Frankie Stevens - Well known singer and MC as seen on NZ Idol.

Frankie is available as a solo vocalist with top quality backing tracks or you can option to use Frankie with a dynamic live band.

Frankie is also available to act as celebrity MC for your prestige event.

FRANKIE STEVENS
The Story So Far

Frankie Stevens was born Francis Donald McKechnie Stevenson in Wellington, New Zealand. His mother was Maori, and his father Scottish. He has 10 brothers and sisters

He knew from an early age that singing was going to be his career, commencing when he sang with the school band in Upper Hutt at the age of thirteen. His professional career began at the age of 16 when he moved to Sydney, Australia to join a group called “Peter Nelson and the Castaways”

The group recorded several songs with Frankie with minor success, and after a couple of years of touring Australia and New Zealand; he left the group to try his luck as a solo artist. During this period he recorded a number of successful songs, one song in particular “My Elusive Dreams” became a major New Zealand hit. It held the No.1 spot on the charts for 3 weeks and managed to stay in the top 20 for 2 months.

In 1970, Frankie moved to London where he became something of a minor sensation winning the talent show ‘Opportunity Knocks’ six times in a row. He sang at both The Palladium and Albert Hall, the latter being one of the high peaks of his career. While in London, he represented Great Britain in several song contests, winning the Silver Prize in the Second Tokyo Music Festival, the Bronze Medal in Caracas Venezuela, and the Gold Medal at the Golden Orpheus Song Festival in Bulgaria. Stevens was the first Singer from outside the eastern block to win this coveted prize.

1971 saw him move to Las Vegas where a contract to appear for five weeks as a featured act in Tessie O’Shea’s London Music Hall Variety Show at the World Famous Sand’s Hotel turned into a 32 week season.

From the Sand’s he moved to the M.G.M Grand Hotel the largest Hotel at the time in the World.

Over the next few years Stevens toured or appeared with number of International stars, Olivia Newton John, Shirley Bassey, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis Jnr, just to name a few.

During this period he became a member of one of New Zealand’s finest show groups “The Maori Hi-Five” (also known as “Mary & the Maori’s) they were the resident performers at the Nassau Beach Hotel in the Bahamas.

After a 9 month entertainment learning experience with the Maori Hi-Five Stevens recommenced his solo career at the Sheraton Hotel and Casino in San Juan Puerto Rico.

1974 saw him sign a three year contract with CBS Records in London, This was followed by a tour of some of the finest Showroom’s in Great Britain and Europe as. He appeared in musical specials on television with artists such as Petula Clark, Morecambe and Wise, as well as Cilla Black. During this period he also appeared at the World renowned “Talk of the Town” for a five week season starring in his own show.

After Europe, Stevens embarked on a tour of Japan’s major cities, anchoring the first half of the show for the great “Shirley Bassey”.

1976 saw him move to Honolulu Hawaii, and for the next five years appeared in his own show for eight months of the year at the magnificent Royal Hawaiian Hotel in the beautiful Monarch Showroom.

He featured in two episodes of Hawaii Five O and a feature film for Jack Lord titled M.Station Hawaii. During the Hawaiian off-season Stevens performed in Europe, mainland USA and Canada.

Since 1982, Stevens has resided in his Homeland, New Zealand where he once owned and operated one of New Zealand’s major Nightclub Restaurants. “Chips”. This gave him an opportunity to utilise different skills, while at the same time continuing to sing, and assist in raising two young children. He also managed to fit in his own T.V Series for TVNZ as well as trips to Japan, Australia, and the USA.

In 1994, Stevens was invited to appear in Harry M. Miller’s New Zealands touring theatre production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in the role of the High Priest “Caiaphas”

On the strength of his highly acclaimed performance Miller invited him to reprise the role in the ‘94-95’ tour of Australia. This he did not only to raise his profile in Australia, but also to take the opportunity to perform with his younger brother Jon who played the role of Judas.

After returning from Australia Stevens appeared in various Television and live performances.

He has appeared live on Television in recent years in the following shows:
• Schweppes Show Time Spectacular
• Coca Cola Christmas in The Park (1997/98/99/00/01/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09/2010/2011/2012/2013
• 1998 Christmas Lotto Draw
• 2004/05/06 Judge on New Zealand Idol
• 2008 To Sir With Love (Sir Howard Morrison Tribute)
• 2009/2010 Big Wednesday Lotto Ads voiceovers

Stevens has also hosted the “Miss New Zealand Show” on four separate occasions as Master of Ceremonies as well as the Governor Generals Waitangi Day Celebrations at Government House.

Between 1997 & 2000 he was employed by the New Zealand Millennium Office (NZMO) his role was to assess and recommend to “The Towards 2000 Taskforce” events that met the criteria of the Governments Millennium Celebrations.

A selected few events were then funded by the “Taskforce” and became part of the official New Zealand Millennium Programme. Part of his responsibility was to ensure that the Millennium broadcast reflected New Zealand’s values and culture as the first country in the world to see the sun!

Since then he has event managed or been involved with many large and small events such as Aotearoa National Maori Rugby League Tournament, Queenstown Winter Festival (with Air New Zealand) Frankie also works with Avenues Event Management one of New Zealand’s top event management companies.

As an Actor Stevens has acted in some of the following NZ Television Series:

• Hercules
• Swiss Family Robinson
• Lawless

In 2002 Frankie appeared in one of the biggest movies of 2003 Matrix 2.

2004 saw Frankie involved as one of the Judges on the most successful TV entertainment show of the year, NZ Idol, he reprised that role in 2005/06.

2005 saw Frankie honored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in the New Years Honors List; he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

From 2005 through 2008 Frankie Stevens has continued to be involved in the events and entertainment industries, in the corporate world as a performer and MC and as an actor in local productions, he has also been involved as an organizer and MC with International Netball and recently sang at the Rugby League World Cup Final in Australia.

He was also instrumental in putting together one of the most successful Television events of 2008, “To Sir with Love” a 2 hour musical tribute to one of New Zealand’s favorite musical sons, Sir Howard Morrison.

2009 saw Stevens performing in Canada, Malaysia, Australia, Fiji, and of course throughout New Zealand. 2009 has also seen a CD called “Frankie Stevens, the Singles Collection” released in New Zealand.

In 2010 he continued to globe trot culminating in hosting The NARTA Conference on a private cruise ship called the Seaborne Spirit off the coast of Italy.

2011 has seen him travel to Fiji and Australia; he also along with Jackie Clarke hosted a major fundraiser in Singapore for the Prime Ministers Christchurch earthquake fund as well as performing throughout NZ. Stevens will once again be involved with the Coca Cola Christmas in the Park concerts in Christchurch and Auckland.

In 2012 / 2013 / 2014 Stevens has continued traveling to different parts of the World entertaining as well as acting as a corporate MC for many International corporates. He is also a Trustee of Hands Across the Water New Zealand a charity that was established by Australian Peter Baines in aid of the children of Thailand who lost their loved ones in the 2004 Tsunami.

Personal details

COUNTRIES PERFORMED IN: New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland Wales, USA, USSR, Canada, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Spain, Bulgaria, South America, Scandinavia, Italy, South Africa, All over South America, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Fiji, Thailand

TELEVISION SHOWS: New Zealand:This is Frankie Stevens, Ray Woolf Show, Tip Top TV Special, Hui Pacific, Miss New Zealand Show, The Royal Command Performance. Coca Cola Christmas in the Park, NZ Idol, To Sir with Love(Tribute to Sir Howard Morrison), The Good Morning Show, Dancing with the Stars (singing not dancing) The Big Night in Telethon

Australia: Bandstand, Don Lane Tonight Show, Graham Kennedy In Melbourne Tonight.

Great Britain: Morecambe and Wise, Val Doonican, Des O’Connor, Opportunity Knocks, Cilla Black, Stars on Sunday – plus local game shows.

U.S.A: Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore Show, Milton Berle, also many other local state shows.

Stevens also appeared in his own TV special behind the then Iron Curtain, in Bulgaria, the show was viewed by an estimated audience of 50 million, plus local TV shows in many countries.

ARTISTS APPEARED WITH: Shirley Bassey, Ben Vereen, Sir Howard Morrison, Liberace, Tessie O’Shea, Milton Berle, Paul Williams, Des O’Connor, Sammy Davis Jnr, Olivia Newton John, Lulu, Jack Jones, John Rowles, Mary & the Maori’s and many more

RECORDING COMPANIES: EMI, Magnet,CBS/Sony, York Records, Mad Maori Records (Own label)

RECORDS: My Elusive Dreams, If, Sandy Sandy, She’s Gone, Would You like to Learn to Dance, Vanilla O’lay, Come On, And Rock Me, Wish I Had Your Love, Rushing Waters, and many more.

ACTING PARTS: Diamonds are Forever (James Bond Movie) Hawaii Five O (Played a police Officer twice) M Station Hawaii, (CBS Movie of the week, a main role as a Russian Spy) Swiss Family Robinson, Hercules, Lawless, Matrix 2

AWARDS: Gold Disc for My Elusive Dreams, Silver Prize – 2nd Tokyo Music Festival, Gold Medal – Golden Orpheus Song Festival Bulgaria, Bronze Medal – Venezuela Song Festival, Bronze Medal – Spanish Song Festival, Outstanding Service Award to New Zealand Entertainment Industry. Wellingtonian of the Year (Arts Category) Paul Harris Fellow (Rotary), Member of New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)

Hi Robyn,
Frankie was great, and the day went very well.
Thanks for making it so easy.
Tess
Media Promotion Event

Hey Pete,
Just wanted to say it was great working with Frankie, he was an absolute champ the whole morning and a pleasure to work with! Will definitely look for future opportunities with him.
Thank you for facilitating this to happen.
Cheers,
Jed Misa

Frankie was great all our family and friends are still talking
Thanks
Rosemary Catherwood

Frank, was great. He helped make the night.
Many thanks
Robert Fowler (Bed Post NZ Ltd) 

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