Mark Williams (singer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Williams is a New Zealand-born pop
/soul
singer with Recording Industry Association of New Zealand
(RIANZ) number one hit singles, "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life" (1975) and a cover
of Buddy Holly
's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore
" (1977) before he relocated to Australia later that year. His single, "Show No Mercy
" (1990) was a top ten hit in both countries. He has undertaken extensive touring in support of numerous Australian bands and worked in television, in 2005 he became the vocalist for the reformed New Zealand/Australian band, Dragon
.
and at 16 started up a band called ‘The Face’ with fellow classmates. The band went on to win the Northland heat of the National Battle of the Bands competition in September 1970, and finished third overall in the grand final held in Auckland in the new year.
One of the judges at the final was Lew Pryme, and he recognised the potential of the group and became their manager. A single "Hangin' Around"/"Mr Postman" was released in 1972 on Zodiac and a national tour followed. In 1973, Mack Tane left and he was replaced by Bruce Robinson, previously of the Pleazers, Troubled Mind and Flinders.
When the television show "Happen Inn" finished in 1973, a new show emerged. It was called "Free Ride" and was hosted by Ray Columbus. Lew convinced Williams to leave the Face and pursue a solo career at the time the new show was being launched. Whilst becoming a featured artist on the show, "Free Ride" will always be remembered for launching the career of Williams.
by Alan Galbraith. A single was released at the end of 1974, "Celebration"/"Let Love Come Between Us", but it was another song from the recording sessions that really stood out. Alan Galbraith had taken a "Vanda and Young" song, originally destined for Craig Scott, and given it a new arrangement. The song "Yesterday Was Just The Beginning Of My Life" backed with "Jimmy Loves Marianne" was released in May 1975 and within 6 weeks was number one on the National Charts, staying there for 3 weeks and eventually falling out of the charts 6 months later.
Williams' debut self-titled album
came out in June and peaked at number 2, remaining on the album charts for 30 weeks. It quickly went gold and went on to be New Zealand's best selling pop/rock album of the seventies. Whilst the album contained many excellent songs, surprisingly no further singles came from it. The next single was "Sweet Wine"/"Who Do You Think You Are" and released in November 1975. It reached number 7 on the charts. Early in 1976, Lew Pryme took Williams on a visit to Australia. The trip was not very successful and on their return to New Zealand, Pryme and Williams parted company. A second album "Sweet Trials
" was released along with his third single, "If It Rains"/"Morning Sun Upon A Mountain" taken from the album. Also including his second single, the album was not as successful, only reaching number 14 on the album charts, while the third single fared worse, entering the charts at 25 and only staying in the charts for one week.
With Williams' popularity on the decline, which critics put down to the lack of good material featured on second album, the subsequent national tour only attracted medium sized crowds. In late 1976 the single "Taking It All In Stride"/"Why Can't We Be Lovers" was released. It peaked at number 14 and gave some much-needed airplay. A second boost to his career came about with the release of his third album "Taking It All In Stride
" in June 1977. It contained the single "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"/"True Love (Is Never Easy)". A superb cover of the old Buddy Holly
classic, the song went to number one, giving Mark his second chart topper. Although certified Gold, the album didn’t chart any higher than his second, it stayed around much longer and was well received by the record buying public. It also contained a fine duet with Sharon O'Neill
called "If There's Still A Little Love" and this was released as a single with "Love Is Forever" as a B side.
. With him came Alan Galbraith, his new manager and producer of his three albums. Alan had recently taken up a new position with CBS Australia. After Williams's departure, EMI released the obligatory "Greatest Hits" album late in 1977.
In the years to follow he had quickly established himself in the lucrative session world of Sydney singing many radio and TV commercials and become a favoured back up vocalist on albums by major Australian talent, Renee Geyer
, Jenny Morris, Eurogliders
, Ian Moss
, Richard Clapton
, The Church
and Sharon O`Neil. It wasn’t until 1980 that his Australian album was released called ‘Life after Dark’, which spawned two singles.
Williams also formed a Sydney
based band called Boy Rocking signed to CBS. The band would go on to released two Australian singles. In 1988 on the verge of touring with the musical ‘Cats’, Mark made an eleventh hour decision to instead tour with the Ian Moss band for the hugely successful ‘Matchbook’ tour. 1989 would see Williams break into television singing the theme song for the hit Australian soap Home and Away
with Karen Boddington.
Williams soon attempted to replicate the fully-fledged successful solo career he experienced in New Zealand. He was signed to Albert Productions (released through Sony) and began working on new material with Harry Vanda
and George Young of The Easybeats
.
1990 saw the release of the album Mark Williams ZNZ, which featured perhaps his best-known song, "Show No Mercy
". Gone was the silky voice; it was a completely different sounding Williams. The song went platinum and was chosen to launch the 1990 New South Wales Rugby League
grand final
. He went on to tour Australia and New Zealand and made an appearance on the Strictly Ballroom soundtrack
singing "Time After Time
" with Tara Morice
. In 1996 he began coaching promising young Australian performers before again becoming involved in television, coaching Popstars
performers for the Seven Network
including the female pop group Bardot and culled hopefuls for Network Ten
’s Australian Idol
.
In 2005, Todd Hunter
of the New Zealand rock band Dragon
asked Williams to join the newly reformed band and in 2006 the new line up released ‘Sunshine to Rain’ through Liberation Music
. They have been touring ever since.
Williams currently lives in Sydney
and is working on material for another album.
" continues to be recognised as an inspirational song and is still used by many as a motivational anthem. It consistently features as a staple track on Australian Football League
and National Rugby League
CD compilations.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer with Recording Industry Association of New Zealand
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand
The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...
(RIANZ) number one hit singles, "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life" (1975) and a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore
It Doesn't Matter Anymore
"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" is a pop ballad written by Paul Anka and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958. The song reached #13 as a posthumous hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in early 1959 shortly after Holly was killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The single was a two-sided hit, backed...
" (1977) before he relocated to Australia later that year. His single, "Show No Mercy
Show No Mercy (Mark Williams song)
Show No Mercy is a single taken from the 1990 album Mark Williams ZNZ by Mark Williams. It proved to be the most successful Australian song of his career, reaching #9 on the Australian charts...
" (1990) was a top ten hit in both countries. He has undertaken extensive touring in support of numerous Australian bands and worked in television, in 2005 he became the vocalist for the reformed New Zealand/Australian band, Dragon
Dragon (band)
Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
.
Early years
Williams was born in the Northland region of New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and at 16 started up a band called ‘The Face’ with fellow classmates. The band went on to win the Northland heat of the National Battle of the Bands competition in September 1970, and finished third overall in the grand final held in Auckland in the new year.
One of the judges at the final was Lew Pryme, and he recognised the potential of the group and became their manager. A single "Hangin' Around"/"Mr Postman" was released in 1972 on Zodiac and a national tour followed. In 1973, Mack Tane left and he was replaced by Bruce Robinson, previously of the Pleazers, Troubled Mind and Flinders.
When the television show "Happen Inn" finished in 1973, a new show emerged. It was called "Free Ride" and was hosted by Ray Columbus. Lew convinced Williams to leave the Face and pursue a solo career at the time the new show was being launched. Whilst becoming a featured artist on the show, "Free Ride" will always be remembered for launching the career of Williams.
Solo career
Late in 1974 Williams was signed to EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
by Alan Galbraith. A single was released at the end of 1974, "Celebration"/"Let Love Come Between Us", but it was another song from the recording sessions that really stood out. Alan Galbraith had taken a "Vanda and Young" song, originally destined for Craig Scott, and given it a new arrangement. The song "Yesterday Was Just The Beginning Of My Life" backed with "Jimmy Loves Marianne" was released in May 1975 and within 6 weeks was number one on the National Charts, staying there for 3 weeks and eventually falling out of the charts 6 months later.
Williams' debut self-titled album
Mark Williams (album)
Mark Williams is the self titled debut album of New Zealand born singer Mark Williams. It was released in June 1975 a year after being signed to EMI by Alan Galbraith. The album peaked at number 2, remaining on the album charts for 30 weeks. It quickly went gold and went on to become New Zealand's...
came out in June and peaked at number 2, remaining on the album charts for 30 weeks. It quickly went gold and went on to be New Zealand's best selling pop/rock album of the seventies. Whilst the album contained many excellent songs, surprisingly no further singles came from it. The next single was "Sweet Wine"/"Who Do You Think You Are" and released in November 1975. It reached number 7 on the charts. Early in 1976, Lew Pryme took Williams on a visit to Australia. The trip was not very successful and on their return to New Zealand, Pryme and Williams parted company. A second album "Sweet Trials
Sweet Trials
Sweet Trials is the follow-up release to the self titled debut album of New Zealand-born singer Mark Williams. It was released in 1975 with the single "If It Rains"/"Morning Sun Upon A Mountain" taken from the album. Despite the release of a subsequent single, the album was not as successful as...
" was released along with his third single, "If It Rains"/"Morning Sun Upon A Mountain" taken from the album. Also including his second single, the album was not as successful, only reaching number 14 on the album charts, while the third single fared worse, entering the charts at 25 and only staying in the charts for one week.
With Williams' popularity on the decline, which critics put down to the lack of good material featured on second album, the subsequent national tour only attracted medium sized crowds. In late 1976 the single "Taking It All In Stride"/"Why Can't We Be Lovers" was released. It peaked at number 14 and gave some much-needed airplay. A second boost to his career came about with the release of his third album "Taking It All In Stride
Taking It All In Stride
Taking It All In Stride is the third studio album by New Zealand-born singer Mark Williams released in 1977. It contains the single, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"/"True Love ". A cover of the old Buddy Holly classic, the song went to number one, giving Williams his second chart topper. Although...
" in June 1977. It contained the single "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"/"True Love (Is Never Easy)". A superb cover of the old Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
classic, the song went to number one, giving Mark his second chart topper. Although certified Gold, the album didn’t chart any higher than his second, it stayed around much longer and was well received by the record buying public. It also contained a fine duet with Sharon O'Neill
Sharon O'Neill
-Albums:*1979 - This Heart This Song*1980 - Sharon O'Neill*1980 - Words*1981 - Maybe*1983 - Foreign Affairs*1983 - Smash Palace *1984 - So Far - The Best 14...
called "If There's Still A Little Love" and this was released as a single with "Love Is Forever" as a B side.
Success Abroad
With his EMI contract about to expire, Williams decided leave the shores of New Zealand in pursuit of an international standing in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. With him came Alan Galbraith, his new manager and producer of his three albums. Alan had recently taken up a new position with CBS Australia. After Williams's departure, EMI released the obligatory "Greatest Hits" album late in 1977.
In the years to follow he had quickly established himself in the lucrative session world of Sydney singing many radio and TV commercials and become a favoured back up vocalist on albums by major Australian talent, Renee Geyer
Renée Geyer
Renée Rebecca Geyer is an Australian singer who has long been regarded as one of the finest exponents of jazz, soul and R&B idioms. She had commercial success as a solo artist in Australia, with "It's a Man's Man's World", "Heading in the Right Direction" and "Stares and Whispers" in the 1970s and...
, Jenny Morris, Eurogliders
Eurogliders
Eurogliders were an Indie pop band formed in 1981 in Perth, Western Australia, which included mainstays Grace Knight on vocals and Bernie Lynch on guitar and vocals. The band was originally formed by Bernie Lynch and Amanda Vincent under the name Living Single. After almost a year, Grace Knight...
, Ian Moss
Ian Moss
Ian Moss is an Australian rock musician, best known as the guitarist and occasional singer of Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were No. 1 national hits. His solo career began with a No. 1 album and single and five ARIA Awards...
, Richard Clapton
Richard Clapton
Richard Clapton is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Sydney, New South Wales. His solo top 20 hits on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart are "Girls on the Avenue" and "I Am an Island"...
, The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
and Sharon O`Neil. It wasn’t until 1980 that his Australian album was released called ‘Life after Dark’, which spawned two singles.
Williams also formed a Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
based band called Boy Rocking signed to CBS. The band would go on to released two Australian singles. In 1988 on the verge of touring with the musical ‘Cats’, Mark made an eleventh hour decision to instead tour with the Ian Moss band for the hugely successful ‘Matchbook’ tour. 1989 would see Williams break into television singing the theme song for the hit Australian soap Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
with Karen Boddington.
Williams soon attempted to replicate the fully-fledged successful solo career he experienced in New Zealand. He was signed to Albert Productions (released through Sony) and began working on new material with Harry Vanda
Harry Vanda
Harry Vanda , is a Dutch-born Australian popular music singer, guitarist, songwriter and record producer.-Career:...
and George Young of The Easybeats
The Easybeats
The Easybeats were an Australian rock and roll band. They formed in Sydney in late 1964 and broke up at the end of 1969. They are regarded as the greatest Australian pop band of the 1960s, and were the first Australian rock and roll act to score an international pop hit with their 1966 single...
.
1990 saw the release of the album Mark Williams ZNZ, which featured perhaps his best-known song, "Show No Mercy
Show No Mercy (Mark Williams song)
Show No Mercy is a single taken from the 1990 album Mark Williams ZNZ by Mark Williams. It proved to be the most successful Australian song of his career, reaching #9 on the Australian charts...
". Gone was the silky voice; it was a completely different sounding Williams. The song went platinum and was chosen to launch the 1990 New South Wales Rugby League
New South Wales Rugby League
The New South Wales Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby League. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League until 1984 when forward thinking marketing managers decided...
grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
. He went on to tour Australia and New Zealand and made an appearance on the Strictly Ballroom soundtrack
Strictly Ballroom (soundtrack)
Strictly Ballroom is the original soundtrack of the 1992 Golden Globe-nominated film Strictly Ballroom starring Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Barry Otto and Pat Thomson...
singing "Time After Time
Time after Time (Cyndi Lauper song)
"Time After Time" is a song by American singer Cyndi Lauper, released as the second single from her album She's So Unusual. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on June 9, 1984, and remained there for two weeks...
" with Tara Morice
Tara Morice
Tara Morice is an Australian actress, singer, and dancer.Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Morice also lived in Sydney, Alice Springs and Adelaide as a child...
. In 1996 he began coaching promising young Australian performers before again becoming involved in television, coaching Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
performers for the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
including the female pop group Bardot and culled hopefuls for Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
’s Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
.
In 2005, Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter
Todd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"...
of the New Zealand rock band Dragon
Dragon (band)
Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
asked Williams to join the newly reformed band and in 2006 the new line up released ‘Sunshine to Rain’ through Liberation Music
Liberation Music
Liberation Music is a boutique, independent Australasian record company, started in 1999 by Michael Gudinski and Warren Costello. Its stated aim is to find, nurture and then to develop new talent for a world market while remaining independent in the process...
. They have been touring ever since.
Williams currently lives in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and is working on material for another album.
Legacy
Even today, his most popular hit "Show No MercyShow No Mercy (Mark Williams song)
Show No Mercy is a single taken from the 1990 album Mark Williams ZNZ by Mark Williams. It proved to be the most successful Australian song of his career, reaching #9 on the Australian charts...
" continues to be recognised as an inspirational song and is still used by many as a motivational anthem. It consistently features as a staple track on Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
CD compilations.
Albums
- Mark WilliamsMark Williams (album)Mark Williams is the self titled debut album of New Zealand born singer Mark Williams. It was released in June 1975 a year after being signed to EMI by Alan Galbraith. The album peaked at number 2, remaining on the album charts for 30 weeks. It quickly went gold and went on to become New Zealand's...
(1975) - Sweet TrialsSweet TrialsSweet Trials is the follow-up release to the self titled debut album of New Zealand-born singer Mark Williams. It was released in 1975 with the single "If It Rains"/"Morning Sun Upon A Mountain" taken from the album. Despite the release of a subsequent single, the album was not as successful as...
(1975) - Taking It All In StrideTaking It All In StrideTaking It All In Stride is the third studio album by New Zealand-born singer Mark Williams released in 1977. It contains the single, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"/"True Love ". A cover of the old Buddy Holly classic, the song went to number one, giving Williams his second chart topper. Although...
(1977) - Life After DarkLife After DarkLife After Dark is the first Australian studio album by Mark Williams released in 1980. It marked his first attempt to duplicate the highly successful solo career he achieved back in his home country of New Zealand...
(1980) - Mark Williams ZNZMark Williams ZNZMark Williams ZNZ is the 1990 follow up to Mark Williams first Australian album Life After Dark, the albums being released 10 years apart. The album proved to be far more commercially accessible than its predecessor spawning the hit single, "Show no Mercy", his most recognizable and well-known song...
(1990) - Mind over Matter (1992)
Singles
- "Celebration / Let Love Come Between Us" (1974)
- "Yesterday Was Just The Beginning Of My Life" (1975) [NZ #1]
- "Sweet Wine / Who Do You Think You Are" (1975) [NZ #7]
- "If It Rains / Morning Sun Upon A Mountain" (1976) [NZ #25]
- "Taking It All In Stride / Why Can't We Be Lovers" (1976) [NZ #14]
- "It Doesn't Matter Anymore / True Love (Is Never Easy)" (1977) [NZ #1]
- "If There's Still A Little Love (feat. Sharon O'Neill)" (1977)
- "House For Sale / Love Is Forever" (1977) [NZ #13]
- "Wanna Give You My Love / Your Mama Won't Mind" (1978)
- "I Don't Want You Anymore / Now That You're Gone" (1979)
- "Show no Mercy / You're So CoolShow No Mercy (Mark Williams song)Show No Mercy is a single taken from the 1990 album Mark Williams ZNZ by Mark Williams. It proved to be the most successful Australian song of his career, reaching #9 on the Australian charts...
" (1990) [AUS #9] - "Fix of Love / Your Love" (1990) [AUS #37]
- "Spell Is Broken / Fool No More" (1990)
Compilations
- Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Mark Williams album)Mark Williams' Greatest Hits album was released in 1977 following the expiry of his contract with EMI. This marked the point in his career upon which he decided to follow Alan Galbraith, his new manager and producer of his first three albums, to Australia....
(1977) - The Very Best ofThe Very Best of (Mark Williams album)The Very Best Of is a greatest hits compilation spanning the length of Mark Williams' singing career. Released in 1999, it contains all his major hits, including "Show No Mercy". To date, it is his last album release before working on television, coaching young and up-starting singers and working...
(1999)
Awards
- 1975 - Top Male Vocalist
- 1975 - Recorded Performance of the Year for "’Yesterday Was Just The Beginning Of My Life’
- 1976 - Top Male Vocalist
- 1976 - Engineer and Arranger of the Year for ‘Taking It All In Stride’