this popped up in my recommended, I love this song and this is a beautiful rendition. It is always sung at Anzac Day services in London at Westminster Abbey, and it is incredible to hear. If you can find a version with Sir Howard Morrison singing this I would recommend watching, he was an incredible singer, and I remember when he sang this for the Queen. Regardless of the version I always get emotional listening to this, and when living overseas it always feels like it connects me to home.
I second that Roskoe, Sir Howard's rendition of "How Great Thou Art" is iconic in NZ music history. He'd be NZ's equivalent of "Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra". Sir Howard Leslie Morrison OBE (18 August 1935 - 24 September 2009) was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009, he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers. In 1955, while working as a surveyor's chainman, Howard Morrison started putting together vocal groups to entertain at rugby club socials in Rotorua. In 1956 he toured Australia as a member of the Aotearoa Concert Party. On his return, he heard guitarist Gerry Merito and put together a group with Gerry Merito, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi, and named the group The 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. 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 highly topical, because of the huge controversy over Maoris not being allowed to tour South Africa with that year's All Blacks. Moving into 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. Due to the constant touring and absence from families, the quartet disbanded in 1965, but have occasionally re-united in various incarnations over the subsequent years.
Hollie Smith is a Soulful, Blues, Jazz Kiwi artist - Philosophy, Helena, Miracles, I Will Do, Can't Let You Down, Lady Dee, Weather with you (A Split ENZ cover - Iconic 70s NZ band), Bathe In The Water Thanks for reacting to this cover Roskoe. it was a pleasant surprise and very much appreciated.... Might have to make you an honorary member of the Homer Crew or as I prefer to call them "Bromers"🙄
![[EMOTIONAL] Stan Walker & family bring me to tears singing How Great Thou Art.](/img/1.gif)
They are so good together
this popped up in my recommended, I love this song and this is a beautiful rendition. It is always sung at Anzac Day services in London at Westminster Abbey, and it is incredible to hear. If you can find a version with Sir Howard Morrison singing this I would recommend watching, he was an incredible singer, and I remember when he sang this for the Queen. Regardless of the version I always get emotional listening to this, and when living overseas it always feels like it connects me to home.
I second that Roskoe, Sir Howard's rendition of "How Great Thou Art" is iconic in NZ music history. He'd be NZ's equivalent of "Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra". Sir Howard Leslie Morrison OBE (18 August 1935 - 24 September 2009) was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009, he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers.
In 1955, while working as a surveyor's chainman, Howard Morrison started putting together vocal groups to entertain at rugby club socials in Rotorua. In 1956 he toured Australia as a member of the Aotearoa Concert Party. On his return, he heard guitarist Gerry Merito and put together a group with Gerry Merito, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi, and named the group The 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.
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 highly topical, because of the huge controversy over Maoris not being allowed to tour South Africa with that year's All Blacks.
Moving into 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.
Due to the constant touring and absence from families, the quartet disbanded in 1965, but have occasionally re-united in various incarnations over the subsequent years.
Both are amazing singers so many great singers from NZ. Should check out when Stan Walker did a duet with Ginny Blackmore “I can’t make you love me”
More great NZ singers ❤
Almost everyone knows this waiata in NZ
Hollie Smith is a Soulful, Blues, Jazz Kiwi artist - Philosophy, Helena, Miracles, I Will Do, Can't Let You Down, Lady Dee, Weather with you (A Split ENZ cover - Iconic 70s NZ band), Bathe In The Water
Thanks for reacting to this cover Roskoe. it was a pleasant surprise and very much appreciated.... Might have to make you an honorary member of the Homer Crew or as I prefer to call them "Bromers"🙄
I'm honored! 😁🙏