Annie Crummer

Anne Crummer (born 1966) is a New Zealand pop singer and songwriter of Cook Islands descent who has seen success in both a solo career and as part of various musical groups.

Crummer represented New Zealand at the 1987 ABU Popular Song Contest with the song "It's That What Friends Are For", placing third.

Biography Crummer grew up in West Auckland. Her father, Will Crummer, a Cook Islander, was one of her strongest musical influences. Her mother Tangi is Tahitian. Crummer was a precocious singer, performing at Cook Island nightclubs and shopping mall talent quests. At the age of 9, Will Crummer tried to interest her in piano lessons and took her to singing coach Sister Mary Leo, but Crummer preferred to learn from her father. She was one of the five founders of the all-female band When The Cat's Away in 1986; their cover of the 1969 Blue Mink song "Melting Pot" topped the charts in New Zealand, and the band won Group of the Year in the 1989 New Zealand Music Awards. In 1993 she had a role on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and recorded a single "Keeping Up the Love Thing", which featured on the show. In 1996, she was chosen as the supporting act for Michael Jackson's New Zealand tour.

Crummer was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult and says she cannot read or write or read music, but she credits her dyslexia with giving her a heightened sense of musical appreciation. She did one semester of Cook Islands Māori language at the University of Auckland in 2000.

Part of her work in the music industry has been mentoring in song writing and performing, including in prisons and for Smokefree Rock Quest. and played the Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (WWRY) in Melbourne in 2005. The Australian production of WWRY toured throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and South Africa. Crummer reprised her role in 2019. She is currently working on her third album, Project Annie C. In the same year she also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pacific Music Awards.

In December 2021 Crummer and the other four members of When the Cats Away were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the Aotearoa Music Awards in recognition of their contributions to New Zealand music.

Discography

Compilation appearances The following albums have featured tracks by Crummer.

(1996) – In The Neighbourhood (Warner Music) – Language (1998) – New Zealand Compositions (Centre For New Zealand Music) – I Hope I Never (with ENZSO) (2011) – Shoebox Lovesongs: the Rarotongan Music of Will Crummer (Ode Records)

Singles as main artist

Year Title Peak chart positions Album NZ "See Forever" — — 1993 "Seven Waters" 18 — "Let It Shine" 11 — Non-album single 1996 "State of Grace" 8 52 Seventh Wave "U Soul Me" 21 48 1997 "I Come Alive" — — 2002 "Love Not War" 46 — Non-album single 2010 "Had It Comin'" — — Non-album single 2010 "Let It Fly" — — 2010 "Ocean Moon (1st Tide Mix)" — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles as featured artist

Year Title Peak chart positions Album NZ AUS 1985 "For Today"(with the Netherworld Dancing Toys) 3 — Painted Years 1986 "Ngoi Ngoi"(with the Pātea Māori Club) — — Poi E 1988 "Melting Pot"(with When the Cat's Away) 1 103 Non-album single "New Zealand Expo Song: God Defend New Zealand"(as the Pātea Māori Club) — — Non-album single 1989 "Free Ride"(with When the Cat's Away) 12 — Non-album single 1993 "Keeping Up the Love Thing"(as The Katene Sisters) 3 — Non-album single 1996 "I Hope I Never"(as part of ENZSO) — — ENZSO 2003 "Another One Bites the Dust"(with Queen) — — Non-album single "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.