{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Main|Howard Morrison}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Howard Morrison Quartet | image = Howard Morrison Quartet at the Crystal Palace Ballroom, Mt Eden Road, 1959 (cropped).jpg | caption = The Howard Morrison Quartet in 1959 | image_size = | origin = [[Rotorua]], [[New Zealand]] | genre = Easy listening, Tangatawhenua | years_active = 1956–1965, 1975, 1979, 1989, 1992-199?, 2006, 2008, 2009 | label = | associated_acts = | website = }}
The '''Howard Morrison Quartet''' (originally named the '''Ohinemutu Quartet''') was a [[New Zealand]] band during the 1950s and early 1960s. The band was formed by Sir [[Howard Morrison]] and included Gerry Merito, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/15197/the-howard-morrison-quartet|title=The Howard Morrison Quartet|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|last=Taonga|website=Teara.govt.nz|access-date=20 April 2025}}</ref><ref>[https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/6m6/morrison-howard-leslie 'Story: Morrison, Howard Leslie']. ''[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]''.</ref>
In 1955, while working as a surveyor's chainman, Morrison started putting together vocal groups to entertain at rugby club socials in [[Rotorua]]. The next year, the original Quartet members and their extended [[whānau]] won the 1956 Rotorua [[Shell (theater)|Soundshell]] Talent Quest, following which Morrison toured Australia as a member of the [[Aotearoa]] Concert Party. This lead him to decide to pursue music as a career.<ref>Tebbutt, Leah. (8 March 2019). [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/remembering-soundshell-a-building-of-many-purposes/T4IHCOBP2Z5Y3L45AL63UPDRVI/ 'Remembering Soundshell: A building of many purposes']. ''[[Rotorua Daily Post]]''.</ref><ref name="Morrison Funeral">[https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2900386/Maori-warriors-lead-Sir-Howard-Morrisons-whanau 'Maori warriors lead Sir Howard Morrison's whānau']. ''[[Stuff (website)]]''.</ref> On his return, Morrison heard guitarist [[Gerry Merito]] and put together a group with Gerry and two others, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi, and named the group Howard Morrison Quartet. In 1958, they became part of Benny Levin's touring 'Pop Jamboree.' A recording they made of "Hoki Mai/ [[Po Karekare Ana]]" sold well, and in 1959 their parody of "[[The Battle of New Orleans]]," recorded as "The Battle of the Waikato", became one of their biggest hits.<ref name="hits">[https://www.muzic.nz/artists/sir-howard-morrison/ 'Sir Howard Morrison']. [[Howard Morrison]]. ''music.nz'' official website.</ref>
In 1960, they were so popular their managers released 13 singles, three EPs and two albums. Another parody of [[Lonnie Donegan]]'s, "[[My Old Man's A Dustman]]" was rewritten by Gerry Merito as "My Old Man's An All Black." This was topical because of the controversy over Maoris not being allowed to [[1960 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia and South Africa|tour South Africa]] with that year's [[All Blacks]].
In 1962, two of their singles were more parodies, with [[Ray Stevens]]' "[[Ahab The Arab]]" becoming "Mori The Hori" and [[Pat Boone]]'s "[[Speedy Gonzales]]" becoming "George The Wilder Colonial Boy", celebrating the exploits of escaped convict [[George Wilder (criminal)|George Wilder]].
Due to the constant touring and absence from families, the quartet disbanded in 1965, but occasionally re-united in various incarnations over subsequent years.<ref name="hits" />
== Incarnations == '''1956-1957 (The Ohinemutu "Quartet")'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao19TeA/c32.html|title=Records : A New Maori Recording|page=56|website=Teaohou.natlib.govt.nz|date=August 1957|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> *Sir Howard Morrison *John Morrison *Terry Morrison *Wi Wharekura *Chubby Hamiora *Gary Rangiihu
'''1957-1958''' *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *Laurie Morrison *John Morrison
'''1958-1959''' *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *Laurie Morrison *Tai Eru
'''1959-1960''' *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *Wi Wharekura *Eddie Howell
'''1960-1965, 1975''' '''(''Return of a Legend''), 1989 (''This Is Your Life: Sir Howard Morrison'') (classic line-up)''' *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *Wi Wharekura *Noel Kingi
'''1979 (''Tu Tangata '79'')'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/1533.html|title=Sir Howard Morrison - New Zealand Musicians & Bands|website=Muzic.net.nz|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *[[Toni Williams]] *Noel Kingi
'''1992-199?'''<ref>[https://archive.today/20130122000512/http://cgi.ebay.com/Howard-Morrison-Quartet-Magic-cd-live-New-Zealand-1992_W0QQitemZ190336904286QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_CDs?hash=item2c50f6ac5e&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14] </ref> *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *Toni Williams *Hori Bennett
'''1995 (''Sir Howard Morrison: Time of My Life'')'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/sir-howard-morrison-time-of-my-life-1995|title=Sir Howard Morrison - Time of My Life | Television|website=Nzonscreen.com|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *Terry Morrison *Tai Eru
Note: this incarnation played part of the Quartet segment of the show before Terry Morrison and Tai Eru gave way to Toni Williams and Hori Bennett, thus reverting to the previous incarnation. After this incarnation played some songs Terry and Tai rejoined them on stage for the finale of the segment.
'''2006 (''A Knight with a Dame'')'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vangent.co.nz/category/shows/page/2/ |title=Van Gent Productions » Shows |access-date=29 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603213307/http://www.vangent.co.nz/category/shows/page/2/ |archive-date=3 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *Howard Morrison Jr. *[[Temuera Morrison]]
'''2008 (''To Sir With Love'')'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S22FznvTbDA |title=YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=25 November 2016 |archive-date=15 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415174111/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S22FznvTbDA |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Sir Howard Morrison *Gerry Merito *Wi Wharekura *Toni Williams
'''2009 (''Good Morning'')'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Av14CxvBOE |title=YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=25 November 2016 |archive-date=6 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506054920/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Av14CxvBOE |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Sir Howard Morrison *Toni Williams *Hori Bennett *Howard Morrison Jr.
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/howard-morrison-quartet AudioCulture profile]
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[[Category:Musical groups established in 1956]] [[Category:New Zealand musical groups]] [[Category:1956 establishments in New Zealand]] [[Category:New Zealand Māori musical groups]] [[Category:Māori-language singers]] [[Category:2009 disestablishments in New Zealand]] [[Category:1965 disestablishments in New Zealand]]