In the 40 years since he recorded his first single in a studio above a Levin electronics shop, Wayne Roland Brown has written hit songs, recorded 15 albums and collected 134 musical instruments from around the world.
Wayne Roland Brown with some of his instruments. Photo: Marilyn Murphy Collection
Wayne Roland Brown Photo: Jim McGuire
The Kiwi-born, Nashville based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music educator and one one-time opal miner has had his share of hits and misses. 'Our Love is On the Faultline' which he co-wrote with Reece Kirk, ended up becoming a number one hit for country star Crystal Gayle.
While his song 'Essential Sensual' gained more exposure on the Tom Cruise movie Cocktail than any of the other songs in the movie, it never made it to the eight-million selling soundtrack album. Another near miss came when Seals and Crofts recorded one of his songs but it never got released due to music industry infighting.
Wayne Roland Brown regularly toured to the Australian mining towns with his one man show ever since leaving New Zealand in the early 70s. He formed firm friendships with a number of the colourful locals who helped him get a start in the opal mining business in outback of north Queensland.
His new CD Lightning Ridge and the Ballad of Johnny Jones celebrates those years, the lifestyle of the miners and the rare and expensive Australian gem. The travelling minstrel has been on the road for 30-years chalking up an impressive collection of pop songs, instrumentals, world music and ballads on the 15 albums he's recorded.
Produced and presented by Keith Newman for Radio New Zealand National
