Mr Lee Grant home again

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33413, 20 December 1973, Page 5

Mr Lee Grant home again

New Zealand’s pop idol of the mid-19605, Mr Lee Grant, has arrived back in his home town of Palmerston North after nearly six years.

He is back for a two month holiday to see his parents, but he has been offered singing engagements which, he says, could keep him busy in New Zealand for at least the next two years. However, he will work only for some of his two months here.

He left for Britain soon after receiving golden disc and entertainer of the year awards in 1967 for his song “Thanks to You.”

“When I first arrived ini Britain,” he says, “it was! difficult for people from here and Australia to make a name for themselves. Apart from John Rowles, 1 was the only other New Zealand singer.

“The difference between; singing in the two coun-i tries is that in New Zea-; land you can make a hit; song one day and the next! day can go out digging po-; tatoes. In Britain you make a hit song and you could! receive up to $1000.” He has done fairly well in Britain, but there were times when he found the going tough financially. At one stage he used to" tear the stamps off his New Zealand fan mail and sell them to survive. “But it is not like that now.”

His latest single, which has been released to coincide with his visit, includes a song by Eddie Stevens.