Willie Hona
{{Short description|New Zealand musician (1953–2024)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Willie Hona
| image = Willie Hona.jpg
| caption = Hona (right) in 2019
| birth_name = Wiremu Hona
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|7|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Rawene, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|5|5|1953|7|22|df=yes}}
| death_place = Paraparaumu, New Zealand
| past_member_of = Herbs, the Face
}}
Wiremu Hona (22 July 1953 – 5 May 2024) was a New Zealand musician.{{Citation | last = O'Meagher | first = Steven | date = August 1991 | title = Willie Hona opens up his heart | periodical = More }}
Early life and career
Wiremu Hona was born in Rawene on 22 July 1953.{{Cite web |title=Willie Hona |url=https://audioculture.co.nz/profile/willie-hona |access-date=6 May 2024 |website=AudioCulture |language=}}
Hona's career began alongside Mark Williams, Mack Tane and Gregg Findlay in the band the Face.{{Citation | last = Munro | first = Wayne | date = 7 August 2014 | title = Old Herbs man stars in solo concert | periodical = The Daily Examiner }}
In 1983 he released She Needs You and it reached #41 on the New Zealand Charts.{{Citation | date = 28 August 1983 | title = OFFICIAL TOP 40 SINGLES | periodical = The Official NZ Music Charts | url = https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1983-09-23 }}
In 1983 he also joined Herbs as singer and guitarist.{{Citation | last = Munro | first = Wayne | date = 9 July 1983 | title = A Herbal remedy! | periodical = 8 O'Clock }} He appeared on two albums, Long Ago (1984) and Sensitive to a Smile (1987) and on multiple singles such as songs Slice of Heaven, Sensitive to a Smile and Listen. He left the band in late 1988.{{Citation | date = 22 December 1988 | title =Herbs loses a prime ingredient | periodical = Auckland Star }}
In 1991 he released a solo album called Keep an Open Heart.{{Citation | date = 6 May 2024 | title = New Zealand music legend Willie Hona dead | periodical = Radio New Zealand | url = https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516092/new-zealand-music-legend-willie-hona-dead }}
Death
Hona died from pancreatic cancer in Paraparaumu, on 5 May 2024, aged 70.
Discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of demo albums ! Title ! Album details |
| scope="row" | Keep an Open Heart
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles with selected New Zealand positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|NZ |
|---|
| 1983
|align="left" valign="top"| "She Needs You" |align="center" valign="top"| 43 | |
| 1991
|align="left" valign="top"| "Keep An Open Heart" |align="center" valign="top"| – | Keep An Open Heart |
Awards
=Aotearoa Music Awards=
The Aotearoa Music Awards are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2012 || Willie Hona (as part of Herbs) || New Zealand Music Hall of Fame || {{yes2|inductee}} || {{cite web|url=https://www.musichall.co.nz/home/inductees/|title=HOME INDUCTEES|website=www.musichall.co.nz|access-date=16 August 2021}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External Links
- {{discogs artist|Willie Hona}}
- {{imdb name|2953968}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hona, Willie}}
Category:20th-century New Zealand male singers
Category:New Zealand male guitarists