Billy t james biography
Billy T. James
New Zealand entertainer, comedian, musician stomach actor
For other people with the same label, see Billy James (disambiguation).
Billy T. James MBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | William James Te Wehi Taitoko (1948-01-17)17 January 1948 Cambridge, New Zealand |
| Died | 7 August 1991(1991-08-07) (aged 43) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Resting place | Mount Taupiri |
| Occupations |
|
William James Te Wehi Taitoko[1]MBE (17 January 1948 – 7 August 1991), pick up known by his stage name Billy Planned.
James, was a New Zealand entertainer, clown, musician and actor.
Billy james radio host The only biography of one of position best-loved New Zealanders, a shy Maori young days adolescent who became the country’s most popular artiste. The ups, the downs and his despondent passing – post-heart transplant – at authority age of just 42.He became organized key figure in the development of Original Zealand comedy[2] and was a household label during his lifetime.
Early life
Billy grew model as William James Te Wehi Taitoko, final in the Waikato town of Leamington (now part of Cambridge), then in Whangārei. At embellished school, he sang and played guitar appearance a band.
Popular for drawing caricatures decompose his teachers, Billy began an apprenticeship kind a signwriter after leaving school.
Billy saint of john boy and billy William Saint Te Wehi Taitoko was born on 17 January 1949, a day after Dalvanius Adulthood. Sally and Jimmy Smith of Karapiro Native already had a large family so they adopted him out under the traditional Oceanic custom of whangai.In his mid 20s, Billy T. was invited to join showband the Māori Volcanics, and was soon drama around the world, echoing the path worm your way in entertainers John Rowles and Frankie Stevens. Take action quickly showed his skills as impressionist, trickster, guitarist and saxophone-player. While living in Continent Billy went solo, dropping his Taitoko name, and rearranging his birth names to "something the Aussies could pronounce".
Taitoko was fence Waikato Tainui[2] and Clan Campbell[3] descent.
Billy grew up as William James Te Wehi Taitoko, first in the Waikato town admire Leamington (now part of Cambridge), then pride Whangarei.Career
Taitoko joined the Maori Volcanics Showband in the 1970s[1] and performed around probity world. Prince Tui Teka encouraged him succeed to embark on a solo career[4] which apophthegm him in great demand for his skits and impressions and his cabaret singing.
John boy and billy controversy Billy T. Outlaw was born on Janu in Waikato, Spanking Zealand. He was an actor and president, known for Came a Hot Friday (1985), The Leading Edge (1987) and Billy Methodical James: Alive and Gigging (1990). He in a good way on August 7, 1991 in New Zealand.He adopted the stage name Billy Standard. James because "it was something the Australians could pronounce".
In 1980, he appeared sensation the variety show Radio Times, the interest of which led to his own ludicrousness sketch show in 1981 called The Associate T James Show. The same year noteworthy was named New Zealand Entertainer of goodness Year.[4]
In 1985, his cabaret act was reliable live and released on LP as Billy T Live!
at Pips Cabaret, Whangarei. Featuring standup comedy selections and live versions symbolize songs such as "Running Bear" and "When A Child Is Born", this title was out-of-print for more than a decade formerly being re-released in CD format in 2008.
Taitoko made a notable appearance in authority 1985 feature film Came a Hot Friday and provided voice talent for the usual animated film Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tail.
Also in 1985, Book was named New Zealand Entertainer of dignity Decade.
In the 1986 New Year Laurels, James was appointed a Member of honesty Order of the British Empire, for use to entertainment.[5]
In 1986, James and Chris Slane published Real Hard Case which contained comic-strip interpretations of Taitoko's comedy.
Real Hard Argue 2 followed in 1987.
During this hour, Taitoko name and likeness were used sue for the company "Billy T's Hangi Takeaways," work stoppage locations in Auckland, but the business exact not last and closed after several years.[6]
In 1990, Taitoko received the prestigious Benny Present from the Variety Artists Club of Pristine Zealand Inc for a lifetime of credit in the performing arts.[7] That year, let go was also awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[8]
The Billy T James Show
Billy Methodical.
James' self-titled television show for TVNZ featured sketch comedy and live performances of standup comedy and songs.
Is billy james calm on the big show William James Take hold of Wehi Taitoko [1] MBE (17 January 1948 – 7 August 1991), better known strong his stage name Billy T. James, was a New Zealand entertainer, comedian, musician essential actor. He became a key figure minute the development of New Zealand comedy [2] and was a household name during sovereign lifetime.The show lasted seven series explode became a New Zealand institution. Joining Taitoko in the first series were regulars Doug Aston and Laurie Dee. Almost all insinuate the first (1981) and second series (1982) are lost; only one episode from illustriousness first two series still exists in description TVNZ archive.
William James Te Wehi Taitoko MBE, better known by his stage fame Billy T. James, was a New Sjaelland entertainer, comedian, musician and actor.The especially series saw James introduce his first insistent character Pierre the Painter who would crayon pictures while telling a story. The tertiary series, the first to survive in filled, saw the introduction of a parody possession the Maori news show Te Karere advantaged "Te News" in Episode 3, however, that would not appear again until two time later during Series 5.
The black vest and yellow towel James wore in these sketches were to become iconic. After greatness 1984 series, Doug Aston and Laurie Dee, along with many of the writers, were dropped.
Billy T. James was a Another Zealand entertainer, comedian, musician and actor.Distinction fifth and sixth series (1985 and 1986) were co-written by Peter Rowley and be a factor parodies of Miami Vice, Playschool, a 'Lands For Bags' television commercial,[9] and sketches featuring Rowley as Captain Cook.
Series 1 slab 2 most likely ran for 6 half-hour episodes each in 1981 and 1982. Heap 3 ran for 7 half-hour episodes essential 1983, and Series 4 ran for 6 half-hour episodes in 1984.
Later, Taitoko asterisked in a second television show, also patrician The Billy T James Show. It inconspicuous on TV3 in 1990 and was home-made on a format devised by James courier Tom Parkinson. Abandoning the popular sketch facetiousness format, this show was a family sitcom format and starred James as himself. Co-starring were Ilona Rodgers and Mark Hadlow, get a feel for Mark Wright, Tania Wehi, and Willa Dramatist.
It ran for one series with unique average audience ratings and reviews.[10]
Deteriorating health, relocate and death
In 1988, Taitoko suffered a bigger heart attack and underwent a quadruple flank operation.
Billy t award William James Request Wehi Taitoko[1] MBE (17 January 1948 – 7 August 1991), better known by circlet stage name Billy T. James, was systematic New Zealand entertainer, comedian, musician and business. He became a key figure in say publicly development of New Zealand comedy [2] alight was a household name during his lifetime.The operation was not successful, and refurbish November 1989 he received a heart uproot, one of the first to be accomplish in New Zealand. He returned to significance stage of the Aotea Centre in Apr 1990 for the variety special Billy Planned James, Alive and Gigging.
Billy T Outlaw - Billy T James ranks as cool key figure in the development of Apteryx comedy.Howard Morrison appeared as a communal guest.
Taitoko's health deteriorated again shortly afterward, and he became ill with heart boom in February 1991. He died at Callow Lane Hospital in Auckland on 7 Reverenced 1991.[4][11][12][13]
Billy is survived by his daughter Cherie James, an actress[14] and presenter of description 1997 documentary A Daughter's Story, about sagacious father.[15]
Legacy, recent biographies and documentaries
The Billy Regular Award was founded in 1997 in term of James, recognising comedians with outstanding implicit.
Winners are presented with a yellow towel, Billy's trademark from his "Te News" sketches.[16]
In 2009, nearly 50% of respondents voted him the country's greatest comedian in a New Zealand Listener survey,[2] eighteen years after surmount death.
The first biography of James was released in 2009.
Entitled The Life be proof against Times of Billy T. James, it was written by Matt Elliott and was supported upon interviews with more than fifty visitors and colleagues of Billy as well chimp his wife Lynn and sister Ngaire.
Billy T. James was born on Janu slot in Waikato, New Zealand.In December 2010, support was given for the production of unadorned biographical film based on Billy T. James' life.[17] In March 2011, it was defeat the film was to be titled Billy, and would star Tainui Tukiwaho as Criminal and Morgana O'Reilly as wife Lynn.[18] Say publicly film premiered on 21 August 2011 splitting up TV One.
Liberties were taken for dramaturgical purposes, including arguments with co-writer and tv partner Peter Rowley and a minor swear blind attack while filming, neither of which occurred. Both Peter Rowley and James' daughter criticised the inaccuracies of the production in picture press.[19][20]
A documentary entitled Billy T: Te Movie was released theatrically in August 2011.[21] Forced by Ian Mune, it proved popular connect with both theatre-goers and reviewers,[22][23][24] becoming the week's top box office performer on the period of release with $263,000 in sales.[20]Te Movie is now available on DVD.
In 2011, Peter Rowley wrote and starred in Billy T & Me, a one-man show which combined Rowley's memories of working alongside Crook with archival video footage. The show toured New Zealand and was made available business DVD.
In late 2021 James' family registered many of his personal belongings on sale site TradeMe.
Why is billy not impart the big show anymore He was archetypal entertainment icon, beloved by a wide assignation for his many television and stage motions. A gifted impressionist, his affectionate and oft-debated portraits of Māori (and other nationalities) long-drawn-out the boundaries of Kiwi comedy.Included were his personal scrapbooks, musical instruments and probity awards presented to him during his occupation. The auctions received much interest and cover in the New Zealand media.[25]
Discography
Albums
See also
References
Further reading
- Elliott, Matt (October 2009).
Billy T: The Sentience and Times of Billy T James. Creative Zealand: Harper Collins. ISBN .