Gray Bartlett born July 22nd, 1942

Gray Bartlett (born July 22nd, 1942) is a Guitarist, Musical Director, Composer, Producer, and Concert Promoter who has been picking his way to success for over many years.  Through 30 albums and  20 singles, Gray has sold well in excess of a million units of his music.

He was born Graeme Neil Bartlett in Auckland, New Zealand. Gray's first musical experience was at age 15 after leaving Auckland Grammar School.  One of his four brothers, Barry (he also has three sisters), taught him to play the guitar, and after answering an advertisement, he joined a band called "The Phantoms".  They performed at local dances and came runner-up in a radio competition called "Have A Shot". Gray was offered his chance to record by Zodiac Records in 1961; the result was his first single, "Last Stage West". Between that single and 1965, he began his road to success with offers to tour the country with some well-known international artists of the day, including British singing star Vera Lynn, Tom Jones, and the group Herman's Hermits.  

                                   

He also performed shows in Tokyo, and in 1965, the break came. Gray released the single "Lay Playa" and it made the charts in New Zealand and in Japan (reaching No. 2 there), selling an unprecedented 410,000 copies. He had his own show at the Tokyo Hilton in 1967, and was resident guitarist on Rolf Harris shows in England and Australia from 1968 to 1973. Bartlett has toured and supported many international acts including Connie Francis, Bobby Vee, The Ventures, Tom Jones, Herman's Hermits, Michael Crawford. 

Gray with Tom Jones

With so much achieved by Gray in his long musical career, one of his greatest highlights was being awarded an MBE in the 1987 Queen's New Years Honours list, for his service to entertainment.  Another was being accepted by the Chinese Government in 1986 to perform in China, a first for a New Zealand entertainer. This led to numerous concert tours, fourteen to date and the release of his albums has seen him become very popular in China, winning the "Foreign Artist of the Year" Golden Plume Award in 1987. Also that year Bartlett was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1987 New Year Honours, for services to entertainment.

His numerous awards include the NZCMA Hands of Fame in 1981, Top NZ Country Band in 1983, NZ Country Instrumentalist of the Year in 1984 and 1986, Top Country Group of the Year 1984, Country Music Industry Golden Tribute Award for services to country music in 1988, and the Guangzhou (China) Golden Plume Award for Top Foreign Artist Sales in 1988. He was named New Zealand Country Music Artist of the Year 1990, Patron of the New Zealand Country Music Association from 1987, and was New Zealand Cultural Ambassador 1985–86.

Gray with Roy Orbison

Gray's style is uniquely his own with such a diverse range of musical directions. In the mid 80's and early '90s, he recorded several very successful Country Albums including a Double Gospel Album, for which he received a Gold Album, and huge country music following came from that and others that followed. His 1990 Together Again national tour was named the Biggest Selling Concert Tour by New Zealand Artists and the companion album attained Gold status in seven days, making it the fastest selling album in New Zealand history. He has also recorded both Popular and Classical and had huge album and concert tour successes with his fellow entertainer's country music stars Brendan Dugan and Jodi Vaughan.  The trio celebrated 25 years in 2002 with a sell-out star of British TV Soap drama, Kevin Kennedy (who plays Curly Watts) who is also a recording artist.  The concerts received rave reviews and counted as another huge success for Gray who not only performed but put the concept and tour in place as well. As well as his music career, Gray was also an Auckland City Councillor for nine years until retiring from his position in 2001.

Gray's skills as a promoter in the entertainment industry have not gone unrecognized and he has been involved in touring many of the big names in show business, from Pavarotti, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Boney M from the UK, to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band. Gray has an eye for young and talented artists, and it was he who discovered young songstress Hayley Westenra, who went on, under Gray's guidance, to have her first solo album release go triple platinum in New Zealand. Gray arranged the concept strategy, media planning, and recording contract with Universal Music (NZ) Ltd for the talented 14-year-old, which led to the fastest-selling CD in New Zealand history. Gray is Patron of the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc and in 2001 he received their prestigious Benny Award, the highest honour for a New Zealand entertainer.

In February 2002 Gray arranged for Hayley Westenra to appear in the McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, USA, and was able to introduce another of his talented discoveries at the same concert, 15-year-old violinist Ben Morrison. The concert was a sell-out, and Ben Morrison received a standing ovation, much to Gray's delight. Ben is now on the verge of success in the music industry following the success of his first recording in 2003. (No 15 New Zealand national charts.) Bartlett received his New Zealand Boulevard Star on the 31st March 2012.​

In October 2017 he was presented with the President's Medallion from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand in recognition of his services as Patron. Gray is in the fortunate position of not only being a success story himself but also being able to share some of his vast experience in designing the careers of new talent.  This gives him a great deal of pleasure as well as finding the time to do charity concerts for many good causes, including the SPCA, which is a favourite for him.

(Edited New Zealand Walk of Fame & Wikipedia)