Dennis Te Uhi Marsh (born 22 February 1951) is a New Zealand country music singer and television presenter, best known for his series of popular albums in the 2010s and for hosting the country music TV show My Country Song. He is New Zealand's best selling country music artist.
Background
Marsh was born in Te Kūiti, New Zealand in 1951 and has Ngāpuhi and Ngati Hine iwi affiliations. He moved to Auckland to pursue a career as a carpenter, but became involved with Christian music, studied theology and lead a youth ministry. In 1984 Marsh became involved with country music and began performing around New Zealand. He won a number of local awards, and eventually release his debut album, For You, in 1989.
Marsh has since released 29 albums, including two which reached No. 1 on the New Zealand albums chart, four gold albums and six platinum albums. He has won numerous country music awards, including being honoured as the 2011 Country Music Legend at the National Country Music Awards, and inducted into the Golden Guitar Awards Hands of Fame, also in 2011.
In 2013, Marsh hosted the Māori Television country music showcase series My Country Song. This was followed by a compilation album, The Best of My Country Song and a live album, My Country Song – The Showcase Concert, both of which featured songs from Marsh.
In October 2019, Marsh received the Benny Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, the highest honour for a NZ entertainer. In the 2020 New Year Honours, Marsh was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music and fundraising.
Discography
Albums
Year Title Peak chartpositions Certification NZ 1989 For You — 1990 Your Choice — 1991 Hobo (in a Silk Shirt) —1991 Lucky Star — 1992 Feelings — 1993 Dad — 1994 Out of Mexico — 1996 Out of Nashville — 1997 Faith — 1998 Faded Love — 2000 Out of New Zealand 23 2001 Christmas in New Zealand — 2002 To Get To You — 2003 Live in Concert — 2004 Memories of New Zealand — 2005 Dennis Marsh — 2006 Tequila Sunrise — 2007 Walking Through My Mind — 2008 Land of the Long White Cloud — 2008 Don't Take it to Heart — 2009 Legend in My Time — 2011 Maori Songbook 1 RMNZ: Platinum 2011 Through the Years: The Very Best of Dennis Marsh 13 RMNZ: Gold 2012 Sounds of the Pacific 6 RMNZ: Gold 2013 Country Songbook 1 2013 Christmas from the Heart 13 2015 Lest We Forget 1 RMNZ: Gold 2015 Maori Songbook 2 9 2017 I Believe 4 2018 Backyard Party 2 RMNZ: Gold "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Awards
| 1997 | Dennis Marsh – Out of Nashville | New Zealand Music Awards – Best Country Album
| 1998 | Dennis Marsh – Faith | New Zealand Music Awards – Best Gospel Album
| 2002 | Dennis Marsh – Faded Love | New Zealand Music Awards – Best Country Album
| 2007 | Dennis Marsh | National Country Music Awards – Best Selling Country Music Album of the Year
| 2007 | Dennis Marsh | Australian Country Recording Awards – Overseas Artist Award
| 2008 | Dennis Marsh | National Country Music Awards – Country Music Male Artist of the Year
| 2009 | Dennis Marsh | National Country Music Awards – Country Music Male Artist of the Year
| 2009 | Dennis Marsh | Top Male Vocalist – Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Awards
| 2011 | Dennis Marsh | National Country Music Awards – Country Music Legend
| 2011 | Dennis Marsh | Golden Guitar Awards – Hands of Fame
| 2013 | Dennis Marsh | National Country Music Awards – Country Music Male Artist of the Year
| 2016 | Dennis Marsh - Maori Songbook 2 | New Zealand Music Awards – Best Maori Album
| 2019 | Dennis Marsh | Benny Award Variety Artists Club of New Zealand
References