Colin King


Outside of Taranaki his name may not resonate with many – and certainly not in this millennium – but in the 1950s and into the 1960s dance-band leader Colin King was, well, king.

Now a lively octogenarian pianist and dance-band leader who still performs, mostly at retirement homes and for charity events, King once ran the province’s leading dances, was a music store owner and a promoter.

Colin King, 2016
Colin King comperes - and leads the Airliners from the piano - at a 1957 dance at the Star Gymnasium, New Plymouth. From the New Plymouth Photo News, December 1957
Photo credit: Henry McGee
When Louis Armstrong visited New Zealand in 1963, Colin King and 25 other Taranaki jazz fans chartered a planed from New Plymouth to see the Auckland show. Because of King's friendship with promoter Harry M Miller, they were welcomed backstage. King's guitarist Piko Rangitaawa, on the right, carved a waka huia (treasure box) to present to Armstrong; at left are Michael Foley and Colin King.
Photo credit: NZ Herald
Sixteen-piece Taranaki dance band the Airliners, with Colin King at the piano, from the New Plymouth Photo News, 11 July 1957.
Photo credit: Charters & Guthrie
Colin King with John Dix, 2016
Colin King, the "dance band king" of Taranaki, c1970
Colin King and his Harmonisers, 1950s. From left, Ronald Hugh Morrieson, Jim Leishman, Les Gibbs, Bob Crow, Lou McDonald, Piko Rangitaawa (guitar), Don McCormick, Colin King
A record bag from Colin King's music shop in Waitara, Taranaki.
Photo credit: Chauncy Ardell Collection
Colin King, playing piano for 16-piece Taranaki dance band the Airliners, from the New Plymouth Photo News, 11 July 1957.
Photo credit: Charters & Guthrie

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