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Ricky May Special
Television (Full Length) – 1983
Onehunga born jazz and cabaret singer Ricky May hosts his own New Zealand TV special, after 20 years of performing in Sydney. With help from special guests including Norman Erskine, Susan Dalzell and Jamie Rigg, May and company turn in polished big band versions of standards including ‘Running Bear’, ‘Hit The Road Jack’ and ‘Mack the Knife’. The show is long on music and short on patter, but May does talk about how he explains his Māori heritage to overseas audiences. He acknowledges those origins with a medley of ‘Pokarekare Ana’ and ‘Hoki Mai’. Ricky May died in June 1988.
Key Cast & Crew
Rob Gillies
Tony Baker
Selwyn Feary
Ricky May
Jeff Bennet
Graeme Henderson
Acknowledgements
NZ On Screen acknowledges the talent and performers for allowing NZ On Screen to reproduce this title on this website.
Music
Band members include Mike Walker (piano), Billy Kristian (bass guitar), Tuhi Timoti (guitar), Billy Nuku (drums), Brian Smith (saxophone), Murray Tanner (trumpet), Merv Thomas (trombone), Pete O'Gara (trombone)
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