JOHN ROWLES

John Edward Rowles was born 26 March 1947, in Whakatane and raised in Kawerau, along with five sisters and one brother, John was a typical New Zealand kid, growing up in the fifties and sixties. He used to constantly listen to the records of The Platters, Brook Benton, Elvis Presley, Little Richard and many others of that era. Leaving school at 15 years of age, John started work as a lumberjack in the Kaingaroa Forest and played guitar on weekends, with a band of old school mates, at local dances.

A new adventure for John at 17 years, was his arrival in Australia, working with Sydney band, The Sundowners his talent was immediately recognized by people in the industry. Within months, John was working as a solo performer on television shows such as Bandstand and the Johnny O’Keefe Show under the name of “JR” (Spelt Ja-Ar). Creating a storm wherever he performed, it was quickly realized that the talents of John Rowles deserved to be not just local, but on the worlds’ stage. His first single ''The End Of The Rainbow / You Still Love Him'' was released on the Kommotion label in 1966.

Moving to England in the late sixties, he recorded the smash single “If I Only Had Time”. The song reached the top of the charts in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia. He was just 20 years of age. Following was the hit, "Hush, Not a Word To Mary”, which reached #13. Next came the success of “Cheryl Moana Marie”, which John wrote for his younger sister and entered it in the Brazilian Song Festival held in Rio de Janeiro. It reached #5 position out of 42 country’s and later, became #1 in New Zealand, plus a top 40 smash hit in the U.S.A and Australia. The song was also chosen by Unesco cultural and educational committee, for the World Book Of Song.

At 22 years of age, John was the youngest performer to headline a major Las Vegas showroom. Head Line Reviews acclaimed him as possessing one of the strongest and richest voices they had ever heard. With a “deep resonance compared to none, a unique live performer and recording artist, with alluring looks, boundless Energy and outstanding versatility.”

Since the mid-seventies. John has been a resident of Hawaii where he had an eight-year contract with the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Monarch Room, in which he won Hawaii’s highest entertainment award, “The No Ka Oi” accolade, meaning the best. In 1980, he was awarded the O.B.E. for his contribution to music and promotion of his country overseas. Since then, John has been a regular visitor to Australia, appearing at all major venues and television shows throughout the country. Over his career John Rowles released over 20 albums.

In June 2018 John Rowles was awarded a Knighthood from Her Majesty the Queen of England for his contribution to the entertainment industry along with his benevolent charitable involvement thru-out his international career from his native country of New Zealand.

SINGLES (as Ja-Ar)

''The End (Of The Rainbow) / You Still Love Him'' 1966 Kommotion
''Please Help Me, I'm Falling / Girl, Girl, Girl'' 1966 Sunshine
''I Remember Mamma / Broken Promises'' 1967 CBS

SINGLES (as John Rowles)

''Hush...Not A Word To Mary (#13) / The Night We Called It A Day'' 1968 CBS
''If I Only Had Time (#6) / Now Is The Hour'' 1968 CBS
''The Pain Goes On Forever (#65) / All My Loves Laughter'' 1969 CBS
''Say Goodbye (#68) / M'Lady'' 1969 CBS
''One Day / I Must Have Been Out Of My Mind'' 1969 CBS
''It Takes A Fool Like Me / When You Walk Away'' 1969 CBS

''Cheryl Moana Marie (#20) / No Love At All'' 1970 MCA
''That Wonderful Sound (#71) / I Was A Boy''
''Since I Fell For You / All Kinds Of People'' 1971 MCA
''A Lifetime Of Love / I Apologize'' 1971 MCA
''Blue On Blue / More Than Just A Woman'' 1972 MCA
''Tania (This Song Is For You) / The Girl In White'' 1978 Interfusion
''Island In The Sun / She Isn't You'' 1981 EMI

EPs (as Ja-Ar)

'Please Help Me, I'm Falling' 1967 Sunshine

EPs (as John Rowles)

'John Rowles Hits' 1968 CBS

ALBUMS

'John Rowles' 1968 CBS
'That Lovin' Feeling' 1969 CBS

'The Exciting John Rowles' 1970 MCA
'Cheryl Moana Marie' 1970 MCA
'This Is My Life' 1978 Interfusion
'Another Chapter' 1982 RCA
'In The Portrait Of My Mind' 1984 RCA
'Love Songs' 1986 J&B
'From A Distance' 1991 J&B

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rowles

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/