New Zealand singer Daphne Walker dies aged 94
Walker was best known for songs such as Haere Mai (Everything is Kapai), which was popular in the 1950s.
Online music library AudioCulture said Walker was the star vocalist on New Zealand's first pop album, South Sea Rhythm, and
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
L.A.B., Stan Walker team up for outdoor summer gigs in NZ and Gold Coast
Stan Walker on the red carpet of the Aotearoa Music Awards, where he won Best Māori Artist. Photo / New Zealand Herald photography by Sylvie Whinray For Walker, 'heavy prep', like an Olympic athlete or an All Black might do, is a necessity for lead vocalists preparing to tour, as they have nothing to hide behind on stage. 'We are the only ones that can't just pick up the drumsticks and go hard or start playing the bass or whatever.' Psychologically, Walker has also learned to automatically put up 'walls' to protect himself, his family, and his creative process from 'outside noise'. Sometimes this can get in the way of connecting with an audience, Walker says, but performing in the USA and Hawaii last year, the locals' unguarded enthusiasm was so inspiring he felt the walls came down. Raised on gospel music, Walker especially loves connecting with Black fans and friends in the States. 'They're like, 'man, you need to lead us, brother!' So you get like a fire.' Auckland reggae band Corrella will support Stan Walker and L.A.B. at their Tauranga show. Photo / Supplied Hawaiian music fans, he says, aren't held back by 'tall poppyness' like many New Zealanders. 'They're like, 'I love you. You changed my life. I want to follow you for the rest of my days'.' A Kiwi who recognises him is more likely to say something like 'Yeah, my mum is a fan', Walker says. 'It's really backhanded, and I think it's our like, defence mechanism. We don't want to get rejected or whatever. I get it, but at the same time, it's ugly.' L.A.B. singer Joel Shadbolt 'resonates hard' with Walker's insight on this cultural difference – 'Oh, preach, brother. Holy moly… Don't be a second-hand fan, be first-hand.' His band has also played some amazing shows in the States, he says, and American audiences are a lot more encouraging of guitar solos. L.A.B. singer Joel Shadbolt says American audiences are a lot more into guitar solos than Kiwis. Photo / Alex Cairns 'My roots are blues, so it comes from the south, and I know that feeling, I know that music, it's in me. When I play in the States, I feel that, man. Far out, I feel it. It's magic.' Back home in Aotearoa, Shadbolt and Walker agree Christchurch is one place where people really know how to show appreciation. Although he's had 'some very opposite experiences' offstage in the South Island city, Walker says he's always felt recharged by performing there, which he first did at 16. '[Christchurch audiences] show me why I do what I do, if that makes sense. It's electric.' In the lead-up to an L.A.B. show, the members gather to make sure they're 'on the same kind of buzz', Shadbolt says, and sing a karakia and some harmony-driven songs before hitting the stage. 'We all get locked in, you know?' L.A.B will be performing in Tauranga this summer. Photo / Supplied Artists give so much and love doing it, but they also really need to refuel, Shadbolt says. When he starts feeling like he's living 'in a weird alternate reality', the remedy is going home to visit whānau. 'Hanging out with my Nan is all I need for half an hour.' As a touring vocalist, performing shows back to back, you become hyper-aware of how your body feels, Shadbolt says. Sleep, hydration, nutrition and movement are his 'four pillars'. 'You get those right, and then the voice is magic. Any of those fall down, it's like 'Oooh, should have had a feed' or 'Oooh, ate too much'.' For Walker, it's 'buzzy' that alongside R&B singer Aaradhna, the up-and-coming musician Liam Te Wehi (Te Wehi) is supporting his three shows with L.A.B. this summer. R&B singer Aaradhna will support Stan Walker and L.A.B. at all three of their outdoor summer shows. Photo / Stijl, James Ensing-Trussell Although he's been listening to his music and enjoying his TikTok for ages, the two haven't yet met. 'He looks like my dad, bro!' For Shadbolt, it's really special that pioneering hip-hop group Nesian Mystic are supporting the Stan Walker / L.A.B. show at Auckland's Outer Fields festival on January 31. It's his band's first headlining Auckland gig in over four years, and the first time Nesian Mystic have hit the stage there in about 15 years. 'I listened to some of these songs in the car before, and I was like, 'Man, it's gonna be so nostalgic hanging out and playing their stuff live'. 'We're kind of buzzing for the show up there.'
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Cr chided over digs about mayor
A councillor who labelled the Dunedin mayor a "buffoon" and "a baby Trump" has been called an embarrassment to city governance. The remarks come after Mayor Jules Radich suggested, in the wake of singer Ed Sheeran not coming to Dunedin, the city should launch a "Dunedin Sounds" festival. Mr Radich suggested Dunedin Sounds could be an event Sheeran might one day headline along with other international artists, including Taylor Swift. Cr Steve Walker took to social media to criticise Mr Radich's thinking. "It's a reminder of what a complete buffoon this guy is, he's literally rambling on like a baby Trump. "He did this pre the last local election and enough of you fell for it." Cr Brent Weatherall said Cr Walker's "nasty style" on social media did him no favours. "He would be better to invest in a pair of six-inch platforms if he wants to be noticed, and stick to issues important to himself if he wants to be taken seriously by voters opposed to disrespectful personal attacks on the mayor." Cr Bill Acklin said Cr Walker's behaviour was unacceptable and he accused the Labour-endorsed councillor of being disruptive through the term. "I find Cr Walker to be an embarrassment to the governance of this city," Cr Acklin said. "I would like to think that the party who endorse him would also be ashamed of his unprofessional antics." Southern Labour electorate committee chairwoman Ruth Chapman said the party continued to have confidence in Cr Walker as a candidate for a council seat. Cr Walker stood by his position. "In essence, [Mr Radich] can't just bleat out any nonsense about Taylor Swift et al, with no robust background work to understand how mechanically it would all work. "There's never been a vision or masterplan under Radich, just plucked-out-of-the-air nonsense. "Jules isn't a bad or nasty guy — he just isn't capable of the job voters picked him to do." Mr Radich did not want to engage with Cr Walker's comments. "Cr Walker persists in name calling and such behaviour says a lot more about him than his targets." Mayoral candidate Andrew Simms said Cr Walker's comments crossed a line. "I have seen this and many other similar comments from Cr Walker which communicate a deep disrespect for the current mayor and a deep-seated resentment of previous decisions made by Mayor Radich. "While Cr Walker may not respect Mayor Radich as a person, he should have respect for the office of the mayor. "It is entirely possible to express disapproval in the performance of the current mayor and uphold some dignity and respect at the same time. "In my view, such exchanges only serve to further undermine the community's respect for this current council at every level." Cr Carmen Houlahan, who is also running for mayor, said Cr Walker's comments were in the atmosphere of an election campaign. "We are in an election. Have you seen some of the abuse we are getting? "Sadly, 'buffoon' is kind compared to some of the unacceptable comments from some in the public." Cr Houlahan said criticism of the council as dysfunctional was wide of the mark. "This term we have worked hard with a huge workload, with government changes to legislation around Three Waters, the hospital campaign ... Most of the time we have all worked well together. "We have differing views at times — that is democracy." Cr David Benson-Pope said: "My view of the mayor appeared in your publication as the front-page lead when I stated 'he has none of the skills required for the job'." — Additional reporting Grant Miller
Otago Daily Times
22-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Ozzy Osbourne's wild request when he came to NZ
Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne at the Great Ngāruawāhia Music Festival in 1973. Photo: David Stone/AudioCulture via RNZ The music promoter who brought Black Sabbath to New Zealand in 1973 said the frontman was "calm and jovial" despite his edgy reputation. The music promoter who brought Black Sabbath to New Zealand in 1973, Barry Coburn said - despite Osbourne's wild reputation - the singer was "calm and jovial" but with one unusual request. Coburn said he was called to the group's caravan shortly before they took to the stage at the Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival. "He said 'listen when we go onstage at midnight we want to have a huge burning cross up on the hillside. When we come on stage suddenly this big cross burns up on the hillside behind where they are'," Coburn said. Coburn said a cross made of wood and wire - wrapped in petrol-soaked rags - was hastily erected and set alight as the band began to play. The Black Sabbath frontman and solo artist died just weeks after a massive farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham, aged 76. Image: Supplied Coburn said Osbourne and Black Sabbath laid the foundations for heavy metal and - 50 years after the band first played New Zealand - he still saw and heard the singer's influence in hard rock music all over the world. "To think that two weeks after the final shows he's gone - it seemed like - did he want to hang on and do these final shows? But he's just this iconic figure that's so singularly unique. There'll never be another Ozzy Osbourne," Coburn said. Speaking to RNZ from his home in Nashville, Coburn said - despite the band's ominous image and Osbourne's wild, drug fueled reputation - the band were affable and "jovial" on their first New Zealand visit. "They were decent, they were just young English guys. They didn't cause any of the grief that John Bonham and Led Zeppelin caused. Televisions thrown in the swimming pool at the White Heron Hotel and the like. "I don't have any memories of Ozzy and the guys being anything other than jovial and amused by everything. They just seemed to be in good humour and I've got great memories of that," Coburn said. Coburn said he still went to heavy metal shows - his son performs in American sludge metal band, Thou - and said Osbourne and Black Sabbath's influence were still as strong as ever. "They were such a primary foundation of what became heavy metal. I've been to so many shows and there's still always people wearing Black Sabbath T-Shirts. "They really were the beginning of it all - of the whole metal scene. When I go to see bands it's [still] not unusual to hear 'Paranoid' or something," Coburn said. Marty Duda, founder of New Zealand music publication 13th Floor, said Osbourne's impact was "immense" and would continue after his death. Duda remembered first hearing the band on a cassette recording of 'Paranoid' while at a Boy Scouts' camp and "it changed everything - blew my mind". Osborne's voice was exactly what a teenager wanted to hear: "He nailed it." He went on to create a strong persona for himself, later making the transition to a solo career. He said wife Sharon needed to be given credit for the role she played in his career because he had many problems, including drug addiction, but she saw his potential as a solo artist. Ozzy Osbourne with daughter Kelly in 1985. Duda recalled being present when Osborne was preparing for a concert, wanted to gargle and then consumed a whole bottle of mouthwash. "He drank the whole thing, almost choked to death, puked all over the place and then went on stage - he didn't even know how to gargle. He needed to be watched." Duda said on his TV hit reality show, The Osbournes, Osborne was "loveable". "You wanted him to be your dad ... and knowing that he had this background as the guy who helped start heavy metal didn't hurt at all. Those Black Sabbath albums hold up very well today." The president of the NZ Promoters Association Layton Lillas was shocked to hear of Osbourne's death. Ozzy Osbourne performing in 1982. He told RNZ's Morning Report it was "horrible news" to wake up to, coming so soon after Osborne's farewell concert at Villa Park in Birmingham just two weeks ago. Lillas recalled becoming a fan of Osborne when he launched a solo career. He had "amazing guitar players" and "a unique voice". "The guy was the Godfather of hard rock and heavy metal - just an amazing life from a guy who started in the poor suburbs of Birmingham after the war and to do what he did and achieved, amazing." Lillas said the singer had a unique voice with "an incredibly high range". "No-one sounds like Ozzy Osborne... the range was something to behold and for a guy that abused his body like he did for so many years..." He last saw Osborne perform in Wellington in 2008 and "he was certainly on fire that night". - By Bill Hickman and Morning Report
