Danny McGirr


At a time when his country music contemporaries were writing of rivers, trains and towns, horses and chooks, or simply rehashing the latest American hits, Danny McGirr chose to write about the human condition; what it was to be a father of four eking out a living in New Zealand in the 1960s and 1970s.

His first single in 1969 was ‘My Daughter’s Wedding’ in which he sang of the “little girl that grew up overnight”. Later came ‘Don’t Tell Us What To Do’, a summary on the New Zealand Government’s immigration policy from the point of view of the husband in a Pākehā-Māori marriage. ‘The Country Entertainer’ told of a singer who had failed at family life in pursuit of a successful music career.

Advertisement for Rodeo Time! South Island Rodeo Finals, Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch. Entertainers included Dinger Bell, John Hore (John Grenell), Danny McGirr.
Photo credit: The Press, 24 February 1972
Danny McGirr and Maverick. Pedal steel guitarist Fred Cridland is at extreme right.
Photo credit: Hoghton Hughes Collection
Danny McGirr - The Jockey's Last Ride and Other Original Songs (Music World, 1978)
Danny McGirr in a publicity photo
Photo credit: Hoghton Hughes Collection
Danny McGirr in a publicity photo
Photo credit: Photo by Euan Sarginson; Hoghton Hughes Collection
Danny McGirr sings 'I'm Nobody's Child' backed by the Doug Caldwell Trio, on Have A Shot, 1964
Danny McGirr - Country Old - Country New (Master, 1973)
Danny McGirr and The Last Exit. Pedal steel guitarist Murray Charteris is third from left, his wife Averill Charteris is at extreme right.
Photo credit: Photo by Euan Sarginson, Hoghton Hughes Collection
Johnny Cooper's variety show comes to Greymouth in 1957. The promoter "Harry Fagin" is a pseudonym for well-known Christchurch publicist Trevor King.
Photo credit: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington; Eph-E-CABOT-Variety-1957-01
Danny McGirr - Kiwi Sing-a-long (Master, 1970)
Danny McGirr and Patricia Lennon - My Elusive Dreams (Master, 1971)
Danny McGirr in a publicity photo
Photo credit: Photo by Euan Sarginson; Hoghton Hughes Collection
Trevor King pictured (right) with his film industry friend John Hart in 1957, on a West Coast tour promoting Johnny Cooper and other acts (among them is early Christchurch rock'n'roll band the Wildcats).
Photo credit: Trevor King collection
Danny McGirr - My Daughter's Wedding b/w The Jockey's Last Ride (Master, 1969)
Danny McGirr with The Country Troubadours - The Maori Boy's Question (Master, 1970)
Danny McGirr in a publicity photo
Photo credit: Hoghton Hughes Collection
Music World recording artist Danny McGirr and Hoghton Hughes.
Photo credit: Hoghton Hughes collection
Danny McGirr in a publicity photo
Photo credit: Hoghton Hughes Collection
Danny McGirr singing Marty Robbins' 'Devil Woman' on Have A Shot, 1964
Danny McGirr - Introducing Danny (EP, Master, 1970)
Danny McGirr - Sentimental Country (Master, 1970)
Entertainment listing in The Press newspaper with The Wildcats – "NZ's Elvis Presley Act" – at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Christchurch, July 1957.
Entertainment listing in The Press newspaper for the Civic Theatre Christchurch, June 1962, featuring Danny McGirr, "King of Skiffle".

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