Jump to content

Rolf Harris: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by Boiboy69 (talk) to last version by DavidFarmbrough
No edit summary
Line 15: Line 15:
| website = [http://www.rolfharris.com/ Official site]
| website = [http://www.rolfharris.com/ Official site]
}}
}}
'''Rolf Harris''', [[Order of Australia|AO]], [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian entertainer. He is a musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter, and television personality. He has lived in the UK for more than five decades, residing in [[Bray, Berkshire]].<ref name="BBCBerkshire">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2005/12/20/rolf_harris_feature.shtml |title=BBC Berkshire A majestic painting |publisher=BBC |date=20 December 2005 |accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stephenson |first=Alison |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/rolf-harris-presented-with-officer-of-the-order-of-australia-medal/story-e6frfmqi-1226512714861#ixzz2OCouDaz4 |title=Rolf Harris presented with Officer of the Order of Australia medal |publisher=News.com.au |date=8 November 2012 |accessdate=2013-04-19}}</ref>
'''Rolf Harris''', [[Order of Australia|AO]], [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian entertainer. He is a musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter, and television personality. He has lived in the UK for more than five decades, residing in [[Bray, Berkshire]].<ref name="BBCBerkshire">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2005/12/20/rolf_harris_feature.shtml |title=BBC Berkshire A majestic painting |publisher=BBC |date=20 December 2005 |accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stephenson |first=Alison |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/rolf-harris-presented-with-officer-of-the-order-of-australia-medal/story-e6frfmqi-1226512714861#ixzz2OCouDaz4 |title=Rolf Harris presented with Officer of the Order of Australia medal |publisher=News.com.au |date=8 November 2012 |accessdate=2013-04-19}}</ref> Did this in Art^^^ rather boring


Harris, who was born and grew up in [[Perth]], Western Australia, was a champion swimmer before studying art. In 1952, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he started to draw animations for television programmes. Harris soon afterwards began a musical career, initially singing and playing the [[piano accordion]]. In 1957, he wrote "[[Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport]]", which later became a Top 10 hit in Australia, the UK and the United States. While performing in Canada he introduced a longstanding, popular routine around his song "[[Jake the Peg]]". Harris often uses unusual instruments in his performances: he plays the [[didgeridoo]], is credited with the invention of a rhythmic percussion instrument, the [[wobble board]], and is associated with the [[Stylophone]], a small electronic keyboard instrument.<ref>{{cite web|author=stylophone |url=http://www.stylophone.com/ |title=Stylophone Sales Center |publisher=Stylophone.com |date=12 January 2013 |accessdate=2013-04-19}}</ref>
Harris, who was born and grew up in [[Perth]], Western Australia, was a champion swimmer before studying art. In 1952, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he started to draw animations for television programmes. Harris soon afterwards began a musical career, initially singing and playing the [[piano accordion]]. In 1957, he wrote "[[Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport]]", which later became a Top 10 hit in Australia, the UK and the United States. While performing in Canada he introduced a longstanding, popular routine around his song "[[Jake the Peg]]". Harris often uses unusual instruments in his performances: he plays the [[didgeridoo]], is credited with the invention of a rhythmic percussion instrument, the [[wobble board]], and is associated with the [[Stylophone]], a small electronic keyboard instrument.<ref>{{cite web|author=stylophone |url=http://www.stylophone.com/ |title=Stylophone Sales Center |publisher=Stylophone.com |date=12 January 2013 |accessdate=2013-04-19}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:04, 24 June 2013

Rolf Harris, AO, CBE
Harris, November 2010
Harris, November 2010
Background information
Born (1930-03-30) 30 March 1930 (age 94)
Bassendean, Perth, Western Australia
GenresFolk, rock and roll, comedy
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter,
composer, television personality,
broadcaster, painter
Instrument(s)Vocals, stylophone, didgeridoo, wobble board, accordion
Years active1950–present
LabelsVarious
WebsiteOfficial site

Rolf Harris, AO, CBE (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian entertainer. He is a musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter, and television personality. He has lived in the UK for more than five decades, residing in Bray, Berkshire.[1][2] Did this in Art^^^ rather boring

Harris, who was born and grew up in Perth, Western Australia, was a champion swimmer before studying art. In 1952, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he started to draw animations for television programmes. Harris soon afterwards began a musical career, initially singing and playing the piano accordion. In 1957, he wrote "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport", which later became a Top 10 hit in Australia, the UK and the United States. While performing in Canada he introduced a longstanding, popular routine around his song "Jake the Peg". Harris often uses unusual instruments in his performances: he plays the didgeridoo, is credited with the invention of a rhythmic percussion instrument, the wobble board, and is associated with the Stylophone, a small electronic keyboard instrument.[3]

During the 1960s he became a popular television personality, later presenting shows including Rolf's Cartoon Club, Animal Hospital and various programmes about serious art. In 2005 he painted an official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was the subject of a special episode of Rolf on Art.

Early life

Harris was born on 30 March 1930 in the Perth suburb of Wembley Park,[4] in Perth, Western Australia. His parents were Agnes Margaret Harris (née Robbins) and Cromwell ("Crom") Harris, who had both emigrated from Cardiff, Wales and he is the nephew of Australian artist Pixie O'Harris (1903–91).[citation needed] Harris was named after Rolf Boldrewood, an Australian writer whom his mother admired.

He grew up in the suburb of Bassendean in Perth, Harris is frequently referred to as "The Boy from Bassendean".[5] As a child he owned a dog called Buster Fleabags, which he later wrote a book about (for the UK Quick Reads Initiative).[6]

Rolf Harris (14), he swam the fastest time (swimming from scratch), in the Swim through Bassendean handicap race, 27 January 1945.[7]

As an adolescent and young adult Harris was a champion swimmer.[8] In 1946 he was the Australian Junior 110 yards Backstroke Champion.[9]

He was also the Western Australian state champion over a variety of distances and strokes during the period from 1948 to 1952.[10]

Harris attended Perth Modern School in Subiaco, and the University of Western Australia.[11][12]

Whilst just 16, and still a student at Perth Modern School, his self-portrait in oils was one of the 80 works (out of 200 submitted) accepted to be hung in the Art Gallery of New South Wales as an entry in the 1947 Archibald Prize.[13] He painted a portrait of the then Lieutenant Governor of Western Australia, Sir James Mitchell, for the 1948 Archibald Prize.[14] He won the 1949 Claude Hotchin prize for oil colours with his landscape "On a May Morning, Guildford".[15]

He met his wife, the Welsh sculptress and jeweller Alwen Hughes, while they were both art students, and they married on 1 March 1958.[12][16] They have one daughter, Bindi Harris (born 10 March 1964), who studied art at Bristol Polytechnic and is now a painter.[17]

Music and art

See also: Rolf Harris discography

Harris moved to England in 1952[18] as an art student at City and Guilds Art School, Kennington, South London, at the age of 22, getting into television with the BBC in 1953, performing a regular ten-minute cartoon drawing section with a puppet called "Fuzz", made and operated on the show by magician Robert Harbin. He illustrated Robert Harbin's Paper Magic (1956). He also had a few acting roles in British television programmes and films, as Harry in The Vise, and as Pte Proudfoot in the 1955 Tommy Trinder film You Lucky People.[19]

When commercial television started in 1956, Harris was the only entertainer to work on both BBC and ITV, performing on BBC with his own creation, "Willoughby", a specially made board on which he drew Willoughby (voiced and operated by Peter Hawkins). The character would then come to life and hold a comedic dialogue with Harris as he drew cartoons of Willoughby's antics.[20]

On Associated Rediffusion he invented a character called Oliver Polip the Octopus which he drew on the back of his hand and animated, as well as illustrating Oliver's adventures with cartoons on huge sheets of card.[21]

He had drifted away from art school as a slightly disillusioned student and had luckily met his longtime hero, Australian impressionist painter Hayward Veal, who took Harris under his wing and became his mentor, teaching him the rudiments of impressionism and showing him how it could help with his portrait painting.[22]

At the same time Harris was entertaining with his piano accordion every Thursday night at a club called the Down Under, a haunt for homesick Australians and New Zealanders. Here, over the next several years, he honed his entertainment skills, eventually writing the song which was later to become his theme song, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport". He also appeared regularly at Clement Freud's Royal Court Theatre Club in Sloane Square, where he sat at the piano and entertained débutantes and their escorts.

Harris was headhunted to return to Perth when television was introduced there in 1960. There he produced and starred in five half-hour children's shows a week, as well as starring in his own weekly evening variety show. During 1960 he recorded the original version of the song that he had written for the Down Under Club in London, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" in the TVW studios in Perth, Western Australia with four local backing musicians. It was released by EMI Australia and became his first recording and his first number one. It also repeated that success in the UK. At the end of 1960 he toured Australia for Dulux paints, singing his hit song and doing huge paintings on stage with Dulux emulsion paint. While painting on stage, one of his catchphrases was, "Can you tell what it is yet?"[23]

He returned to the United Kingdom early in 1962 and was introduced to George Martin, who re-recorded all Harris's songs the following year, including a remake of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" which became a huge hit in the US, and "Sun Arise", an Aboriginal-type song Harris had written with Perth naturalist Harry Butler. The song went to number two in the UK charts, losing the number one spot to Elvis Presley. He met and worked with The Beatles after they started recording with George Martin, and he compèred their 16-night season of Christmas shows at London's Finsbury Park Astoria in 1963/4.[24]

He and his wife have lived permanently in the United Kingdom since 1962, and he has regularly returned to Vancouver to entertain ever since. He has also regularly returned to Perth over the years for family visits and to the rest of Australia where he has spent as much as four months every year touring with his band.[25]

In 1973 Harris performed the very first concert in the Concert Hall of the newly completed Sydney Opera House.[26]

Since the late 1960s Harris had been performing top-rated variety television shows on the BBC in London, shows which were also shown in Australia and New Zealand, creating great support for his many tours in both countries as well as in South Africa.

Harris has been credited with inventing a simple homemade instrument called the wobble board. This discovery was accidentally made in the course of his work when he attempted to dry a freshly painted hardboard with added heat, from hearing the sound made by the board as he shook it by the short edges to cool it off. He suggests the effect can best be obtained through faint bouncing of a tempered hardboard or a thinner MDF board between the palms of one's hands.

In 1960 he worked on TVW-7's first locally produced show Spotlight. During his time at TVW he recorded his hit "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport". The song was recorded on a single microphone placed above him in the television studio. The song was sent to record company EMI in Sydney, New South Wales and it was soon released as a record. Harris offered four unknown backing musicians 10% of the royalties for the song, but they decided to take a recording fee of ₤7 each because they thought the song would be a flop.[27] The novelty song was originally titled "Kangalypso" and featured the distinctive sound of the "wobble board", which was played by bouncing it up and down.

The original 1960 single-release recording of the song issued in Australia was considered controversial by some listeners because of the lyrics of the fourth verse.[28] The verse appears to refer to Aboriginal servitude and captivity in a whimsically approving manner. In addition, the word "abo" was beginning to be seen as a term of abuse at the time. Most of the rest of the song refers to pet Australian animals.

The offending verse did not feature in later versions of the song. In 2006, four decades after the song's release, Harris expressed his regret about that original lyric.[29] Harris also performed this song in 2000 with Australia's children's group The Wiggles.

Harris sang "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" (with The Beatles singing backing vocals) in the first edition of the From Us to You BBC radio shows, in December 1963.[30] Harris customised the original lyrics to a version that was specially written for The Beatles

As well as his beatboxing, similar to eefing, Harris went on to use an array of unusual instruments in his music, including the didgeridoo (the sound of which was imitated on Sun Arise by four double basses), Jew's harp and, later, the stylophone (for which he also lent his name and likeness for advertising). Harris has played the didgeridoo on two albums by English pop singer Kate Bush, 1982's The Dreaming and 2005's Aerial. Harris went on to create one of his most famous roles in the 1960s, Jake the Peg but his biggest hit was in 1969 with his rendering of the American Civil War song "Two Little Boys", written in 1902. It was only recently that Harris discovered a personal poignancy to the song because the story bears such a resemblance to the First World War experiences of his father Crom and Crom's beloved younger brother Carl, who died at the age of 19 after being wounded in battle in France, just two weeks before the Armistice of November 1918.[31] Two Little Boys was the Christmas Number One song in the UK charts for six weeks in 1969. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[32]

In 2000 Harris, along with Steve Lima, released a dance track called "Fine Day" which entered the top 30 in the UK charts at that time. A "Killie-themed" version was recorded and scheduled for release in March 2007 to coincide with the Scottish football club Kilmarnock's appearance in the Scottish League Cup final after the song was adopted by the fans in 2003.[33] One of the lyrics referred to the hypothetical situation in which Kilmarnock could be 5–0 down, which ironically was similar to the final score of 5–1.

In November and December 2002, under Charles Saumarez Smith's direction, London's National Gallery exhibited a collection of Harris's art.[34] He was also commissioned to paint a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II for her 80th birthday, which was unveiled by Harris on 19 December 2005 at Buckingham Palace.[35] In his words, it is an impressionistic rather than photographic depiction. Some commentators found it to be offensive and unbecoming of the Queen, but the Queen herself expressed her approval at the painting after her final sitting, particularly with the way in which Harris had painted her smile. The story of the painting featured as a special edition of Rolf on Art. The special, called The Queen by Rolf, was broadcast on BBC One on 1 January 2006. In his painting of the portrait of the Queen, Harris was following a family tradition – Harris's grandfather painted a portrait of the Queen's grandfather, King George V (in which the King was inspecting the troops).[36] The portrait was exhibited in the Australian National Portrait Gallery in Canberra for six months, after Harris gave the prestigious annual lecture there in 2008.

In 2005, Harris played the didgeridoo on Kate Bush's album Aerial, contributing vocals to the songs "An Architect's Dream" and "The Painter's Link". In the late 1980s he was touring in Australia and was asked to sing his own version of "Stairway to Heaven" on a television programme, The Money or the Gun. He did this with his own small group and had great success. Several years later it was released as a single in the UK and went to number seven in the charts, causing a furore with some Led Zeppelin fans. As a result of this success he appeared at the Glastonbury Festival in 1993 and was later named the best entertainer ever to have appeared at Glastonbury. He has since appeared four more times at subsequent Glastonbury festivals and last appeared there on 27 June 2009 on the Jazz World Stage to a packed crowd.

In September 2010, Harris appeared at the Bestival Festival on the Isle of Wight, and played on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival on 25 June 2010, during the festival's 40th birthday.[37]

On 5 August 2011, Harris played at Wickham Festival in Hampshire.[38]

Harris also appeared on The Wiggles 2011 DVD release Ukelele Baby performing the song "Good Ship Fabulous Flea" with his wobbleboard and taking lead vocals on the song and The Wiggles playing the roles of the mice and background vocals.

In December 2011 a portrait of Bonnie Tyler by Harris was valued at an estimated £50,000 on BBC’s The Antiques Roadshow.[39]

In 2011, Harris was awarded the title of Best Selling Published Artist 2011 by the Fine Art Trade Guild.[40][41]

From 19 May to 12 August 2012 a major retrospective of Harris's paintings, entitled "Rolf Harris: Can You Tell What It Is Yet?", was exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.[42] The opening day yielded the busiest Saturday on record with visitor figures peaking at 3,632.[43]

1982 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

Matilda, a winking kangaroo was the mascot for the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. When Matilda arrived at the stadium, she 'winked' to the crowd as she went around the stadium track – then her 'pouch' opened and several young children (about 5 to 7 years old), dressed as joey kangaroos, rushed out (then ran to – and jumped on – a number of trampolines that had been set up specially for them).

Harris, who was standing, complete with wobble board, at the back of a small truck, then sang a special rendition of his hit song "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport", which included some lyrics specially written for the Opening Ceremony:

Let me welcome you to the Games, friends,
Welcome you to the Games
Look, I don't know all of your names, friends,
But let me welcome you to the Games.

Following his singing of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport", Harris sang "Waltzing Matilda". As well as a videotape recording of the Opening Ceremony being released, the music for the Opening Ceremony was released as an album and an audio tape, with Harris as one of the featured artists.

"Stairway to Heaven"

Harris's career received a boost in 1993 when his cover version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" became a hit, reaching number seven in the UK singles chart. Harris originally performed the song, live, during an appearance on the television comedy show The Money or the Gun. Each episode of The Money or the Gun featured a rendition of Stairway to Heaven but in the idiosyncratic style of another performer. Harris's version of the song recreated the song in the style of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport", complete with wobble board and didgeridoo solos. Harris's version was one of 28 versions of the song performed on the show – and his version is one of the 25 versions of the song which was released on the The Money or the Gun's Stairways to Heaven videotape and CD (Harris's single comes from the same recording of his version of the song). A wobble board Harris used to perform "Stairway to Heaven" on Top of the Pops is now part of the National Museum of Australia collection.[44]

Recordings and appearances

Harris is known for Channel 7 Perth's jingle "Children's Channel 7".

Harris also recorded a version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" around this time. He performed The Divinyls' "I Touch Myself" — accompanied only by his wobble board – for Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge on the MMM Breakfast Show (the recording was released on the first Musical Challenge compilation album in 2000). Later that year he made his first appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in what was seen as a novelty act. He played there again in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

Harris has also recorded an Australian Christmas song called Six White Boomers, about a joey Kangaroo trying to find his mother during Christmastime, and how Santa Claus used six large male kangaroos (Boomers), instead of reindeer "because they can't stand the terrible heat" to pull his sleigh and help the little joey find his "Mummy".

In October 2008 Harris announced he would re-record his 1969 hit "Two Little Boys", backed by North Wales's Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir, to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.[45] Proceeds from the new release went to The Poppy Appeal.[46] Harris was inspired to make the recording after participating in My Family at War, a short series of programmes in the BBC's Remembrance season, which was broadcast in November 2008. He discovered that the experiences of his father and uncle during the Great War mirrored the lyrics of the song.[47]

A sampling of Harris saying "You've just heard one of the most remarkable applications in modern electronics", grabbed from a Stylophone instruction disc, appears at the end of the Pulp hit "Countdown".

Discography

Main article: Rolf Harris discography

Harris has released 30 studio albums and two live albums, featuring 48 singles. His 1992 Rolf Rules OK? was nominated for the ARIA Music Award for best comedy. His song "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" reached No. 1 in Australia, while "Two Little Boys" reached No. 1 on the Irish and UK charts.

Television career

Harris and Julia Zemiro ARIA Hall of Fame

Harris has had a long career on British television, making his debut in 1953 on a five-minute spot with a puppet called 'Fuzz' in a one-hour children's show called 'Jigsaw'. The following year he was a regular on a BBC Television programme called Whirligig, with a character called 'Willoughby', who sprang to life on a drawing board but was erased at the end of the show.[48]

Although he chiefly appeared on the BBC, he was also on ITV with his 'Oliver Polip the Octopus' character on Small Time on Associated Rediffusion.[49] He was the presenter of Hi There and Hey Presto it's Rolf in 1964. Consequently he was already well-known face on television when The Rolf Harris Show was broadcast from 1967–1974 on BBC1. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s this series in various formats remained a popular light-entertainment staple, latterly being broadcast on Saturday evenings as Rolf on Saturday OK? Harris was also the commentator for the United Kingdom in the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest.[50] On 31 December 1976, Harris performed his hit song "Two Little Boys" on BBC1's A Jubilee of Music, celebrating British pop music for the impending Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

Harris was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions, in December 1971 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in central London, and in September 1995, when Michael Aspel surprised him during a bagpipes parade in Edinburgh.

On many of his television appearances he painted pictures on large boards in an apparently slapdash manner, with the odd nonsense song thrown in, but with detailed results. This was often accompanied by the phrase "Can you tell what is it yet?" just before the painting became recognisable. These appearances led to a string of television series based on his artistic ability, notably Rolf Harris's Cartoon Time on BBC1 in the 1980s and Rolf's Cartoon Club on ITV between 1989–1993. On the children's show he also gave out tips to children on how to draw and create easy animation techniques, like flickbooks. The latter programme witnessed another Harris catchphrase, "See you on Ro-o-o-o-o-o-lf's Cartoon Club, next week!" He also hosted a successful variety television series in Canada, which was a second home to Harris during the 1960s.

From 1994–2004 he was the host of the reality television programme Animal Hospital, which chronicled the real-life activity of a British veterinary practice. Harris then adopted an English Bull Terrier that had been abandoned at the vet's, named Dolly. Harris presented 19 series of Animal Hospital for BBC One. It was five times winner in the Most Popular Factual Entertainment Show category of The National TV Awards. In an Australian Times article, journalist Kris Griffiths wrote of Animal Hospital: “One scene of Rolf’s tearful breakdown as a dog is euthanised became forever ingrained in fans’ memories, a spontaneous display that boosted the next episode’s ratings to a zenith of 10m.”[51] When referring to a dead or dying animal on the programme, one of his catchphrases was, "The Poor Little Blighter".

In 2001 and 2004 he presented Rolf on Art, which highlighted the work of some of his favourite artists, including van Gogh, Degas, Monet and Gauguin. Rolf on Art which made television history when it gained the highest television ratings ever for an arts programme, is now in its sixth year. On 26 September 2004 Harris fronted a project to recreate John Constable's famous The Hay Wain painting on a vast scale, with 150 people contributing to a small section. Each individual canvas was assembled into the full picture live on the BBC, in the show Rolf on Art: The Big Event. He was named as one of the Radio Times's list of the top 40 most eccentric television presenters of all time in July 2004.

The story of Harris's 80th birthday portrait painting of Queen Elizabeth II featured as a special edition of Rolf on Art, broadcast on BBC One on 1 January 2006.[52] Harris's portrait of The Queen was voted by readers of the Radio Times the third favourite portrait of Her Majesty. The royal portrait was exhibited at Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, and was exhibited on a tour of public galleries in the UK.

In September 2006 the Royal Australian Mint launched the first of the new 2007 Silver Kangaroo Collector's Coin series. Harris was commissioned to design the first coin in the series. For the third year running, Harris designed and painted the official Children in Need Christmas card. Harris has presented three series of the BBC art programme Star Portraits with Rolf Harris. In 2007, a documentary A Lifetime in Paint about Harris's work as an artist – from the early years in Australia to the present day – was screened on BBC One, followed by a Rolf on Art special titled Rolf on Lowry.

In 2007 Harris took part in the BBC Wales programme Coming Home about his Welsh family history.[53]

In November 2007 at exhibition of Harris's new paintings was held at Portland Gallery, London. In December 2007 a new DVD titled Rolf Live! was released through his website.[54]

Rolf on Art: Beatrix Potter was screened on BBC One in December 2007.

Harris appeared with a wobble board in a Churchill Insurance advertisement in 2009,[55] and hosted the satirical quiz show Have I Got News for You, aired on 15 May 2009.[56]

Rolf Harris sketches a "Rolfaroo" self-portrait

Harris is narrator of the 2010 Australian documentary series Penguin Island, a 6-part natural history documentary about the life of the Little Penguin. In September 2010 – October 2010, he took part in Jamies Dream School teaching art to a class of 20 students. His personality inspired many of the students and also set a creative spark alight in the classroom. Widely respected by the students, he was seen as one of the favourite teachers at the school in Mill Hill. One of his most memorable scenes on the Channel 4 programme was when Harris and one of the students, called Ronnie, sat together in a one to one art session, when everyone else had left the class and created a masterpiece together. Harris appeared as himself on the Christmas special of My Family aired on 24 December 2010.

In 2011, Harris made a guest appearance on BBC One show The Magicians hosted by Lenny Henry.

On 5 November 2011, Harris appeared in an episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories.[57]

On 2 May 2012, Harris appeared on The One Show. On the programme, he described his style of art as being "impressionistic".[58]

On 4 June 2012, Harris was one of the comperes at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace in London.

In October 2012, Harris started presenting a series on Channel 5 based around Liverpool University's Veterinary School called Rolf's Animal Clinic.[59]

Operation Yewtree arrest

In March 2013, Harris was arrested and bailed until May, without being charged. He was one of 12 people arrested as part of Operation Yewtree and has been questioned by police over historical allegations of sexual offences.[18][60] As of late April 2013, Harris had not commented publicly on the allegations,[61] but was understood to strongly deny them.[62] The allegations are not linked to those made against Jimmy Savile.[62] Harris returned to the stage in May 2013, for the first time since his arrest, and thanked the audience for their support.[63]

Honours

Harris was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1968;[64] he was advanced to Officer (OBE) in 1977,[64] then to Commander (CBE) in 2006.[64] In 1989 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM),[65] and was advanced to Officer (AO) in the Queen's 2012 Birthday Honours.[64] In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal "for service to entertainment, charity and the community".[66]

Harris has received two Honorary Doctorates: from the University of East London in 2007;[67] and from Liverpool Hope University in 2010.[68]

In 2008 Harris was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He was joined onstage by The Seekers to perform "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" and his Jake the Peg routine.[69][70] In 2012, he was made a Fellow of BAFTA.[71]

Styles from birth

  • Rolf Harris (1930–1968)
  • Rolf Harris, MBE (1968–1977)
  • Rolf Harris, OBE (1977–1989)
  • Rolf Harris, AM, OBE (1989–2006)
  • Rolf Harris, CBE, AM (2006–2012)
  • Rolf Harris, AO, CBE (2012–present)

References

  1. ^ "BBC Berkshire A majestic painting". BBC. 20 December 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  2. ^ Stephenson, Alison (8 November 2012). "Rolf Harris presented with Officer of the Order of Australia medal". News.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  3. ^ stylophone (12 January 2013). "Stylophone Sales Center". Stylophone.com. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Birth Notice, ''The West Australian'', (Monday, 31 March 1930), p.1". Trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  5. ^ George Negus Tonight – People, Episode 26 "Rolf Harris", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 23 March 2004, retrieved 9 June 2012
  6. ^ Buster Fleabags by Rolf Harris, Quick Reads, retrieved 29 January 2012
  7. ^ On Saturday, 27 January 1945, Harris swam in the main race of the day at a swimming competition held to raise funds for the Bassendean Child Development Centre. He came a close second in the feature race, a handicap race, the "Swim through Bassendean". Swimming from scratch, he swam the fastest time (Swimming Picnic, The West Australian, (Monday, 29 January 1945), p.2.)
  8. ^ Swim Through Perth, The West Australian, (Saturday, 10 February 1945), p.5; Swim Through Perth, The West Australian, (Monday, 12 February 1945), p.3.
  9. ^ Junior Backstroke Champion, The West Australian, (Monday, 4 February 1946), p.3; Star of the Week, The Western Mail, (Thursday, 7 February 1946), p.49.
  10. ^ Swim Stars Get "Tuned Up" ", The Mercury, (Friday, 9 December 1949), p.20; Amateur Status in Doubt, The West Australian, (Wednesday, 9 January 1952), p.3; Swimming Teachers Continue Work, The West Australian (Wednesday, 9 January 1952), p.3; Curtain Falls, The West Australian, (Monday, 24 March 1952), p.18.
  11. ^ Phillips, Yasmine. (11 September 2011). "Rolf Harris reveals the secret to his success". PerthNow. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  12. ^ a b Hill, Amelia. (1 January 2006). "Wizard of Oz". The Observer. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  13. ^ At home in Water & Oils, The (Perth) Sunday Times, Sunday, 26 January 1947; also Young Perth Artist, The Western Mail, (Thursday, 4 September 1947), p.8, and Youth Paints Picture of West Aus. Knight, The (Broken Hill) Barrier Miner, (Monday, 8 September 1947), p.5.
  14. ^ "Youth Paints Picture of West Aus. Knight". Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 – 1954). Broken Hill, NSW: National Library of Australia. 8 September 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  15. ^ "Awards to Artists". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 3 December 1949. p. 16. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Rolf Harris: A life pictures" (26 March 2010 ). Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  17. ^ Sweet, Corinne. (7 February 2003). "Interview: Bindi Harris". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  18. ^ a b "Rolf Harris questioned in Yewtree sex offence probe". BBC News. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  19. ^ few most famous artwork are include "Summer afternoon", "Sun on the water tresco", "Winter willow" and “First snow, Hyde park horses”"most famous artwork". Art Fine Blog=21 October 2010. 20 October 2010.
  20. ^ "Valued exposure: Willoughby". BBC News. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  21. ^ "Interview: Rolf Harris – Can you tell what it is yet?". TNT Down Under. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  22. ^ "Entertainment | Rolf Harris: People's painter". BBC News. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  23. ^ "Rolf Harris". Rolfharrisentertainer.com. 30 March 1930. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  24. ^ "24 December 1963: The Beatles' Christmas Show begins". The Beatles Bible. 24 December 1963. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  25. ^ "ENOUGH ROPE with Andrew Denton – episode 90: Rolf Harris (15/08/2005)". Abc.net.au. 15 August 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  26. ^ "BBC News – Profile: Rolf Harris – musician, artist and presenter". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  27. ^ Did you know ... page 18 "Westside News", 20 February 2008 — Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  28. ^ "Let me abos go loose, Lew/ Let me abos go loose/ They're of no further use, Lew/ So let me abos go loose".
  29. ^ Renee Switzer (6 December 2006). "Rolf's lyrics 'a sign of the times'". The Age. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  30. ^ "Rolf Harris, the 5th Beatle". Gdayworld.thepodcastnetwork.com. 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  31. ^ Brooks, Richard (19 October 2008). "Rolf Harris unearths own family's tale of 'two little boys' in Somme cemetery". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  32. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 260. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  33. ^ "Fine Day". "Fine Day". Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  34. ^ "National to display Rolf's art". BBC News. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  35. ^ "Rolf Harris and BBC unveil new official portrait of The Queen". BBC press office. 19 December 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  36. ^ Information given by Rolf Harris during the television programme The Queen by Rolf about his portrait of the Queen
  37. ^ "Pyramid Stage openers announced". Glastonbury Festival. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  38. ^ "Jools Holland & Rolf Harris at Wickham Festival". SpiralEarth. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  39. ^ Bonnie Tyler by Rolf Harris – a £50,000 painting is found, The Telegraph newspaper, 3 December 2011
  40. ^ Fine Art Trade Guild (2012). "Previous Award Winners". Fine Art Trade Guild. Retrieved 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  41. ^ Judith Woods (11 October 2011). "The last laugh belongs to top-selling artist Rolf Harris". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  42. ^ "Current Exhibitions". Walker Art Gallery. 2012. Retrieved 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  43. ^ "Rolf Harris gives Walker Art Gallery its busiest Saturday on record". Liverpool Daily Post. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  44. ^ "Rolf Harris wobble board, National Museum of Australia". Nma.gov.au. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  45. ^ "Rolf remakes Two Little Boys hit". BBC News: Wales. BBC. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  46. ^ "Rolf re-releases 1969 classic track". The Press Association. The Press Association. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.[dead link]
  47. ^ Adams, Stephen (10 November 2008). "Rolf Harris re-records Two Little Boys to mark 90th anniversary of end of WWI". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  48. ^ "Whirligig nostalgia web-site". Whirligig-tv.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  49. ^ "Rolf Harris web-site". Rolfharrisentertainer.com. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  50. ^ "The Eurovision Song Contest (1967) (TV)". IMDB. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  51. ^ http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/aussie-music/Rolf-still-dodging-the--stairway-to-Heaven
  52. ^ "Rolf Harris unveils official portrait of The Queen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse". Royalcollection.org.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  53. ^ "BBC One – Coming Home, Series 2, Rolf Harris". Bbc.co.uk. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  54. ^ "Rolf Harris". Rolfharrisentertainer.com. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  55. ^ "Churchill 'Rolf Harris' TV ad – 30 sec advert". Tellyads.com. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  56. ^ "Press Office – Rolf Harris to host Have I Got News For You". BBC. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  57. ^ "Rolf Harris breaks down on TV". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  58. ^ "Rolf Harris Biography – Page 8". Absolute Radio. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  59. ^ Channel 5, Rolf's Animal Clinic
  60. ^ "Rolf Harris arrested by police investigating sexual abuse allegations". Irish Independent. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  61. ^ "Rolf Harris arrested by Operation Yewtree police". The Guardian. 19 April 2013.
  62. ^ a b "Rolf Harris denies sex offence claims". News.com.au. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  63. ^ "Rolf Harris plays first live show since arrest". BBC News. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  64. ^ a b c d "Media Notes AO" (PDF). The Australian Honours Secretariat. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  65. ^ see Rolf Harris's citation at the Australian Government's "It's an Honour" website
  66. ^ see Rolf Harris's citation at the Australian Government's "It's an Honour" website
  67. ^ "Rolf Harris receives Honorary Doctorate".
  68. ^ "Liverpool Hope Honours Rolf Harris – Liverpool Hope University". Hope.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  69. ^ "ARIA announced all-star cast to induct and perform" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  70. ^ Zonneveldt, Mandi (13 June 2008). "Rolf Harris in the ARIA Hall of Fame, sport". Herald Sun. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  71. ^ "Rolf Harris to receive Bafta Fellowship". BBC News. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
Preceded by UK Christmas Number One single

"Two Little Boys"
1969

Succeeded by
Dave Edmunds "I Hear You Knocking"
Preceded by Eurovision Song Contest UK Commentator
1967 		Succeeded by


Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rolf_Harris&oldid=561283397"