Al Hunter (singer) explained

Al Hunter
Birth Name:Alan Keith Hunter
Origin:Pukemiro, New Zealand
Instrument:Vocals, guitar
Genre:Country
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Years Active:1970s-present
Website:http://www.glenmoffatt.com/al_hunter.htm

Al Hunter is a New Zealand country music singer-songwriter whose debut album, Neon Cowboy, released in 1987, "made country hip".[1]

Hunter was a soul singer in such Auckland bands of the late 1960s and '70s as Killing Floor, Cruise Lane, Chapeaux and the Hunter McCallum Band before embracing country music.

His debut album was produced by Stuart Pearce and Dave Marett on a budget CBS had provided for a single. It was recorded in Australia at Greystoke Music Studios and included contributions from Dave Dobbyn. Hunter's following two albums were released by Pagan in the 1990s.

New Zealand rock historian John Dix wrote, "Wellington had the Warratahs; Auckland had the indomitable Al Hunter. In 1993 Pagan released The Singer, cementing Hunter's rep as a genuine country rock talent."[2]

Eight tracks from Hunter's 1997 release Cold Hard Winter reappeared on the compilation album Troubadours – NZ Singer-Songwriter Series: Vol 1, which also featured eight tracks each from Glen Moffatt and Red McKelvie.

Discography

Albums
Date of releaseTitleLabelChartedCertificationCatalog Number
1987Neon Cowboy CBS/Pagan (reissue)PACD 1098 435 7982
1993The Singer PaganPACD 1094 / 4357942
1997Cold Hard Winter PaganPACD 1135 (8444822)
2009Troubadours – NZ Singer-Songwriter Series: Vol 1 – Glen Moffatt, Al Hunter, Red McKelvieSDL MusicSDL8044/2

Notes and References

  1. Graham Reid, "A Kiwi rock'n'roll primer", The New Zealand Herald, 26 May 2003
  2. [John Dix (music historian)|John Dix]