Songs of diamond sophistication, ballads with the warmth and depth of a truly great merlot. Towering show tunes, irresistible pop, modern blue’s or an artfully-chosen country selection. Suzanne Prentice enthralls in almost any style in the adult contemporary soundscape, but far from drowning in the diversity she personalizes each one with a voice unlike any other. A voice that is famously mellow, yet capable of rare power. They say it could bring grace to a barn, warmth to a cathedral.
Consider the company she keeps. Suzanne has performed among a pantheon of the worlds stars from the brilliance of Roy Orbison, to the airy escapism of The Beach Boys, the fragile beauty of Emmylou Harris, the classical genius of Stephen Grappelli, the down-home amiability of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers and even the manic mischief of Britain’s Michael Barrymore, Morecombe and Wise and the ultimate professionalism of Julio Iglesias.
Suzanne draws standing ovations from a widely divergent audience, be they at Nashville’s ‘Grand Ole Opry, London’s Wembley Stadium or a 23,000 strong crowd that gathered to hear Julio Inglesius, only to find themselves swept away by her performance to make her the star of the show.
Suzanne’s repertoire is far broader today taking her from haunting ballads to pop, country to belting out a rock classic. Suzanne creates a unique rapport seldom seen with any audience.
She is truly a class act, the consummate professional.
Ideal for: corporate function, private party, wedding, concert, festival
The Suzanne Prentice Story
Suzanne began her career at the age of 12. She first appeared on television in a talent show called ‘New Faces’ on which she sang her much loved song ‘Funny Face’. Although the song was never placed, the performance won her many fans and overnight made her a household name in New Zealand. A few months later her debut album went gold within two weeks. She then went on to perform in the television show ‘The Entertainers’ and won top honors with ‘Love is Like a Butterfly’, from there travelling to perform for the first time in Britain.
Suzanne’s open, ingenuous smile belies her depth of experience. Her star was already ascendant throughout Australasia when in 1975 she became a professional performer at the age of 17. Her recording career since then has proven a series of gold, platinum and multi-platinum successes. Her album, One Day at a Time, went triple platinum and was Australasia’s top selling country album of 1980, joining Sweet Country Music, The Wedding Song and Dust On Mothers Bible as some of her most striking trans-Tasman successes. In 1997 Suzanne’s handprints and name were placed in concrete at the ‘’Hands of Fame’’ in Tamworth, Australia, as a tribute and lasting memorial to the personalities who have shaped Australian music.
Suzanne repeated her ‘Hands of Fame’ tribute at the ‘‘New Zealand Hands of Fame’’.
She was voted the 1986 New Zealand Entertainer of the Year, and has been the recipient of three Australian Gold Guitar Awards. Suzanne has more awards and platinum albums than any other New Zealand entertainer. Any album she releases is virtually guaranteed to reach gold or platinum sales status.
During a lengthy stay in the United States, Suzanne worked with one of America’s most respected singer-songwriters, Gary Morris who starred in the Broadway, London and German productions of Les Miserables. Morris had expressed a desire to produce an album for her. The recording was made in one of Nashville’s most prestigious studios with some of America’s most experienced and well known musicians.
Suzanne tours internationally and has worked extensively in television, theatre and cabaret for 40 years. She was asked to sing for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Variety Performance in Auckland, and played to a packed Wembley Stadium alongside Crystal Gayle, Tammy Wynette, George Jones and Kris Kristoffersen to name a few. She spent many years touring Canada and has appeared on the well loved and respected George Hamilton IV television series. She enjoyed numerous appearances in the United States on the cable television series That’s Country, as well as appearing on her own television specials in New Zealand and Australia.
Suzanne has also used her own celebrity status in deeply personal ways. She created and headlined over 700 Kid’s for Kid’s shows leading over 800,000 children, helping youngsters into the spotlight while at the same time raising the awareness of underprivileged children around the world.
Suzanne was filming documentary footage in India in 1995 when she heard that she had received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honor’s for her services to music.
Suzanne performed alongside Julio Inglesius, The Beach Boys and Michael Barrymore. Her work with Barrymore culminated in London’s West End Show ‘Barrymore Live’
Suzanne’s numerous albums have seen her honored in a variety of ways. Her Gold, Platinum and Multi Platinum Disc’s are testament to her popularity and success.
Other awards and honors include being repeatedly named as New Zealand’s Best Female Vocalist and RIANZ NZ Music Industry Awards.
The awards have kept coming. Suzanne was honored by Rotary International as a recipient of the ‘Paul Harris Fellow Award’ in 2002.
In 2008 she was delighted and humbled to receive the NZCMA Country Music Legend Award.
2009 Suzanne was honored to receive the New Zealand Variety Artist’s Club award for NZ Top Female Vocalist.
Closer to home, Suzanne was an elected member of the Invercargill Licensing Trust for two terms, both times being the top polling candidate. She was voted into the position of Deputy President by her fellow board members for her second term, thus making history by being the first female deputy president in the trust’s history.
2013 Suzanne returned to the ILT to again represent and work for the people of Invercargill, her hometown.
In 2012 Suzanne released her first studio album in 17 years, which went to number one on the New Zealand Music charts within days.
2013 saw her latest album ‘The Very Best of Suzanne Prentice - 1973-2013’ released, celebrating 40 years of a truly international career.
Within weeks, once again for Suzanne, this album went into the NZ music charts and attained gold status.
Silver Threads and Golden Needles
That’s What Friends Are For One Day at a Time
I’ll Do It All Over Again
I’ll Never Love This Way Again
I Have Loved Me A Man
Daydream Believer
Runaway
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
24 Hours From Tulsa
Sweet Country Music
Rose Garden
What I’ve Got In Mind
Rolling In The Deep
Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)
Different Drum
Hallelujah
Snowbird
Far Away Places
Zoot Suit Riot
All I Ever Need Is You
It’s Only Make Believe
Danny Boy
Somebody’s Knocking
I Only Want To Be With You
Joanne
When I Grow Too Old To Dream
Jambalaya
Last Time I Saw Him
Power Of Love
River Deep Mountain High
All By Myself
I Only Want To Be With You
Let Me Be There
Womanhood
Rivers of Babylon
Wish I Was Waltzing With You
Jonny B Goode
Crazy
Delta Dawn
Here You Come Again
Another Sleepless Night
The Old Rugged Cross
Could I Have This Dance
Simply The Best
Hit The Road Jack
Amazing Grace
Tennessee Waltz
Single Girl
When I Dream
Funny Face
You Make Loving Fun
That Ole Devil Called Love
Country Roads
With Pen In Hand
I Can’t Make You Love Me
Misty Blue
You Needed Me
Son Of A Preacher Man
Talking In Your Sleep
True Love Ways
I’m Little But I’m Loud
How Great Thou Art
Unforgettable
Dust on Mothers Bible
The Rose
Indelibly Blue
Lovesick Blues
Walking After Midnight
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Rolling In My Sweet Babies Arms
Amazing Grace
Wind Beneath My Wings
Memory
White Cliffs Of Dover
Rocky Top
Seattle
Crying in the Chapel
From A Distance
When Will I Be Loved
When I Fall In Love
Right Time Of The Night
Save The Best For Last
Make Love To Me
I Dreamed A Dream
The Story Of My Life
You’re The Voice
Somewhere
Hello Again
I Know Him So Well
Without You
You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
River Road
For The Good Times
Sweet Music Man
Why Baby Why
Love Me Tender
I’d Be A Fool
So Glad You Made It
I Fall To Pieces
Back In Babies Arms
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Love Is Like A Butterfly
Honk Tonk Merry Go Round
Rhythm In My Soul
Lonely Street
Poor Mans Roses
Step Inside Love
The Wedding Song
Say A Little Prayer
It’s A Heartache
My Way
Crazy Arms
Bonaparte’s Retreat
The Happiest Girl In The Whole USA
AWARDS AND HONOURS
New Zealand Awards
1977 - NZ Rising Star
1981 - RIANZ NZ Music Industry Awards - Best Female Vocalist
1981 - Pegasus Award - Best Female Vocalist
1982 - RIANZ NZ Music Industry Awards - Best Female Vocalist
1983 - RIANZ NZ Music Industry Awards - Best Female Vocalist - Best Country Record of the Year
1986 - Recording Industry Awards - Best Country Single
1986 - NZ Entertainer of the Year
2008 - NZCMA Country Music Legend Award
2009 - Variety Artists of New Zealand - Top Female Vocalist
NEW ZEALAND HONOURS
1987 - NZ Sport and Cultural Ambassador for New Zealand
1990 - NZ 1990 Commemoration Award
1995 - Order of the British Empire (OBE)
AUSTRALASIAN AWARDS PRESENTED IN AUSTRALIA
1974 - Australasian Best Female Vocalist
1977 - Australasian Best Female Vocalist
1978 - Australasian Best Female Vocalist - Australasian Best Selling Album - Best Australasian & NZ Fan Club Award
UNITED STATED AWARDS
Ampex Gold Reel Award for excellence in recording
1983 - Album - When I Dream
1991 - Album - Legends Alive
GOLD DISC AWARDS
‘Country Girl’ (First Album) - ‘Selections’
‘Suzanne’s Second Album’- 'Sweet Country Music’
‘Suzanne Prentice Gold’ - ‘Songs from the Heart’
‘One Day at a Time’- ‘Legends Alive’
‘Suzanne Prentice – Country Gold’ - ‘On Top of the World’
‘Suzanne Prentice – Any News’
‘The Very Best of Suzanne Prentice 1973-2013’
PLATINIUM & DOUBLE PLATINUM DISC AWARDS
Double Platinum
‘Suzanne’s Second Album’
‘One Day at a Time’
‘When I Dream’
Platinum
‘So Precious to Me’
‘Silver Anniversary Suzanne Prentice’
‘Sweet Country Music’
TELEVISION
NEW ZEALAND
Eileen Cooke Show
New Faces
McDonalds Young entertainers
Aprils Angels
Lotto Birthday Presentation
The Entertainers
Studio One
Country Touch (Series)
Everything is Beautiful
Touch of Country (Series)
Stars on Sunday (Series)
Stars on Sunday - Britain
That’s Country (Series)
That’s Country – USA (Series)
25 Years of Television (Special)
The Royal Variety Show
Suzanne Prentice Television Special
Give Us A Clue (Series)
Christmas Television Special
Numerous Chat Shows and Award Presentations
An Evening with Suzanne Prentice and Ed Bruce Special
Good Morning
Holmes
Close Up
Christmas in the Park
Campbell Live
Brunch
USA
American Cable Television Special
American International Fanfare
Host of International Fanfare Television Presentation
An Evening with Suzanne Prentice and Ed Bruce Special
That’s Country (Series)
CANADA
George Hamilton IV Shows
British Columbia Tonight
Numerous Magazine Shows
AUSTRALIA
Australasian Music Awards
Suzanne Prentice and Friends Television Special
Ray Martin Show
Good Morning Australia
GREAT BRITAIN
Wembley Television Special BBC
(Also screened in Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and Greenland)
George Hamilton IV Shows
Stars on Sunday
A FEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS WORKED WITH
Julio Iglesias
Roy Orbison
Kris Kristoffersen
Stephen Grapelli
Dolly Parton
Ray Charles
Morecombe & Wise
Michael Barrymore
Manfred Mann
Hayley Westernra
Boxcar Willie
Terri Gibb
Little Jimmy Dickens
John Farnham
John Williamson
Bill & Boyd
Slim Dusty
Ann Kirkpatrick
Gina Jeffreys
Lee Kernaghan
Ed Bruce
Billy Jo Spears
Kenny Rogers
Emmylou Harris
Crystal Gayle
The Beach Boys
Tammy Wynette
George Hamilton IV
Tom T Hall
George Jones
Hank Snow
Kamahl
Helen Worth (Coronation Street)
Hi David,
Yes the concert went very well and Suzanne was great.
Cheers, Noeleen
Fundraiser Concert
Isaac Theatre Royale, Christchurch