Russell Harrison
Encyclopedia
Russell Harrison is a New Zealand
television presenter
, vocalist and musician
, best known as presenter for the televised weekly Lotto draw.
Other roles as TV host have included Arnott's Dreams Come True (Eyeworks Touchdown, TV3, 1999) and the Steinlager
Rugby Awards (TV ONE, 1998).
Harrison also appared in the TV2 game show, The Singing Bee
as one of the lead singers.
His film debut came in 1999, when he played a minor (uncredited) role in Ian Mune's
film What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.] Ace Management. 2003. Accessed 2009-05-30
and RNB
.
He first became widely known in New Zealand when joined the Howard Morrison Quartet
in 1993. He later had a successful run on TV talent quest Showcase (TVNZ, TV ONE, 1998), reaching the semi-finals.
He later formed a vocal quartet, Russell Harrison and the Brown Brothers, which has performed on primetime national television several times (Saturday Big Night In, TVNZ, TV ONE, 2001). Link
Harrison began his solo career in 2006, releasing the single Why You Wanna, with an accompanying promo video. Link
He has been a guest performer with Billy Washington's The Drifters
(link) (one of the several splinter groups of the original doo-wop
band which continue to tour today), Sir Howard Morrison
, Rob Guest
, Tina Cross, Jackie Clarke
and Temuera Morrison
.
In 2009 Harrison participated in a celebrity boxing match fighting Tawera Nikau
to assist youth to pursue their boxing careers.
After the devastating Samoan tsunami in 2009, Harrison joined forces with Donna Grant and assisted in the set up the Sir Howard Morrison Tsunami Relief Project
New 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...
television presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, vocalist and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as presenter for the televised weekly Lotto draw.
Film and Television Career
Harrison has been the main presenter for the New Zealand Lotteries Lotto draw, broadcast weekly on TV2, since 2000.Other roles as TV host have included Arnott's Dreams Come True (Eyeworks Touchdown, TV3, 1999) and the Steinlager
Steinlager
Steinlager is a lager-style beer brewed by Lion Nathan in Newmarket, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It has won several prizes, notably at beer competitions in the United States, and is New Zealand's biggest export beer.- History :In 1957 the New Zealand Minister of Finance, Arnold Nordmeyer...
Rugby Awards (TV ONE, 1998).
Harrison also appared in the TV2 game show, The Singing Bee
The Singing Bee
The Singing Bee may refer to the game show franchise:* The Singing Bee , the original US version* The Singing Bee , the Australian version* The Singing Bee , Philippines version...
as one of the lead singers.
His film debut came in 1999, when he played a minor (uncredited) role in Ian Mune's
Ian Mune
Ian Barry Mune, OBE is a New Zealand character actor and director. He co-wrote and starred in Roger Donaldson's first film, Sleeping Dogs. He also directed Came a Hot Friday, which featured comedian Billy T. James as the Tainui Kid, and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, the sequel to Once Were...
film What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.] Ace Management. 2003. Accessed 2009-05-30
Music career
As a musician, Harrison is best known as a vocalist, in which he performs in a wide range of styles, most prominently soulSoul 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...
and RNB
RNB
RNB is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* Nankai Broadcasting – , a broadcasting station in Ehime Prefecture, Japan* Rhythm and blues* Contemporary R&B* Russian National Library...
.
He first became widely known in New Zealand when joined the Howard Morrison Quartet
Howard Morrison Quartet
The Howard Morrison Quartet was a New Zealand band during the 1950s and early 1960s. The band was formed by Sir Howard Morrison and included Gerry Merito, Wi Wharekura and Noel Kingi....
in 1993. He later had a successful run on TV talent quest Showcase (TVNZ, TV ONE, 1998), reaching the semi-finals.
He later formed a vocal quartet, Russell Harrison and the Brown Brothers, which has performed on primetime national television several times (Saturday Big Night In, TVNZ, TV ONE, 2001). Link
Harrison began his solo career in 2006, releasing the single Why You Wanna, with an accompanying promo video. Link
He has been a guest performer with Billy Washington's The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
(link) (one of the several splinter groups of the original doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
band which continue to tour today), Sir Howard Morrison
Howard Morrison
Sir Howard Leslie Morrison, OBE, was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009 he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers.-Early life:...
, Rob Guest
Rob Guest
Robert John Guest, OBE was a British born New Zealand-Australian actor and singer, best known for his work in Australian musical theatre, particularly in various productions of The Phantom of the Opera...
, Tina Cross, Jackie Clarke
Jackie Clarke
Jackie Clarke is a well known New Zealand entertainer, singer and comedian. She is best known for her judging role on New Zealand Idol in 2005.-Television:* Judge for the second season of NZ Idol * Showcase - 1997...
and Temuera Morrison
Temuera Morrison
Temuera Derek Morrison is a New Zealand-born actor. He has become one of the country's most famous stars for his roles as the abusive Jake "the Muss" Heke in 1994's Once Were Warriors and as bounty hunter Jango Fett and the Clone Troopers in the Star Wars series...
.
Community Work
Harrison is involved in a variety of community work.In 2009 Harrison participated in a celebrity boxing match fighting Tawera Nikau
Tawera Nikau
Tawera Nuieia Nikau is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including the Melbourne Storm's victory...
to assist youth to pursue their boxing careers.
After the devastating Samoan tsunami in 2009, Harrison joined forces with Donna Grant and assisted in the set up the Sir Howard Morrison Tsunami Relief Project