonight” which was released in 1998. The title track “Three Times a Lady” was performed by John at the South Pacific International Song Festival which led him to win first place in the Music and Cultural Song Festival held in Turkey. His most current release of “Voice of a Legend” – The Millennium Collection consists of Volumes 1 to 6 featuring over 100 songs. In December 1990 John performed a one-off concert at the Aotea centre in Auckland which was a benefit concert for “Toys for Tots” for underprivileged children in New Zealand. The concert was recorded live for a television special and is available today on a DVD titled “John Rowles in Concert”.
John Rowles has one of the greatest baritone voices in the world and has performed with the world’s top entertainers making guest appearances with Cliff Richard, Bob Hope, Glen Campbell, Merv Griffin. Joe Lewis, Dinah Shore, Johnny Carson, David Frost, Connie Stevens, Phyllis Diller and many more. He has been awarded the OBE for his contribution to music in New Zealand and the No Ka Oi accolade meaning the best in Hawaii.
With top hits including Cheryl Moana Marie, Tania, Power of Love, How Great Thou Art, My way, Amazing Grace, Time to Say Goodbye, From a Distance, and many more John Rowles is in constant demand as a powerful singer, entertainer, and solo performer and is an irrepressible force in entertainment. Currently he travels between Australia, Hawaii and New Zealand.
More information
To request more information, add John Rowles to your shortlist.