The Howard Morrison Quartet by John Berry Think of any shearing shed or freezing-works in New Zealand. A young Maori begins to strum a ukelele during “smoko” and sings a popular song. “Isn't he beaut,” say his work-mates. “He ought to be on the stage. He could really go places.” Could he? It's possible. But the truth is that it takes a lot more than the Maori's natural sense of harmony and rhythm to achieve fame, or even moderate success, in show business. It takes concentration, self-discipline, will to work hard—and long, wearying hours of practice. And it is against that background that the Howard Morrison Quartet from Rotorua has become one of the leading show business acts in Australia or New Zealand. Their successes have included frequent television appearances in Sydney and Melbourne and in plush Australian night-clubs, a guest spot (on film) in the Dinah Shore TV show on the American NBC network, and tours with Lonnie Donegan, the Kingston Trio and the Everly brothers. Because New Zealanders take Maoris' natural musical talent for granted, the Morrisons' astonishing progress in two or three years is inclined to be under-rated. Indeed, it is doubly to the credit of Howard Morrison, Gerry Merito, Wi Wharekura and Noel King that their precise stage movement and tight vocal harmony give an impression of being unrehearsed. Howard Morrison is the group's leader in the fullest sense of the word. Quite often young singers get together for a talent quest or concert performance and then, after brief success, go their separate ways. It is Howard's personality and leadership that have held the quartet together as a closely-knit, happy unit since it won a Christmas carnival competition in Rotorua five years ago. Howard, who was educated at Te Aute College, is proud of the Arawa blood in his veins and takes a keen interest in hakas and action songs. The group's recordings of Maori songs have always been in good taste, and on stage they avoid the pitfall of attempting to “Maori-ize” their act. Before the lure of music drew him into show business, Howard was a lands officer in the Maori Affairs Department at Rotorua. He was also a keen Rugby player, following in the tradition of his late father, Tom Morrison, a former Maori All Black. Despite the heavy demands on his time today—recording sessions, tours, rehearsals—Howard is still athletically minded, keeps fit with a strict schedule of exercises and never misses even a fleeting opportunity to visit his home town of Rotorua and to march off into the bush to stalk deer or hunt pigs. Gerry Merito, whom American satirist Stan Freberg rated the best acoustic guitarist in New Zealand, learned his music in tragic circumstances. As a small boy, he contracted a bone disease in one leg and spent more than 10 long years confined to a hospital bed. With time lying heavily upon him, Gerry quickly became an expert guitarist and spent hours entertaining his fellow-patients, accompanying himself in Maori and “pop” songs. On his discharge from hospital, completely recovered except for a slight limp, Gerry joined the lands staff of the Maori Affairs Department and it was there that he became an inseparable companion (and musical partner) of Howard. Apart from his vital guitar backing, Gerry is invaluable in the quartet as a comic lyricist. When it comes to a parody or a new twist to the words of an old song, Gerry has the answers. Wi Wharekura is the only man who has joined the quartet twice. He was a foundation member, but left when the group made its first visit to Australia, to take up a teaching career. At Auckland Teachers' Training College he studied art, but still found time for singing, and to become a champion hurdler. When the quartet returned from Australia, Wi rejoined and decided on entertainment as his life's work. The “baby” of the group is Noel King. But though he is small of stature, he has a big bass voice which has been an important asset to the quartet. He says his hobbies are boxing and wrestling (‘but purely as a spectator’). One of the most astonishing things about the