Richard Ernest May (22 November 1943 â€" 1 June 1988) was a New
Zealand-born jazz singer and musician, best known for singing cover
versions of numerous pop songs or jazz standards. He moved to
Australia in 1962 where he worked mainly in theatre and cabaret and
had TV appearances on The Don Lane Show, The Midday Show and Hey Hey
It's Saturday, as well as hosting his own show, Ten on the Town
(1966).May was born as Richard Ernest May in New Zealand in Onehunga,
Auckland of MÄ ori descent. His father, Keith May, was a jazz band
leader and played alto saxophone. May grew up with siblings and from
the age of 15 he performed at Picasso, a café, night club in
Auckland. Apart from vocals, May played drums and piano but generally
worked as a variety entertainer. He would introduce unconventional
vocalisations, improvisation and the spoken-word into performance.In
1961 jazz pianist, Ronnie Smith, set up a group to play at the
Sorrento Club, Wellington. Smith's group had Tommy Tamati on bass
guitar and May joined on drums and backing vocals. May become a
regular with the group and sometimes provided lead vocals. Bruno
Lawrence, an English-born jazz musician, who was regularly in the
audience, often got up to play the drums when May sang lead. The group
worked for about a year and toured southern North Island.
Zealand-born jazz singer and musician, best known for singing cover
versions of numerous pop songs or jazz standards. He moved to
Australia in 1962 where he worked mainly in theatre and cabaret and
had TV appearances on The Don Lane Show, The Midday Show and Hey Hey
It's Saturday, as well as hosting his own show, Ten on the Town
(1966).May was born as Richard Ernest May in New Zealand in Onehunga,
Auckland of MÄ ori descent. His father, Keith May, was a jazz band
leader and played alto saxophone. May grew up with siblings and from
the age of 15 he performed at Picasso, a café, night club in
Auckland. Apart from vocals, May played drums and piano but generally
worked as a variety entertainer. He would introduce unconventional
vocalisations, improvisation and the spoken-word into performance.In
1961 jazz pianist, Ronnie Smith, set up a group to play at the
Sorrento Club, Wellington. Smith's group had Tommy Tamati on bass
guitar and May joined on drums and backing vocals. May become a
regular with the group and sometimes provided lead vocals. Bruno
Lawrence, an English-born jazz musician, who was regularly in the
audience, often got up to play the drums when May sang lead. The group
worked for about a year and toured southern North Island.
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