The Howard Morrison Quartet (originally named the Ohinemutu Quartet) was a New Zealand band during the 1950s and early 1960s. The band was formed by Sir Howard Morrison and included Gerry Merito, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi.'Story: Morrison, Howard Leslie'. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
In 1955, while working as a surveyor's chainman, Morrison started putting together vocal groups to entertain at rugby club socials in Rotorua. The next year, the original Quartet members and their extended whānau won the 1956 Rotorua Soundshell Talent Quest, following which Morrison toured Australia as a member of the Aotearoa Concert Party. This lead him to decide to pursue music as a career.Tebbutt, Leah. (8 March 2019). 'Remembering Soundshell: A building of many purposes'. Rotorua Daily Post.'Maori warriors lead Sir Howard Morrison's whānau'. Stuff (website).
On his return, Morrison heard guitarist Gerry Merito and put together a group with Gerry and two others, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi, and named the group Howard Morrison Quartet. In 1958, they became part of Benny Levin's touring 'Pop Jamboree.' A recording they made of "Hoki Mai/ Po Karekare Ana" sold well, and in 1959 their parody of "The Battle of New Orleans," recorded as "The Battle of the Waikato", became one of their biggest hits.'Sir Howard Morrison'. Howard Morrison. music.nz official website.
In 1960, they were so popular their managers released 13 singles, three EPs and two albums. Another parody of Lonnie Donegan's, "My Old Man's A Dustman" was rewritten by Gerry Merito as "My Old Man's An All Black." This was topical because of the controversy over Maoris not being allowed to tour South Africa with that year's All Blacks.
In 1962, two of their singles were more parodies, with Ray Stevens' "Ahab The Arab" becoming "Mori The Hori" and Pat Boone's "Speedy Gonzales" becoming "George The Wilder Colonial Boy", celebrating the exploits of escaped convict George Wilder.
Due to the constant touring and absence from families, the quartet disbanded in 1965, but occasionally re-united in various incarnations over subsequent years.
Incarnations 1956-1957 (The Ohinemutu "Quartet") Sir Howard Morrison John Morrison Terry Morrison Wi Wharekura Chubby Hamiora Gary Rangiihu
1957-1958 Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Laurie Morrison John Morrison
1958-1959 Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Laurie Morrison Tai Eru
1959-1960 Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Wi Wharekura Eddie Howell
1960-1965, 1975 (Return of a Legend), 1989 (This Is Your Life: Sir Howard Morrison) (classic line-up) Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Wi Wharekura Noel Kingi
1979 (Tu Tangata '79) Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Toni Williams Noel Kingi
1992-199? Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Toni Williams Hori Bennett
1995 (Sir Howard Morrison: Time of My Life) Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Terry Morrison Tai Eru
Note: this incarnation played part of the Quartet segment of the show before Terry Morrison and Tai Eru gave way to Toni Williams and Hori Bennett, thus reverting to the previous incarnation. After this incarnation played some songs Terry and Tai rejoined them on stage for the finale of the segment.
2006 (A Knight with a Dame) Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Howard Morrison Jr. Temuera Morrison
2008 (To Sir With Love) Sir Howard Morrison Gerry Merito Wi Wharekura Toni Williams
2009 (Good Morning) Sir Howard Morrison Toni Williams Hori Bennett Howard Morrison Jr.
References
External links AudioCulture profile