John Rowles

aka Ja-Ar


Seeing John Rowles play an intimate Sunday afternoon showcase at the Auckland casino feels like a privilege.

Here’s the Māori boy from Kawerau, who for a brief moment became one of the world’s biggest ballad singers, back home playing not a large concert hall but a bar so small you could reach out and shake his hand.

The Sundowners with John Rowles. At back, L-R: Billy Nuku, Triggy Delano, Ian Franklin. In front, L-R: Eddie Low, Nephi Shortland, John Rowles. 
A 19 yr old Ja-Ar does Satisfaction on Australian TV, 1966
John Rowles with Norman and Ruth Kirk, 1973
Cliff and John, 1968
John Rowles performs a tribute to the late Sir Howard Morrison at the 2009 New Zealand Music Awards
Photo credit: Courtesy of Recorded Music New Zealand
Girl Girls Girls (in Sydney, 1960s)
Cheryl Moana Marie (Live at the 2011 APRA Silver Scrolls with The Vietnam War)
2013 Anthology
The Shadows in 1963: John Rowles, Andy Tioke, Patrick Ratana, Sam Ngataki, Paul Tioke and Ruri Williams
John Rowles in Rave magazine, June 1968
The Sundowners in Sydney. In the wicker chair is Triggy Delano; behind him, from left: Ian Franklin, John Rowles, Nephi Shortland, Billy Nuku, Eddie Low.
John Rowles in the late 1960s
Photo credit: Gisborne Photo News
Spanish Harlem (in Sydney, 1960s)
John Rowles and musician friends, at the Mon Desir Hotel, Takapuna. From left: Warren McMillan, Ben Tawhiti, John Rowles, Buddy Wilson, and Alex Behrens.
Photo credit: Buddy Wilson collection
Maria (in Sydney, 1960s)
Mary In The Morning (in Sydney, 1960s)
Sway (in Sydney, 1960s)
John Rowles, from Live Back Home, Pye 1973.
John Rowles in Hawaii in the 1970s
A mid-1970s John Rowles publicity shot
John Rowles and friend in the early 1970s
Kaingatuturu
Thunderball (in Sydney, 1960s)
John Rowles' first show in Wellington after his international success in the late 1960s, with Allison Durbin on 28 February, 1969
Photo credit: Ken Cooper collection
John Rowles 2013
John Rowles reflects on Cheryl Moana Marie (from documentary The Secret Life of John Rowles)
John Rowles, Ladies and Gentlemen (1969) - NZ On Screen
In 2014 John Rowles undertook an ambitious New Zealand tour with members of Elvis Presley's early 1970s "TCB" band. They performed songs by Presley - and Rowles. 
Please Help Me I'm Falling
John Rowles with Mikey Havoc at 95bFM in the mid 2000s
A ticket for John Rowles' show in Hawaii in 1970
If I Only Had Time
Sir John Rowles with Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy on the occasion of his investiture as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to entertainment, 11 October, 2018, Auckland.
Don't Be Cruel (in Sydney, 1960s)
If I Only Had Time (alternate video)
John Rowles at 95bFM with DJ Mikey Havoc in the mid 2000s
Photo credit: Photo by Mark Roach
John Rowles in the early 1970s
A late 1973 John Rowles tour programme. The tour, as with many of his 1970s shows, was promoted by Phil Warren and tour managed by Ken Cooper, who has continued to work with Rowles into the 21st Century.
Live in the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Room, 1970s
A late 1970s John Rowles publicity shot
The original UK single for John Rowles. If I Only Had Time was a No.3 hit in 1968.
Live performance of Cheryl Moana Marie, 1976 live TV special
Sir John Rowles with Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne, on the occasion of his investiture as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to entertainment, 11 October, 2018, Auckland.
Ja-Ar - At The End Of A Rainbow (in Sydney, 1960s)
Record Mirror gets it right - producer Mike Leander with John Rowles in 1968
A late 1970s John Rowles publicity shot
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini (in Sydney, 1960s)
Labels:

Pye


CBS


EMI


MCA


RCA

John Rowles as a Playdate pinup, September 1968
John Rowles discusses with UK magazine Disc about other artists he is encouraging to move from Australia to the UK to pursue their careers, c. 1968.

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