Al Hunter (singer)

Al Hunter is a New Zealand country music singer-songwriter whose debut album, Neon Cowboy, released in 1987, "made country hip".[1]

This article is about the New Zealand musician. For other people named Al Hunter, see Al Hunter (disambiguation).

Al Hunter
Al Hunter at the Gluepot, early '90s.
Al Hunter at the Gluepot, early '90s.
Background information
Birth nameAlan Keith Hunter
OriginPukemiro, New Zealand
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1970s-present
Websitehttp://www.glenmoffatt.com/al_hunter.htm

Hunter was a soul singer in such Auckland bands of the late 1960s and '70s as Killing Floor, Cruise Lane, Chapeaux and the Hunter McCallum Band before embracing country music.

His debut album was produced by Stuart Pearce and Dave Marett on a budget CBS had provided for a single. It was recorded in Australia at Greystoke Music Studios and included contributions from Dave Dobbyn.

Hunter's following two albums were released by Pagan in the 1990s.

Respected New Zealand rock historian John Dix wrote, "Wellington had the Warratahs; Auckland had the indomitable Al Hunter. In 1993 Pagan released The Singer, cementing Hunter's rep as a genuine country rock talent."[2]

Eight tracks from Hunter's 1997 release Cold Hard Winter reappeared on the compilation album Troubadours – NZ Singer-Songwriter Series: Vol 1, which also featured eight tracks each from Glen Moffatt and Red McKelvie.

Discography
Albums
Date of release Title Label Charted Certification Catalog Number
1987 Neon Cowboy CBS/Pagan (reissue) – – PACD 1098 435 7982
1993 The Singer Pagan – – PACD 1094 / 4357942
1997 Cold Hard Winter Pagan – – PACD 1135 (8444822)
2009 Troubadours – NZ Singer-Songwriter Series: Vol 1 – Glen Moffatt, Al Hunter, Red McKelvie SDL Music – – SDL8044/2

References
  1. Graham Reid, "A Kiwi rock'n'roll primer", The New Zealand Herald, 26 May 2003
  2. John Dix, Stranded in Paradise: New Zealand Rock and Roll, 1955 to the Modern Era, Penguin Books, 2005, ISBN 0-14-301953-8
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