Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters (31 May 1953 – 14 December 2016) was a New Zealand singer who had a number of New Zealand hits during the 1970s. He is best known for the hits "Brandy" and "Take the Money and Run".
Walters represented New Zealand at the 1986 ABU Popular Song Contest and won with the song "Taken By Love".
Background Of Ngāi Te Rangi descent, Walters was born and raised in Katikati, a town in the North Island of New Zealand, between Tauranga and Waihi.
Career In 1969, he competed against Tui Fox at Joe Brown's at the Rotorua Soundshell during the Search for Stars event held there. Fox was singing similar material to Walters. Fox won the final with Walters coming in second.Steven Shaw, Bunny Walters – still singing his heart out, AudioCulture.co.nz, 30 June 2014. His first single, titled "Just Out of Reach", was released in 1969. He then released "It's Been Too Long" and "Can't Keep You Out of My Heart".Bunny Walters profile, muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 14 December 2016. During one of the talent quests, held at the Opera House in Palmerston North, he was beaten by singer Richard Turei, whose daughter Metiria Turei would later serve as co-leader of the Green Party in New Zealand."Parenting and family, My father before me", womensweekly.co.nz, 31 August 2016.
Walters made his first television appearance on Happen-Inn, a New Zealand television show.Index Item: Bunny Walters, from Auckland Star, 8 April 1970, p27.
After performing at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan, he received contracts to return to Japan. He gained considerable exposure. The New Zealand Herald reported that he may have also appeared on the Rolf Harris show in London.Index Item: Young singer was big hit in Japan, from New Zealand Herald, 3 September 1970, p114.
In 1971, he replaced Vaughan Lawrence as the resident singer on Happen-Inn.Index Item: New resident singer for 'Happen Inn', from Auckland Star, 10 September 1971, p60.
In 1972, he recorded "Brandy" (which reached No. 4 on the pop charts). It was reported in the edition of 4 May of The New Zealand Herald that due to the big success Walters had with "Brandy" that the song was to be produced in sheet music form...... Bunny Walters' record of the song "Brandy" has been so successful that it is to be produced in sheet music form, The New Zealand Herald, 4 May 1972. That same year he had a hit with Take The Money And Run" (which reached #2).
In 1973 he had a hit with "Home Isn't Home Anymore" (which reached #18). Also that year he had a gold disc entry with the Bernie Allen arranged "Helena",New Zealand Herald, 30 June 1973 – (Article by John Berry a Tat Meager composition also recorded that year by Leapy Lee.Discogs – Bunny Walters – HelenaDiscogs – Leapy Lee – Helena
1974 In 1974, Walters had a hit with a song originally recorded by Ben Thomas, written by Gary Sulsh, Stuart Leathwood, and Tony Macaulay.Discogs – Ben Thomas (10) – The Nearest Thing To Heaven His version of "The Nearest Thing To Heaven", produced by Alan Galbraith reached No. 10 that year.45Cat – Bunny Walters – Discography
In June he had toured with the Supremes. Another singer from New Zealand, Erana Clark was announced earlier to be on the same tour with Walters.Stuff, 24 December 2016 – The kid from Katikati, singer Bunny Walters BESS MANSONNew Zealand Herald, 25 May 1974 – (John Berry article) Bunny Walters and Erana Clark will tour with the Supremes in June That year he won two awards at the RATA awards. One was for best male vocalist and the other for best recording artist.Index Item: Just the place for show case, from Auckland Star, 31 August 1974, p113. Damage to career In October 1974 he was convicted of possessing a very small amount of marijuana and fined convicted and fined $100 for possession.Auckland Star, 24 October 1974 – Entertainer had cannabis in car This had a catastrophic effect on his career. Prior to the conviction, he was always in demand. He was getting work, being hired to perform in pubs, clubs and for certain organisations. Then as a result of falling foul of influential people he was virtually blacklisted from TV and radio. He disappeared from the spotlight almost immediately.Manukau Courier, 20 December 2016 – Bunny Walters was 'world class' singer – WILLIE JACKSONNew Zealand CDS's – Walters, Bunny: Very Best of Bunny Walters
Mid 70s onwards In 1978, he recorded a promotional record for the New Zealand Labour Party. The single was titled "To Be Free with Labour" and was the B side of a song titled "To Be Free", written by Robinson-Bretnall.Elsewhere Bunny Walters: To be Free with Labour (year unknown)
During the 1980s he was also singing jingles and getting a lot of work in that area. According to an article in AudioCulture by Steven Shaw, The New Zealand Herald reported in August 1986 that 80% of the advertising jingles heard in New Zealand, featuring male and female voices were by Walters and singer Annie Crummer.Audio Culture, 20 June 2014 – Bunny Walters Profile – Steve Shaw Among these projects was a verse from a version of the New Zealand national anthem that was recorded for World Expo 88, which also aired during TVNZ's daily opening transmission during the late 1980s and early 1990s.TVNZ Transmission Opening ID Television (Full Length) – 1976 – 1992
In June 1991, he was appearing on stage in a production of Porgy and Bess.Sunday Star, 9 June 1991 – .... Bunny Walters is back on stage in Porgy and Bess
In 2013, Walters was the profile in episode 9 of The Untold Stories of New Zealand Music History.Scoop Independent News The Untold Stories Of New Zealand Music History, scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
Film and television Drama Walters appeared in the 1978 film Skin Deep.imdb Bunny Walters
The song "Never Say Die" from single the "Never Say Die" / "Gotta Get Outta Here" WEA Records Limited Z10002 was composed and performed by Billy Kristian. It is featured during the closing credits of the 1988 film Never Say Die which starred Temuera Morrison and Lisa Eilbacher. He appeared in an episode of the New Zealand prime-time soap opera, Shortland Street.Walters, Bunny: Very Best of Bunny Walters, newzealandcds.com. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
Ministry Walters became a Christian in or around 1995/1997. In a 1999 interview, he told The Sunday Star-Times that his conversion came about as a result of a pastor inviting him to church. Because he didn't have much else going on, he was looking forward to attending.Stuff, 24 December 2016 – The kid from Katikati, singer Bunny Walters – BESS MANSON He was living in Queensland, Australia from around 2004, moving around before settling on one of the Islands in Queensland. While living in Queensland, the main amount of singing he did was in church.Audio Culture, 30 June 2014 – Bunny Walters: a 2014 interview, Steven Shaw In his quest to evangelise, he was in Canada at one stage for a month. While there he preached to an Inuit community.
Illness and death Walters died in Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, on 14 December 2016 after a short illness.'Chur bro': Iconic Māori singer Bunny Walters dies aged 63, Yahoo! News. Retrieved 23 January 2017."Tribute concert for New Zealand hit maker", Stuff (company). Retrieved 23 January 2016.
Funeral service He had been lying in state at Tokoroa's Papa o te Aroha Marae. The funeral service was at Elim Christian Church, with a private cremation to follow.Farewell for Kiwi music legend Bunny Walters – Elton Rikihana Smallman, Stuff (company). Retrieved 23 January 2017.
Tribute concert It was announced in Stuff that a tribute concert for Walters was to be held at the Tokoroa Cosmopolitan Club on 4 February 2017. Artists scheduled to appear were Tom Sharplin, Dennis Marsh, Ray Solomon, Larry Morris, Dennis August and Craven Noble.Stuff, 18 January 2017 – Tribute concert for New Zealand hit maker LUKE KIRKEBY
Releases + Singles Title Release info Year Notes "Just Out Of Reach" / "Crying Time" Impact IR-1050 1969 "It's Been Too Long" / "Through The Eyes Of Love" Impact IR-1054 1970 "Soft Rain" / "Danny Boy" Impact IR-1071 1971 "Brandy" / "Didn't We" Impact IR-1073 1971 "Can't Keep You Out of My Heart" / "I Believe" Impact IR-1057 1971 "I Won't Be Sorry To See Suzanne Again" / "Who Could Be Loving You" Impact IR 1077 1972 "Take The Money And Run" / Kiss Her Three Times" Impact IR 1079 1972 Peaked at number 73 in Australia. "Home Isn't Home Anymore" / "Quando Quando" Impact IR 1080 1973 "Helena" / "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" Impact IR 1082 1973 "The Nearest Thing To Heaven" / "The Songs We Sang Together" Impact IR 1084 1974 "Never Too Young To Rock" / "Boogie Woogie Woman" Impact IR 1087 1976 "Crazy" / "Help Me Out" Impact IR 2000 1978 "Born To Be Free" / "Didn't We" EMI HR 582 1978 "To Be Free" / "To Be Free With Labour" NZLP PR 868 1978 New Zealand Labour Party promo single "Never Say Die" / "Gotta Get Outta Here" WEA Records Limited Z10002 1988 Side 1 Bunny WaltersSide 2 Jacqui Fitzgerald & Susan LynchDiscogs – Bunny Walters Discography, Singles & EPs
+ EP Title Release info Year Tracks Notes Just Out Of Reach Impact IR 402 A1. "Just Out Of Reach", A2. "Crying Time"B1. "I Believe", B2. "Danny Boy
+ Albums Title Release info Year Notes Sings For Lovers And Rockers Impact IMPS 108 1972Discogs – Bunny Walters – Sings For Lovers And Rockers The very best of Bunny Walters EMI 2002 CDWorldCat – The very best of Bunny Walters (sound recording)
+ Various artist compilation appearances Title Release info Year Track(s) F Notes Loxene Golden Disc Award (Top Twelve) Loxene Lox 1972 1972 "Take The Money And Run" LP 20 Golden Star Tracks Music for Leisure 345 "Take The Money And Run" LP 20 Golden Rata Award Hits Music for Leisure RATA 1 1973 "Helena" LP 20 Studio One Hits Music for Leisure ST1 1974 "Natural Man" LP 20 Solid Gold Hits Volume 9 Music for Leisure SGH9 1974 "The Nearest Thing To Heaven" LP New Zealand Gold Volume Two His Master's Voice HITS 28 1977 "Brandy" LP 25 Years Of Kiwi Pop EMI 435040 2 1992 "Brandy" CD Kiwi Rock Vol. 3 EMI 4710582 1994 "Take The Money And Run" CD Discogs says 1995, photo of CD says 1994Discogs – Bunny Walters Discography – Compilations Kiwi Classics, Vol. 2 EMI 4711112 1996 "Brandy" CDAll Music Various Artists Kiwi Classics, Vol. 2 Waiata : Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars His Master's Voice 50999 6802952 4EMI – 50999 6802952 2011 "Brandy""Take The Money & Run" CDDiscogs – Bunny Walters Discography, Appearances Waiata 2 : Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars EMI 2013 "The Nearest Thing To Heaven" CDWorldCat – Waiata. 2 : Māori showbands, balladeers & pop stars. Kiwiana Goes Pop Vol. 2 Frenzy Music FRENZY 106 2013 "Uncles Burgers Ad" CD
Film and television appearances + Television Title Episode Date Prod/Dir Notes Pop Co Circa 1972/1974 David McPhailNZ On Screen – Pop Co, Television, 1972–1974 Koha "Māori Musicians" 22 June 1986 Ernie Leonard Other guests Richard Haeata and Mahinarangi Tocker Koha 23 April 1989 Ernie Leonard Other guests Mahinaarangi Tocker Koha 6 August 1989 Ernie Leonard Also features Moana Maniapoto-Jackson, Billy TKThe New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Whitiāhua Me Ngā Taonga Kōrero – Bunny Walters Koha Sir Howard Morrison: Time of My Life 1995 Michael Hockley (1995 TV Special) New Zealand: The Price of Fame 1999 Juliet Monaghan DocumentaryImdb – Bunny Walters (1953–2016) The Untold Stories Of New Zealand Music History Episode 9 17 May 2013 Scoop, 12 March 2013, – The Untold Stories Of New Zealand Music History, Tuesday, 12 March 2013, 3:20 pm, Press Release: Te Reo Maori Television TrustMāori Television – Unsung Heroes of Māori Music, Series 3 Episode 9
+ Film Title Role Director Year Notes Skin Deep Himself Geoff Steven 1978 Never Say Die Geoff Murphy 1988 Song "Never Say Die" Channelling Baby Himself Christine Parker 1999
References
External links
The Beat Goes On: Shane Hales Honours Bunny Walters Te Karere TVNZ: Iconic Bunny Walters gone but not forgotten