John Rowles

File:The Exciting John Rowles, May 1969.png

Rowles was born in Whakatāne, New Zealand, and is Māori. His father, Eddie Hohapata Rowles, played for the 1938 Māori All Blacks. His mother was European. He was brought up in Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty of New Zealand, and spent much of his early childhood in Te Atatū South in West Auckland.{{cite book |last1=Jahn-Werner |first1=Tara |chapter=The Children of Hauauru |pages=344–345 |editor-last1=Macdonald |editor-first1=Finlay |editor-link1=Finlay Macdonald (editor) |editor-last2=Kerr |editor-first2=Ruth |title=West: The History of Waitakere |publisher=Random House |date=2009 |isbn=9781869790080}} Rowles' birth name was simply John Rowles; he added the middle name "Edward" after his brother of that name died at a young age.Interview with Jim Mora on Eight months to Mars programme, Radio New Zealand National, 1pm NZT, Monday, 16 May 2011

Rowles is best known in New Zealand and Australia, though he has also performed in the United States, particularly Las Vegas, Nevada and Hawaii, where he was managed by Kimo Wilder McVay. In the United Kingdom, he is best known for the hit "If I Only Had Time", which reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in spring 1968, and stayed on the chart for eighteen weeks.{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher=Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 472}} This was a cover version of the French song "Je n'aurai pas le temps" with which the French singer Michel Fugain had a hit in 1967; he co-wrote the song with Pierre Delanoë. The song also charted in the Netherlands, reaching number 2,{{Cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/john-rowles/john-rowles-if-i-only-had-time-8319|title=John Rowles – If I Only Had Time|website=Top40.nl|access-date=30 July 2019}} after which the Franck Pourcel Orchestra had a minor hit with an instrumental version of the song, bearing the original French song title.{{Cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/franck-pourcel/je-n-aurai-pas-le-temps-thema-uit-de-t-v-serie-mens-durf-te-leven-3903|title=Franck Pourcel – Je N'aurai Pas Le Temps (Thema Uit De T.v. Serie "mens Durf Te Leven")|website=Top40.nl|access-date=30 July 2019}} In Germany, schlager singer Peter Rubin charted with the German translation "Hätt ich nur einmal mehr Zeit". In the US, Nick DeCaro and his orchestra charted with an instrumental version, released as the B-side of the single "Caroline, No"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Nick-DeCaro-Caroline-No-If-I-Only-Had-Time/master/547627|title=Nick DeCaro – Caroline, No / If I Only Had Time|publisher=discogs|access-date=30 July 2019}} in late 1968, peaking at number 71 on the Cash Box Top 100 in early 1969.{{Cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19690118.html|title=The Cash Box Top 100 of January 18, 1969|website=Tropicalglen.com|access-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220105953/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19690118.html|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}

Rowles had another top 20 hit in the UK with "Hush... Not a Word to Mary", also in 1968. This song also charted in the Netherlands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/john-rowles/john-rowles-hush-not-a-word-to-mary-7865|title=John Rowles – Hush... Not A Word To Mary|website=Top40.nl|access-date=30 July 2019}}

In the US, "Cheryl Moana Marie" got noticed in the summer of 1970 by some West Coast radio stations, but it took until the end of 1970 for the song to chart nationally, peaking at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 78 on the Cash Box Top 100 respectively, in early 1971.{{Cite web|url=http://poparchives.com.au/2577/john-rowles/mlady|title=M'Lady – JOHN ROWLES (1968) – Pop Archives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s|website=Poparchives.com.au|access-date=30 July 2019}} In Canada, the song made three separate appearances on the charts with the third time peaking at number 76, on February 13, 1971,{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3760.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - February 13, 1971}} and appeared on the MOR chart at No. 26.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3742.pdf| title=RPM MOR Playlist - January 16, 1971}}

He was the feature of a 2008 documentary entitled The Secret Life of John Rowles.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-secret-life-of-john-rowles-2008|title=The Secret Life of John Rowles|website=Nzonscreen.com|access-date=3 March 2019}}

Rowles had a cameo role in the 2008 New Zealand film, Second Hand Wedding.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210359/fullcredits|title=Second Hand Wedding (2008)|publisher=IMDb}}

He appeared in the 2009 New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with Krystal Stewart. Under doctor's orders, he had to retire from the competition but has since recovered.

In 1974, Rowles received the Benny Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc, the highest honour available to a New Zealand variety entertainer.{{cite web|url=http://www.vacnz.com/bennyaward/|title=Variety Artists Club of NZ Benny Award Recipients|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016033941/http://www.vacnz.com/bennyaward/|archive-date=16 October 2013}}

Rowles was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1979 New Year Honours, for services to entertainment and New Zealand interests in the United States.{{London Gazette |issue=47725 |date=30 December 1978 |page=40 |supp=3}} He was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to entertainment, in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/358844/john-rowles-dedicates-knighthood-to-family|title=John Rowles dedicates knighthood to family|date=4 June 2018|website=Rnz.co.nz|access-date=30 July 2019}}

The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously known as New Zealand Music Awards (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.

{{awards table}}

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

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| 1978 || John Rowles || Male Artist of the Year || {{won}} || {{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-history/|title=Aotearoa Music Awards|website=aotearoamusicawards.nz|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025201023/https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-history/|url-status=dead}}

|-

{{end}}

His older brother Wally Rowles was a solo singer with his own career, and for a while went under the name of Frankie Price. He later changed his name again to Frankie Rowles due to an artist "Price" who was working in Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/30713412|title=Brothers play two Rowles|website=Natlib.govt.nz|date=1 July 1969}} Under Frankie Price he recorded three singles: "Pancho Lopez" b/w "Walk Like a Man", "Another Tear Falls" b/w "I Could Have Loved You So Well" and "Sweet Mary" b/w "Take a Little Time", all of which were released on the Polydor label.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sergent.com.au/music/frankieprice.html|title=Frankie Price|website=Sergent.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/artist/frankie-price|title=Frankie Price Discography – All Countries|website=45cat.com}} Under the name Frankie Rowles, he recorded the single "Ma Vie C'est Toi" b/w "Live a Little Longer" which was released on the Gemini label.{{Cite web|url=https://ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?record_id=169264|title=Frankie Rowles|website=Ngataonga.org.nz}} He died at age 59 on 24 March 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/frankie-price|title=Frankie Price – AudioCulture|website=Audioculture.co.nz}}

His sister Tania Rowles was a recording artist whose single "Don't Turn Around" was released on the RCA label in 1986.New Zealand Woman's Weekly, 16 February 1987 – [http://natlib.govt.nz/records/21098134?search%5Bi%5D%5Bcreator%5D=Woodhouse%2C+Annabelle%2C+INNZNA&search%5Bpath%5D=items Pages 4–5 Tania Rowles : something to sing about]{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/artist/tania-rowles|title=Tania Rowles Discography – All Countries|website=45cat.com}} She was the winner of the New Zealand Music Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 1986.

Rowles released his autobiography, If I Only Had Time, in October 2012.

{{Main|John Rowles discography}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.johnrowles.com/ Official site]
• [http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/john-rowles AudioCulture profile]
• [http://www.sergent.com.au/music/johnrowles.html New Zealand Music of the '60s and '70s]
• [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/6/story.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10407930 A New Zealand Herald article on Rowles: October 2006]
• [http://www.showcasegroup.co.nz/ Promoter of John Rowles concerts worldwide]
• [https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-secret-life-of-john-rowles-2008 Documentary The Secret Life of John Rowles, NZOnScreen]
• {{imdb name|2341168}}
• {{discogs artist|John Rowles}}

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Category:1947 births

Category:APRA Award winners

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand pop singers

Category:New Zealand Māori male singers

Category:New Zealand male songwriters

Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Category:People from Whakatāne

Category:Singers awarded knighthoods

Category:20th-century New Zealand male singers