How many entertainers from Australasia can claim to have partied with Elvis, talked footy with Tom Jones, dated I dream of Jeannie’s Barbara Eden, headlined a Vegas show room, and had chart success in the US, the UK and Australia and New Zealand for the past 40 years? You’re about to find out when John Rowles heads to regional Queensland this August.

Born and bred in New Zealand, John Rowles’ big break came at age 20 when he was discovered by CLIFF RICHARD'S manager PETER GORMLEY. Under the guidance of Gormley, Rowles' fan base exploded following the release of his debut single IF ONLY I HAD TIME. The single reached number two in the UK, New Zealand and Australia and saw Rowles perform on some of the world's biggest television programs and most famous stages.

As well as appearances on TOP OF THE POPS and THE BOB HOPE SHOW, Rowles was invited to perform to a crowd of 68,000 at a NASA benefit concert.

John’s relationship with Australia has spanned 46 years when he and fellow New Zealander Eddie Low moved to Australia in 1963 after signing a nine-month contract to sing at the Riverside Inn in Melbourne. After that contract expired, John moved to Sydney and joined a group called ‘The Dingdongers’. John stayed with them for about a year and during his time with them, the group changed their name to ‘The Sundowners’.

By 1966, John was given a new image, changed his hair style, wore new mod clothes and placed paramount importance on putting effort and action into his music and performances. He appeared on Australian television's "New Faces Of 1966" under the pseudonym of "The Secret", and he was so popular that there were huge numbers of offers for work. He was then launched on the Australian music world as JA-AR and promoters were scrambling to sign him up.

In 1967, John went to England where he met up with producer Mike Leander. Mike was impressed with John and together they started planning John's attack on the British market. England already had Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck, but with careful selection of songs, Mike was convinced that John could have the same level of impact. The first release in England came early in 1968 and was "If I Only Had Time"/"Now Is The Hour". This was a huge hit, reaching number 2 on the British charts, number 6 in Australia and number 1 in New Zealand. A self titled album containing the hit was also released.

The follow-up single, not from the album, later in 1968 was almost as popular as the first. "Hush Not A Word To Mary"/"The Night We Called It A Day" reached 12 on the British charts, 11 in Australia and number 9 in New Zealand.

John went on sell-out tours that included places like Italy, Germany and Spain. Also in 1969 John was invited to represent New Zealand in the Rio De Janeiro Song Festival. He wrote a song especially for the event and it was called "Cheryl Moana Marie", named after one of his sisters. There were 42 countries represented at the festival and John's song was voted in at number 5.

In 1972, still at the young age of 25, John signed a 5 year contract with the Royal Hawaiian Hotel to sing in their Monarch Room. This is the famous hotel in Waikiki also known as the Pink Palace. The song Cheryl Moana Marie went on to become a huge No. 1 hit for John in Hawaii.

In 1980 John sang at a Royal Command Performance before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke Of Edinburgh in Auckland, and was also awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his contribution to the music industry and also as an ambassador for the promotion of New Zealand overseas.

In 1991 he released the album "From A Distance", which was recorded in Sydney and produced by Mike Harvey. It is an inspirational album and has been a big seller in Australia.

At age 62 John Rowles shows no sign of slowing down. He has just completed two full scale tours of New Zealand in the last two years, appeared in the New Zealand version of ‘Dancing with the stars’, had a documentary produced on his life called ‘The Secret Life of John Rowles’, and has recently announced a ‘Comeback’ special show in Honolulu presented by Tom Moffatt, the man who promoted Elvis Presley’s 1977 comeback special. Oozing the dazzling style of a true Las Vegas showman, the new album sees John’s voice at its spine tingling best with an amazing rendition of Sinatra’s ‘My Way’, long a fixture of John’s live shows amongst the highlights. The voice is better than ever, and the fans are more than ever showing their affection for an entertainer who has always given 100% to them.