{{short description|New Zealand musician and actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Francis Kora | image = Francis Kora on The Cafe.jpg | caption = Kora in 2017 | birth_place = Whakatāne, New Zealand | genre = Showband, Reggae/dub | occupation = musician, actor | instrument = bass guitar, vocalist | associated_acts = Kora, Modern Māori Quartet | years_active = 1991–present }}
'''Francis Kora''' is a New Zealand musician and actor. He currently performs with the groups Kora and the Modern Māori Quartet.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11917533|title=Is the Modern Maori Quartet New Zealand's next big thing?|website=The New Zealand Herald|date=7 September 2017|accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref> He co-wrote and performed songs, with the other band members, for the Modern Māori Quartet's debut album ''That's Us!'' (2017).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebigidea.nz/stories/thats-us-modern-maori-quartet|title=That's Us! Modern Māori Quartet |website=The Big Idea |date=19 September 2017|accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref>
Kora starred in the 2014 film ''The Pā Boys''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11195009|title=Francis Kora: At home on the pā|website=The New Zealand Herald|date=2 February 2014|accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref> He co-hosts Māori Television's ''My Party Song'' as part of the Modern Māori Quartet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maoritelevision.com/shows/my-party-song|title=My Party Song|publisher=Māori Television|accessdate=25 March 2019}}</ref> In 2018 Kora, alongside other members of ''Modern Māori Quartet'', began touring their cabaret show ''Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://witnessperformance.com/modern-maori-quartet-two-worlds/|title=Modern Māori Quartet:Two Worlds|website=witnessperformance.com|date=11 July 2019|accessdate=17 October 2019}}</ref>
== Early life == Kora was born in Whakatāne, New Zealand and is of Māori (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkeko) descent. Francis and his three brothers Laughton, Stuart and Brad grew up entertaining. As kids they played RSAs, rugby clubs and Cossie clubs in Whakatāne, under the guidance of their Father.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://e-tangata.co.nz/arts/fran-kora-we-grew-up-entertaining-in-the-whakatane-clubs/#comments|title=Fran Kora: We grew up entertaining in the Whakatane clubs|website=E-Tangata|date=11 February 2017|accessdate=27 March 2019}}</ref> Francis is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School (Te Kura Toi Whakaari ō Aotearoa) earning a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) in 2003 .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduates/|title=Toi Whakaari Graduates|publisher=Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School|date=15 February 2019|accessdate=27 March 2019|archive-date=24 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424122324/https://toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduates/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Career==
=== Music ===
In the 1990s Kora and his three brothers, Laughton, Brad and Stuart, founded the band, Kora. He is a member of the Māori showband the Modern Māori Quartet, alongside Maaka Pohatu, Matariki Whatarau and James Tito.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kapiti-news/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1504006&objectid=11902473|title=5 Questions with the Modern Māori Quartet|website=The New Zealand Herald|date=9 August 2017|accessdate=27 March 2019}}</ref>
=== Film and television ===
Kora made his debut feature film appearance as a lead actor in ''The Pā Boys'' in 2014.
=== Theatre ===
In 2018 Francis, along with other members of Modern Māori Quartet, began touring their cabaret show ''Modern Māori Quartet: Two Worlds.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://witnessperformance.com/modern-maori-quartet-two-worlds/|title=Modern Māori Quartet:Two Worlds|website=witnessperformance.com|date=11 July 2019|accessdate=17 October 2019}}</ref>
=== Personal life === Kora has a young daughter, Coco-Grace and a young son Akira Tait Kora. He wrote the Modern Māori Quartet's song "Shine" for her, and dedicated it to "all the kids in the world".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/modern-maori-quartet-release-new-video-for-shine/|title=Modern Maori Quartet Release New Video for Shine|publisher=New Zealand Music Commission,Te Reo Reka O Aotearoa|date=7 September 2017|accessdate=27 March 2019}}</ref>
==Discography==
* ''Happy Hour'' (2014) * ''That's Us!'' (2017)
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kora, Francis}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:New Zealand male Māori actors Category:New Zealand male film actors Category:People from Whakatāne Category:21st-century New Zealand guitarists Category:21st-century New Zealand male singers Category:New Zealand male singer-songwriters Category:New Zealand singer-songwriters Category:Toi Whakaari alumni Category:New Zealand male television actors Category:21st-century New Zealand male actors Category:New Zealand bass guitarists Category:New Zealand Māori male singers Category:Ngāi Tūhoe people Category:Ngāti Awa people