New Zealand singer and songwriter Larry Morris, who fronted garage-rock group Larry's Rebels in the 1960's, has died.
Larry's Rebels became one of Auckland's greatest homegrown pop bands and for a brief few years dominated media and charts across NZ and AU. By 1964 the bands definitive line-up was born: Larry Morris, John Williams, Terry Rouse, Dennis “Nooky” Stott and Viv McCarthy. Their incredible run of hit-singles made them one of our most successful chart acts of the 60's and their best-known song "Let's Think Of Something" won them the 1967 APRA Silver Scroll.
The band toured with renowned international acts such as The Animals, The Yardbirds, Tom Jones, Dave Dee, and The Walker Brothers, and continued to attract up to thousands of fans to their live shows.
Morris left the band in 1969 and pursued a solo career which Morris explained to Trevor Reekie was his greatest regret. "When you take the individuals away they're not so good on their own, but when you put them together there is a magic."
Listen to RNZ's The Mixtape: Larry Morris
Morris released three solo albums since his debut 5:55 A.M. in 1972, with his last offering arriving in 2021, an 11-track record titled Amigos.
Larry who was praised as a "true kiwi music icon" by Prime Minister Helen Clark, was inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro in 2020 alongside fellow Rebels John, Terry, Dennis, and Viv.
Audioculture: Larry's Rebels part 1: Long Ago, Far Away
