Gray Bartlett

Young-at-heart country guitar legend Gray Bartlett has few peers when it comes to chart success over five decades.

In 2008 he celebrated two million record sales and 50 years in the recording business with a commemorative signature tune-packed double-album, and a nationwide anniversary tour featuring a slew of Kiwi stars.

From a smash catalogue of more than 30 albums and 20 singles to being awarded an MBE in 1987 for his services to music and the Multiple-Sclerosis Society fundraising efforts, Gray has every notch covered on his star-studded belt.

He’s been a long-serving local politician, concert promoter – touring acts include Dire Straits, Norah Jones, Diana Krall , Pavarotti, Michael Jackson, Sir Elton John and Boney M – and more recently a talent scout.

His discoveries include Hayley Westenra – the international popera phenomenon – Yulia Townsend, Will Martin, Annabel Fay and Elizabeth Marvelly, among others.

Ironically, his biggest find, Hayley Westenra, was just two spots ahead of Gray on New Zealand’s most successful artists list from 1966 to 2006, according to The Complete NZ Music Charts from that era. Hayley was rated 14th place, with Gray in 16th spot.

Born in Auckland in 1942, Gray’s first musical experience was at age 15 after leaving Auckland Grammar School. One of his four brothers, Barry, taught him to play guitar, and after answering a newspaper advertisement, he joined a band called The Phantoms.

Gray was offered the chance to record by Zodiac records in 1961, releasing his debut single Last Stage West the same year.

For the next five years he toured with international artists of the day, including British singing star Vera Lynn, Tom Jones and Herman’s Hermits.

In 1968 he joined Aussie icon Rolf Harris as a musician/artist, touring New Zealand and Australia. This liaison led to a seven-year relationship and a move to England where he performed with Rolf at such prestigious nightspots as The Talk of the Town.

Gray has also performed shows in Tokyo, where he continues to be a big star. One of the highlights came in 1965 with the release of La Playa, which reached number two in the Japanese charts and sold an unprecedented 410,000 units for a Kiwi artist.

In 1985 Gray was invited by the Chinese Government to perform in China, another first for a New Zealand entertainer.

This sparked numerous concert tours in China – 14 between 1986 and 2007 – and the release of his albums there. His popularity was recognised by a Golden Plume in 1987 for China’s foreign artist of the year.

More recently, from 1995 until 2008,Gray's focus has been on Auckland based company Pacific Entertainment Ltd, with co-owner Ian Magan which specialises in the production and promotion of concert and theatrical activities in New Zealand.

Gray has now sold his half-share in Pacific Entertainment Ltd to concentrate on his career design efforts with new and rising stars from NZ and other countries of the world.

Although most of the company’s work is with overseas artists, Pacific Entertainment has played a major role in the development of important local entertainment acts including Split Enz, Highway of Legends, Patsy Riggir, and Hamilton County Bluegrass Band Annie Crummer, Fred Dagg, Crowded House, Sharon O’Neill, The Finn Brothers and the ENZSO production (Split Enz/New Zealand Symphony Orchestra) which toured both NZ and Australia in 1997, Sir Howard Morrison, Billy T James, The Exponents, Dave Dobbyn & Sam Hunt.