Got Texas Waltz and Western Swing, A little Country schmaltz and some Line Dancing, Got Rockabilly, Boogie, and we’ve got “the King”, We’re doing our Stetson thing.
That verse from the North Harbour Rockers Band’s self-penned “Stetson Hat”, composed especially for the Stetson Club’s New Year dance, pretty well sums up the eclectic, crowd-pleasing mix of styles on offer – a product of band members’ era-spanning age range and varied musical backgrounds, influences and interests.
This North Shore-based outfit came together as a scratch foursome in late 2007 to play the Christmas dance for Ann Bagnall’s North Harbour Rockers Rock & Roll dance group. Hence, the one-night-stand name that stuck.
Addition of lead guitar and keyboards in early 2008, coupled with a regular rehearsal programme, set the group up with a more complete and versatile sound (including instrumentals), a rapidly growing country/classic jukebox repertoire and a readiness to take on more gigs.
In short order, the North Harbour Rockers Band picked up dance dates both locally and out-of- town. In its first appearance at the Stetson Club, the group’s country-rock mix went down well, leading to follow-up bookings (including selection for the club’s New Year’s Eve 2008-9 event).
With a repertoire embracing ’50s & ’60s Jukebox Hits, Classic & Contemporary Country, and Country Rock, the North Harbour Rockers Band can custom-tailor its sets to provide great dancing and singalong fun for private functions, theme dances or public events.
Doug Kitchen
Doug was born into the rock’n'roll revolution of the fifties and sixties so early rock’n'roll and country are well embedded in his life.
He enjoys both singing rock’n'roll and dancing to it. Doug has been involved in country music and performed in a number of concerts over the last 10 years.
Doug does a fair Dean Martin impersonation, and says he particularly loves the up-tempo stuff.
Ross Tizard
Ross grew up in a musical family and had some limited experience in musicals before picking up a guitar in his mid-teens. He has also played bass for many years since.
He appreciates great songwriting and vocal arrangements and has been influenced by varied artists, including Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees, and even Abba in their day!
He has judged at youth talent quests and one of his favourite TV shows is still American Idol where he can normally pick the winner well before the end. His “mid-life crisis” has allowed him to sing and play country rock these days and his favourite country artists are Alan Jackson and Vince Gill.
Graham Gibson
Son of a dance band pianist, “Gibbo” at 14 swapped piano/theory lessons for a 5-minute guitar book and helped form a skiffle group that soon went “electric” and became popular on the Auckland teen dance scene.
He later did some recording session work and briefly played rhythm guitar with a few other outfits before deciding to focus on his PR/advertising career, which would include jingle writing/production and corporate show creation.
Later-life gigging with a reunion outfit spurred him to invest in some new gear and try and remember all those classics from his teens. A veteran of the pre-Beatles era, Gibbo cites The Shadows, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Scotty Moore, James Burton, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly among his countless musical influences.
Mike Jensen
Mike is a classically trained pianist who branched out into contemporary styles in his teens. He cites a wide range of influences, from old-time blues piano masters to rock to modern electronic styles.
He has played in many bands over the years and currently plays with blues band Riverhead Slide as well as North Harbour Rockers.
Having missed the Rock’n'Roll era the first time around, Mike brings his own sometimes unique interpretation to these classic tunes.
Bob Cleal
Bob has played with various bands and musicians around the Auckland Music scene from Country Rock to Jazz and Rock’n'Roll and currently plays in the Southern Country Band as well as The North Harbour Rockers Band.
Bob has always had an interest in drums as his parents well remember him playing on pots and pans from an early age. He bought his first drum kit at fifteen and has never stopped wanting to play since.
Alex Constable