Rolf Harris

 

Rolf Harris having a beer, 1971.

Interview with Rolf Harris, 2011(Transcript)

Interview with Rolf Harris, 1977

The Rolf Harris Songbook

Rolf Harris (named for author Rolf Boldrewood) was born in Bassendean in 1930. After winning a radio talent competition at the age of 18, he graduated from the University of Western Australia and went to London in 1952. There he trained at a London art school where he met fellow artist Alwen Hughes (whom he married in 1958) and later settled permanently in the UK. He developed most of his entertainment abilities in Perth, though mainly on an amateur basis.

Although his first love was art, he was also a skilled comedian, musician and cartoonist, and soon became involved in television. In 1959 Rolf was lured back to Perth by TVW 7 and starred in their opening night variety show, Spotlight. In 1960 he produced and starred in five 30-minute children's shows a week, as well as starring in his own weekly evening variety show, Relax with Rolf, for Channel 7. After that Rolf mainly resided in the UK, where he became one of Britain's most loved entertainers, but he continued to maintain strong Australian links, and in 1973 was one of the first performers at the Sydney Opera House.

His early 1960s singles had a very strong Australian flavour. He wrote most of his own material, including the novelty hit Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, and used unusual musical instruments such as the wobble board (his own invention) and the didgeridoo to make his work distinctive. In the late 1960s Rolf had a number 1 hit with Two Little Boys, a marked deviation from his previous Australian orientated output. In 1993 he had a surprise hit with a version of Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven. Although no longer regularly producing records, he is still a popular figure on British television, and has made regular appearances at Glastonbury.

In 2003 he celebrated 50 years in television with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Harris is also a highly successful painter and was commissioned to paint a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to mark her 80th birthday in 2006.  Rolf was created an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1977 and a CBE in 2006. He was appointed an AM in 1989, in 2007 and 2010 he was awarded Honorary Doctorates and in 2008 was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

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