Mahia Blackmore

Mahia Blackmore (2 January 1949 – 31 May 2021) was a New Zealand singer and bandleader who got her start as a singer in the 1960s. She was referred to as New Zealand's own queen of rhythm and blues. She was also part of the Billy TK band Powerhouse. She was profiled on Whenua, a radio show presented by Hēnare te Ua on numerous occasions.

Mahia Blackmore
Birth nameMahia Carole Blackmore
Born(1949-01-02)2 January 1949
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Died31 May 2021(2021-05-31) (aged 72)
GenresRhythm and blues, blues, classical, Maori music
Occupation(s)Singer
LabelsTony McCarthy Recordings, Ode

Background

The eldest of five children, she was born Mahia Carole Blackmore in Palmerston North, on 2 January 1949. She grew up with music, surrounded by it at home, at school and in the community at the marae. Her father was involved in music. In the 1940s, he was a member of Kapiti vocal group, the Te Whare Quintet.[1]

In addition to being referred to as New Zealand's blues queen, or queen of rhythm and blues,[2][3][4] she has been referred to as the New Zealand equivalent of Ma Rainey.[5]

Career

1970s

In the early 1970s, she had a single released on the Tony McCarthy Recordings label,[6] a label that captured the early recordings of Deane Waretini, and the only recordings of Abe Phillips of the Shadracks.[7][8] Her single with the catalogue no TM1 was the first release for the label. The A side "The Long Road" was written by Lambert & Porter. The B side "Need You" was written By Tony McCarthy. Both sides were produced by him as well.[9][10] Also during the early 1970 period, she was a member of powerhouse, a band that was put together by guitarist Billy TK.[11][12]

1980s–1990s

In the 1980s while fronting her band Meg and the Fones, she had a hit with "Little Tui" which she composed. It won the APRA Song of the Year award.[13]

She provided backing vocals on the Maori Songs album by Kiri Te Kanawa. The album, released in 1999, released on the EMI Classics label was sung entirely in Maori and included songs such as "Hoki Hoki Tonu Mai", Hine E Hine", and "Pokarekare Ana".[14]

2000s

In February 2010, she was to appear at the Waiheke Wine and Food Festival, Auckland as part of Billy TK's Powerhouse.[15] In May 2011, she was set to go to Fiji to perform and then later that year in November, Samoa.[16] In early 2012, she was fronting the Paradise band which was due to appear at the Flaxmere Family Festival.[17] In 2013, she was booked for the Queenstown Jazz and Blues Festival, an event that takes place over a period of four days, during the labor weekend, 24–27 October in Queenstown.[18]

Solo

Singles

EP / mini-album
  • Meg And The Fones – Meg Was Here – Ode SODEP 252 – (1986)[21]

Appearances

Radio
  • Profiling New Zealand Music, Introduced by Alan Beck – 29 October 1990 – Song: "Pacific Messages"[26]
  • Sunday Series 1. Programme 26 – 1995 – Blackmore is interviewed about her first acting role as the Blues Singer Ma Rainey.[27]
  • Whenua, 25/05/97 (Part 2 of 2) – Presented by Hēnare te Ua and Libby Hakaraia from the Radio New Zealand Studios, Auckland, on National Radio. - Mahia Blackmore interviewed.[28]
  • Whenua, Sunday 18/07/99 – Music: Mahia Blackmore & The Rhythm Mamas – "My Imagination"[29]
  • Whenua – Thursday 14/10/99 – Presented by Hēnare te Ua on National Radio – from the RNZ Studios, Auckland – Song: "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"[30]

Mahia Blackmore Profile, Audioculture

References
  1. Audio Culture, 23 September 2014 Mahia Blackmore Profile – John Dix
  2. Staysouth.com, 16 September 2013 Queenstown Jazz and Blues Festival 2013
  3. buzz in town, 3 February 2010 Waiheke Wine and Food Festival, Auckland
  4. The Culture Trip Celebrating Aotearoa: New Zealand's Top Events and Festivals in Spring 2013
  5. Artist Trove Mahia Blackmore, Paradise Band
  6. National Library of New Zealand The long road (sound recording) / Lambert & Porter ; (performed by) Mahia Blackmore. I need you / T. McCarthy ; (performed by) Mahia Blackmore
  7. Hawkes Bay Today, Saturday 17 December 2011 The magic of Abe By Dave Turnbull and Roger Moroney
  8. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51886 45rpm – NTK Abe Phillips
  9. 45cat Record Details, Catalogue: TM 1
  10. National Library of New Zealand The long road (sound recording) / Lambert & Porter ; (performed by) Mahia Blackmore. I need you / T. McCarthy ; (performed by) Mahia Blackmore
  11. Ready to Fly by David Eggleton Page 47
  12. Ready to Fly by David Eggleton Page 141
  13. Amplifier Hip-Hop > Cushy Numbers
  14. ArkivMusic – The Source for Classical Music! Maori Songs / Kiri Te Kanawa
  15. buzz in town, 3 February 2010 Waiheke Wine and Food Festival, Auckland
  16. Blues Festival E Guide, 13 May 2011 NEW ZEALAND'S QUEEN OF BLUES OFF TO FIJIAN FESTIVAL
  17. Scoop Independent News, Monday, 23 January 2012 Hunt begins for new talent for Flaxmere Festival
  18. '"Scoop, Thursday, 3 October 2013 Renee Geyer to Headline Queenstown Jazz and Blues Festival
  19. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision 45rpm – Catalogue → 51909, NTK Mahia Blackmore
  20. New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 19953, Mahia Blackmore
  21. Discogs Meg And The Fones – Meg Was Here
  22. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51699 – NTK Pacific Messages
  23. WorldCat Pacific messages
  24. Discogs Shona Laing – South
  25. Stanford University Libraries Maori songs (electronic resource)
  26. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 22886, Profiling New Zealand Music
  27. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → F25457, Sunday Series 1. Programme 26
  28. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 52421 Whenua. 25/05/97 (Part 2 of 2)
  29. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 52848, Whenua. 18/07/99 Sunday 5 to 6pm
  30. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 52926 Whenua. 14/10/99 Thursday
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