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Rhonda Bryers

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New Zealand singer of Māori descent

Rhonda Bryers (1952–2007) was a New Zealand singer of Māori descent. During her career, she achieved similar levels of popularity to that of Sir Howard Morrison, John Rowles and Frankie Stevens, eventually becoming regarded as New Zealand's top entertainer, known as 'The Voice of New Zealand'.

Biography

Bryers was born in Taumarunui to famous Māori rugby player Ron Bryers and Betty. Her first husband was professional wrestler Jock Ruddock. She died in Honolulu in September 2007 of a suspected heart attack, aged 55 after suffering from a flu-related virus. She is survived by her two sons Scott and John Ruddock.

Career

In 1972 Bryers was the first recipient of the Marie D'Albini Scholarship at the Conservatorium of Music at the University of Auckland, where she was taught by Charles Nalden, Peter Godfrey and Derek Williams. Bryers went on to study Opera under Dame Sister Mary Leo, a genre in which she enjoyed success. In 1981, during the Royal Variety Performance, singer John Rowles introduced her as the "Voice of New Zealand". Bryers went on to win the New Zealand Entertainer of the Year Award in 1984, which had previously been won by Sir Howard Morrison, Billy T James and Prince Tui Teka. Her version of "Pokarekare Ana" appears on the 1981 CBS various artists album The Mauri Hikitia, which also featured Deane Waretini, Ken Kincaid, the Lightwood family, and the Tri Lites.

After emigrating to Australia, Bryers was nominated 5 times for "Australian Female Entertainer of the Year".

In 1989 Bryers made her debut in Hawaii with a three-week engagement at the Monarch Room of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, and became known thereafter as "Queen of the South Pacific". Another venue where she proved successful was the Dole Cannery Ballroom at Iwilei.

Discography

Albums
Title Release info Year F Notes
The Voice of New Zealand CBS SBP 237551 1980 LP
From New Zealand With Love - A Collection Of The Finest Maori Songs Philips LP 6456 012 1980 LP
Pearls RCA VPL1 0489 1983 LP
Various artist compilation appearances
Title Release info Year Track(s) F Notes
The Mauri Hikitia CBS 1981 "Pokarekare Ana" LP
Kiwi Country Music World CD-PLAT-442 2010 New Zealand Trilogy:
"Pokarekare Ana" / "Now Is The Hour" / "God Defend New Zealand" 		CD

References

  1. "Rhonda Bryers". geni.com
  2. Manawa - Pacific Heartbeat: A Celebration of Contemporary Maori and Northwest Coast Art, Nigel Reading, Gary Wyatt Page 16
  3. Jock Ruddock. geni.com.
  4. The Dominion Post, 05/10/2007 Show-stopping 'Queen of the South Pacific' dies
  5. "NZ singer Rhonda Bryers dies in Hawaii". www.stuff.co.nz. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. ^ "The very best of Rhonda". natlib.govt.nz. 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  7. National Library of New Zealand The Mauri Hikitia album (sound recording) / various artists.
  8. Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (New Zealand's Sound & Vision Archive) The Mauri Hikitia album / various artists
  9. The Honolulu Advertiser, October 3, 2007 Obituaries, Entertainer Rhonda was 'an incredible talent'
  10. National Library of New Zealand The voice of New Zealand / Rhonda
  11. Discogs Rhonda Bryers
  12. National Library of New Zealand The Mauri Hikitia album (sound recording) / various artists.
  13. Discogs Various – Kiwi Country

External links


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