The Howickian is from London originally, from the north-west suburbs that produced globe-charting musicians such as Ray Davies and The Kinks and The Who when he was growing up there.
The music enthusiast, songwriter and singer has been a presenter on Howick Village Radio (88.1FM) since it began last year, with his Buried Treasure show on Wednesdays (7-9pm) and Saturday’s Budget Breakfast (8am-noon).
And last week, introduced by singing Mayor Len Brown, Mr King, the business and engineering manager for Manukau company Temperzone, sang for his city in the national karaoke championships on Triangle and Stratos TV show The Beat Goes On, the popular information and entertainment programme for baby boomers and over-50s fronted by the charismatic Gerard Smith, of 1970s chart-topping New Zealand group The Rumour.
Q: What role has radio played in your music learning?
A: From about the age of 13 when I got my first transistor radio and listening to the BBC’s Light Programme, it has been a huge part of my life. The Light Programme had so few programmes to listen to I used to make a point of tuning into Easy Beat, Saturday Club and Pick Of The Pops.
The alternative in those days was Radio Luxembourg, which was only on in the evening and used to fade in an out. I sat there turning the radio round to try to get better reception. Then the pirate radio stations came on the scene and I tuned in to Radio Caroline and Radio London and became a great fan of Kenny Everett and John Peel.
Q: In the karaoke champs, why did you sing Procol Harum’s Whiter Shade of Pale?
A: I was trying to think of a song from the 1960s and that was an iconic song. I thought it necessary to sing something people knew and easily identified with. It was a bit harder than I expected. You forget you have to contend with nerves in front of a camera, so the high notes stretched me a little.
Q: A Danish guitarist friend says Procol Harum is the best concert he’s seen – and he saw Jimi Hendrix and The Who in Copenhagen in the late 1960s. Did you see them and how did you rate them?
A: No, one act I’ve never seen other than on DVD. I have seen a lot of acts in my time, The Who several times, the Rolling Stones’ Hyde Park concert – I was there, The Beatles, just once. Procol Harum are a great progressive rock band and one of my favourites from that era.
Q: Who were some of the best music acts and concerts you’ve seen?
A: Oh wow. Roger Waters last year is top of the list. Pink Floyd, of course, Paul McCartney and Genesis, both at Western Springs, Dire Straits.
Q: What instruments do you play?
A: Rhythm guitar mainly and I dabble with keyboards.
A: Yes. There was a moment in time in 1968 when Manfred Mann were going to record one of my songs, but because I dithered about giving them an answer I missed out. They went on to record Ha Ha Said The Clown.
In New Zealand, I was a member of Tramp in the early 1970s, when we did Studio One New Faces and sang one of my songs. Steve Gilpin of Mi-Sex won that year. I sang one of my own songs on Threshold Promotion Company, a TV talent show in 1980, and also had one of my songs Foolish Heart as a finalist in the TV show Song For The Pacific also in 1980.
Q: Why did you decide to come and live in New Zealand?
A: I met my future wife Lorraine in London when she was on a working holiday from New Zealand. We became engaged and I followed her back once I had got myself a job, part of the ten pounds sterling immigrant brigade. It cost me more to ship my musical gear!
Q: How did you get involved in Howick Village Radio (88.1FM)?
A: Always fancied being a DJ and with the musical knowledge and history I have, along came anopportunity to share this. I probably waffle too much though!
I saw an ad in the Times and thought why not. Community radio doesn’t have the narrow confines of playing within a strict playlist/genre. That’s very limiting.
Q: What is Buried Treasure all about?
A: Playing the songs mainstream radio ignores, the lesser known hits or near-misses by predominantly well-known artists. So many songs you hear time and time again, while there’s so much material almost as good that gets buried, lost, forgotten – hence the title.
To see his performance of Whiter Shade of Pale and vote for Tony King, Manukau’s representative in the national karaoke championships for baby boomers and people over 50, go to www.thebeatgoeson.co.nz. To vote for him, phone 0900-76544. The Beat Goes On screens on Stratos and Triangle TV on Monday nights.
