| Al Hunter | |
|---|---|
 Al Hunter at the Gluepot, early '90s. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alan Keith Hunter |
| Origin | Pukemiro, New Zealand |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1970s-present |
| Website | http://www.glenmoffatt.com/al_hunter.htm |
Al Hunter is a New Zealand country music singer-songwriter whose debut album, Neon Cowboy, released in 1987, "made country hip".
Hunter was a soul singer in such Auckland bands of the late 1960s and '70s as Killing Floor, Cruise Lane, Chapeaux and the Hunter McCallum Band before embracing country music.
His debut album was produced by Stuart Pearce and Dave Marett on a budget CBS had provided for a single. It was recorded in Australia at Greystoke Music Studios and included contributions from Dave Dobbyn.
Hunter's following two albums were released by Pagan in the 1990s.
New Zealand rock historian John Dix wrote, "Wellington had the Warratahs; Auckland had the indomitable Al Hunter. In 1993 Pagan released The Singer, cementing Hunter's rep as a genuine country rock talent."
Eight tracks from Hunter's 1997 release Cold Hard Winter reappeared on the compilation album Troubadours – NZ Singer-Songwriter Series: Vol 1, which also featured eight tracks each from Glen Moffatt and Red McKelvie.
Discography
| Albums | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of release | Title | Label | Charted | Certification | Catalog Number | |
| 1987 | Neon Cowboy | CBS/Pagan (reissue) | – | – | PACD 1098 435 7982 | |
| 1993 | The Singer | Pagan | – | – | PACD 1094 / 4357942 | |
| 1997 | Cold Hard Winter | Pagan | – | – | PACD 1135 (8444822) | |
| 2009 | Troubadours – NZ Singer-Songwriter Series: Vol 1 – Glen Moffatt, Al Hunter, Red McKelvie | SDL Music | – | – | SDL8044/2 | |
References
- Graham Reid, "A Kiwi rock'n'roll primer", The New Zealand Herald, 26 May 2003
- John Dix, Stranded in Paradise: New Zealand Rock and Roll, 1955 to the Modern Era, Penguin Books, 2005, ISBN 0-14-301953-8