John Hanlon (singer) explained

John Hanlon (born 1949) is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. From 1974 to 1976, he collected three successive New Zealand Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year awards, a feat achieved by no other artist before or since, as well as the APRA Silver Scroll two years in succession.^[1]

Though Hanlon was born in Malaya, he migrated to New Zealand during the 1960s.In 1978 he then moved to Australia running Sydney ad-agency LOUD.^[2] In recent years he has moved back to New Zealand where he continues to write books and play golf.

Career

Musicians he played with include Frank Gibson Jnr., Bruce Lynch, Suzanne Lynch, Billy Kristian, Tommy Adderley, Dave MacRae and Symphonia of Auckland.

Discography

Albums

• Floating – 1973
• Garden Fresh – 1974 NZ #28
• Higher Trails – 1975 NZ #7
• Use Your Eyes – 1976
• Short Stories – 1988
• The Very Best of John Hanlon – 2003
• Just Quietly – 2009
• 12 Shades of Blue^[3] – 2010^[4]
• After The Dam Broke – 2013, a double CD, 40 song compilation,^[5] Cd1 from the 70's and CD2 from then on. All track are re-mastered.^[6]
• Naked Truths – 2021

Singles

• "Damn the Dam" – 1973. Originally made as a 2-minute radio commercial for New Zealand Fibreglass as part of a campaign to make insulation compulsory in new homes, it became very popular and was released as a single by Hanlon on condition that the profits were donated to environmental bodies. It was a NZ #5. It was adopted by the opponents of the Lake Manapouri dam.^[7]
• "Knowing" – 1973
• "Shy Ann" – 1973
• "I Care" – 1974
• "Is It Natural" – 1974
• "Lovely Lady" – 1974 NZ #1
• "Apple Wine" – 1975 NZ #6
• "Higher Trails" – 1975 NZ #35
• "Romantically Inclined" – 1982
• "Don't It Ever Get You Down" – 1988

External links

• blog and music
  • Profile at AudioCulture
• Further information on John Hanlon

Notes and References

1. News: He writes the songs . . 14 September 2013 . 1 May 2015 . Gilchrist, Shane.
2. News: The voice of a generation . . 1 September 2013 . 1 May 2015 . Steel, Gary.
3. Web site: 12 Shades of Blue (2010) – John Hanlon . John Hanlon. 14 September 2017 . 20 October 2017.
4. Web site: 12 Shades of Blue – John Hanlon . Marbecks . 20 October 2017.
5. Web site: John Hanlon: Top New Zealand Writer/singer/songwriter – Still Making Waves . . 2 September 2013 . 1 May 2015.
6. Web site: After the Dam Broke (2013) – John Hanlon . John Hanlon . 20 October 2017.
7. Web site: Damn the Dam . NZ Folksong . October 2008 . 20 October 2017.