Morrison back to his musical 'roots'

Temuera Morrison's debut album TEM will be released on Friday. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua's Temuera Morrison is going "back to his roots" with the release of his debut album.

The actor has recorded 11 renditions of his favourite songs for his album TEM.

Morrison said he grew up singing and switched to acting to go against the family grain. Growing up he performed with his family through North America and regularly in Ohinemutu.

"I grew up singing at the International Hotel [now the Holiday Inn Rotorua] with the likes of Tommy Taurima and many a time we would go back to the garden bar after concerts crooning to musicians like Sam Cooke," he said.

"I also grew up hearing my aunties singing, Uncle Howie's [Sir Howard Morrison] sisters at family get-togethers and when our nanny sang, she was our matriarch she could sing like a bird.

"Our family was totally singing dominated so I decided to be an actor, there were enough singers in my family."

Morrison's most famous roles have been Jake "the Muss" Heke in Once Were Warriors and Dr Hone Ropata in long running TV series Shortland Street. He's most recently appeared in Mt Zion and his own reality television show, The Life and Times of Temuera Morrison.

Morrison said it was from his TVNZ variety show Happy Hour that he was approached by Sony Music NZ to make an album.

"I said, 'Why not? I was working in the studio for a week and it's something you all know. It's for a more mature audience that would appreciate the music, there's songs from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Lionel Ritchie and Uncle Howard's stuff," he said.

"Music has been a big part of my life and I'm really happy I can share this record with everyone. I grew up surrounded by music, my dad used to play these classic records frequently."

Included is the Maori love song E Ipo, featuring country singer Dennis Marsh.

"I used to love doing radio work and have always loved music - there's a lot of technique and passion in this, I concentrated on the performance - it's not like I'm sitting around a fire with a guitar singing."

TEM will be available for sale on Friday. A pre-sale release can be purchased on www.amplifier.co.nz.