Dame Kiri mourns the loss of 'true knight' and musical icon

Dame Kiri

With the death of Sir Howard Morrison "we have lost a true knight", says Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

Speaking from Britain last night, Dame Kiri said she joined with New Zealand's tremendous sense of loss at the man who was "already an icon while I was still at school".

Sir Howard was the first Maori entertainer Dame Kiri knew of who ventured overseas and created success for himself in distant places.

"He was an inspiration to me, that this was possible to do. I used to watch him on television and knew he had magic, and later when I would meet him, his quick wit and exuberant manners would light up a room, or a stage.

"The one time I sang with him in concert, his tenor voice was as fresh and full as I'd heard it on records. There was no artifice in his style. He was an absolute natural - engaging, elegant and funny.

"He brought pleasure to thousands of New Zealanders and was particularly great for Maoridom. He brought hope and inspiration to many in his work among his people. We have lost a true knight."

Gray Bartlett, Sir Howard's musical director, said the moment Sir Howard made How Great Thou Art his own in front of Queen Elizabeth was indelibly fixed in his memory.

Bartlett, who was in the wings when the hymn became a Kiwi classic at a Royal Command Performance in the 1980s, regards the performance as one of the defining moments of Sir Howard's career. "He really nailed it.

"It was just magic. The cascade of notes he used in the chorus part was spine-tingling. Howard had a wonderful ability to connect with emotions and the audience and that's the difference between a great singer and a great entertainer."

John Rowles was also there that night. The two musical heavyweights had clashed over who would share top billing, he said.

"We had some egotistical moments. I thought 'I'm the big star with a No 1 hit record in Hawaii and the UK'. I thought I won the battle but he got the big massive hit song and so, at the end of the day, he won."

Dame Malvina Major struck up a friendship with the singer more than a decade ago, when Sir Howard approached her with the idea of double heading A Knight With a Dame.

Amigos Para Siempre was a duet the pair loved to sing, she said.

"Oh, sometimes we'd be singing a duet and and I'd notice he'd stop. I'd look around and he'd be looking at me as if to say 'oh, that was lovely', and then he'd join back in."

He was, she said, a loveable rogue.

"You had to be on your toes with him, you never knew what he'd do on stage."

That Sir Howard often shot from the lip was an ingrained part of who he was, friends said.

Entertainer Frankie Stevens said that over 35 years they often clashed.

"He was a very opinionated, strong-willed and talented individual - we debated at different times but all throughout those times the aroha was very strong."

Billionaire Owen Glenn, who has diabetes, was trying to get the okay from doctors yesterday to fly back to New Zealand by Monday for the tangi.

The pair became friends this decade when Sir Howard sang at the 25th anniversary of Mr Glenn's business, Strategic Logistics Group in Las Vegas.

Politicians also paid their respects yesterday. In New York, Prime Minister John Key said he was saddened to hear of the loss, while Labour leader Phil Goff said Sir Howard had been a legend for generations of Kiwis and would be missed by all.

Associate Minister of Maori Affairs Georgina te Heuheu said: "New Zealand has lost one of its most ardent and true sons and one of its most influential leaders.

"His contribution to New Zealand is significant and enduring. He was a man who walked easily in both worlds, admired in both, a rangatira of great mana, a gentleman and true knight of the realm."