Mark Williams

Mark Williams is a New Zealand singer with Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) number one hit singles, "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life" and a cover of Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" (1977) before he relocated to Australia later that year. He has undertaken extensive touring in support of numerous Australian bands and worked in television. In 2006 he became the vocalist for the reformed New Zealand band, Dragon.

Biography Early years Williams was born in Te Kopuru, in the Northland region of New Zealand. At the age of 16 he joined a band called 'Face' with classmates. In September 1970, The Face went on to win the Northland heat of the National Battle of the Bands competition, and finishing third overall in the national grand final held in Auckland. In 1971, Face headed to Auckland where they got a gig at the Ōtāhuhu Community Centre paying $20 a week. The other members of Face were Willie Hona, Mack Tane and Gregg Findlay.

Lew Pryme of Impact Records was one of the judges in the competition and became their manager. The band were signed to Zodiac Records and released the single "Hangin' Around"/"Mr Postman". A national tour followed.

When the television show Happen Inn finished in 1973, it was replaced by Free Ride, hosted by Ray Columbus. In 1974 Pryme convinced Williams to leave Face (at the time featuring John Parker on guitar, Mark Fitt on bass and Paul Dunningham on drums) to pursue a solo career as Free Ride was being launched. After a national tour, Williams finally departed from "Face" in September 1974. Williams was well suited for the television role, which allowed him to perform in front of a national audience, gaining exposure. Late in 1974, Williams was signed to EMI Music by Alan Galbraith.

Record producer Alan Galbraith became the new manager of Williams who signed with CBS Records in Australia. He released the album Life After Dark in 1979, which failed to chart.

During the 1980s, Williams established himself as a session singer in Sydney singing many radio and TV commercials and become a favoured back up vocalist on albums by major Australian talent including; Eurogliders' Absolutely, The Church's Heyday, Renée Geyer's Live at the Basement and Jenny Morris's Body and Soul. In 1985, Williams formed a band called 'Boy Rocking' with Harry Brus and Mark Punch. The group were signed to CBS and released two singles without success. In 1987, Williams recorded the "Home and Away" theme song with Karen Boddington, which was released as a single in 1988. In 1988, Williams toured with Ian Moss on the hugely successful 'Matchbook' tour.

1990–2005: Australian fame and Mark Williams ZNZ

In 1989, Williams attempted to re-launch his music career and signed to Albert Productions.

He began working on new material with Harry Vanda and George Young of The Easybeats. In May 1990, Williams released "Show No Mercy" which peaked within the top ten in Australia and New Zealand. "Show No Mercy" was certified ARIA platinum certification in Australia, and was chosen to launch the 1990 New South Wales Rugby League grand final. The second single "Fix of Love" peaked at number 28 in Australia and Williams released his fifth studio album, Mark Williams ZNZ in August 1990.

Williams recorded and released his sixth studio album, Mind over Matter in 1992, with none of the three singles released making the top 50. In 1993, Williams recorded a cover of "Time After Time" with Tara Morice for the Strictly Ballroom soundtrack.

In 1995 he starred in Graham Murphy's dance show Fornicon and featured on its soundtrack release.

In 1999, EMI Music released another greatest hits compilation titled, The Very Best Of. Between 1999 and 2000, Williams worked as a vocal coach on the Australian Popstars series on the Seven Network, including the female pop group Bardot.

2006–present: Dragon and ROCKONZ Hall of Fame

In 2006, Williams was asked by Todd Hunter of the New Zealand rock band Dragon to join. In a 2013 interview, Williams recalls "Todd [Hunter] gave me a call out of the blue, flew me over, sat me at the kitchen table and said 'Hey, wanna join a rock and roll band?'". Williams said he agreed instantly. Since 2006, The band has toured Australia and New Zealand and has released four studio albums and two extended plays.

In 2010, Williams was inducted into the ROCKONZ Hall of Fame.

In 2024, Mark supported the Australian leg of the Boney M Farewell Tour.

Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Details Peak chartpositions NZ AUS Mark Williams Released: June 1975 Label: EMI Music Catalogue: HSD 1040 2 — Sweet Trials Released: March 1976 Label: EMI Music Catalogue: HSD 1046 14 — Taking It All In Stride Released: June 1977 Label: EMI Music Catalogue: HSD 1055 14 — Life After Dark Label: CBS Catalogue: SBP 237330 — — Mark Williams ZNZ Released: August 1990 Label: CBS/Albert Productions Catalogue: 466609 — 45 Mind over Matter Released: April 1993 Label: Albert Productions Catalogue: 472211 — 133 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Soundtracks + List of soundtracks, with selected details Title Details Dancing Daze(by Jenny Morris, Wendy Matthews, Mark Williams, Marc Hunter & Jane Clifton)Released: February 1986 Formats: LP, Cassette Label: ABC Music (RML 53191)Illusion(by Mark Williams, Wendy Matthews, Martin Armiger & Peter Blakeley)Released: 1986 Label: ABC Music (L 38529) Formats: LPFornicon(by Martin Armiger featuring Mark Williams)Released: 1995 Label: Wild Sound (OST 001) Formats: CD

Live albums + List of live albums, with selected details Title Details Live in New Zealand '75 Released: 30 July 2016 Label: Laneway Music

Compilations + List of compilations, with selected details Title Details Greatest Hits Released: Late 1977 Label: EMI Music Catalogue: HSD 1064 The Very Best of Mark Williams album Released: 1999 Label: EMI Music Catalogue: 5233472 The Singles Collection Released: 30 July 2016 Label: Laneway Music

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album NZ "Celebration" 1974 — — — Mark Williams "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life" 1975 1 — — "Sweet Wine" 7 — — Sweet Trials "If It Rains" 1976 25 — — "Taking It All in Stride" 14 — — Taking It All In Stride "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" 1977 1 — — "A House for Sale" 13 — — "Wanna Give You My Love" 1978 — — — Life After Dark "I Don't Want You Anymore" 1979 — — — "Throw Me a Line" 1980 — — — "Christmas Is a Lucky Time" 1985 — — — "Might Have Been"(with Jenny Morris and Wendy Matthews) 1986 — — — Dancing Daze (soundtrack) "K.1.W.1." (with Malcolm McCallum) 1988 — — — "Home and Away" (as Mark Williams and Karen Boddington) 1989 — 171 73 "Show No Mercy" 1990 9 8 — Mark Williams ZNZ "Fix of Love" — 28 — "Spell Is Broken" 1991 — 115 — "We Can Dream" 1992 — 95 — Mind over Matter "Time After Time" (as Mark Williams & Tara Morice) 18 82 — Strictly Ballroom "Slow Dance" 1993 — 139 — Mind over Matter "I Can't Help You Anymore" — — — "Feel for the Night" (German release) — — — Mark Williams ZNZ "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards New Zealand Music Awards The New Zealand Music Awards are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.

ROCKONZ Hall of Fame

Variety Artists Club of New Zealand The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. Each year the VAC presents prestigious awards to those involved with the entertainment industry.