Iconic Entertainer - Frankie Stevens

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. In 1970 he married his childhood sweetheart Margaret. They have two children, Amanda and Taryn.

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.

He also starred in his own show at the Nassau Beach Hotel in the Bahamas, and 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 the Continent as far as Northern Scandinavia. 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.

One of his personal highlights was having the opportunity to tour New Zealand with Sir Howard Morrison.

He has appeared live on Television in recent years in the following shows:
· Schweppes Show Time Spectacular
· Coca Cola Christmas in The Park (1997/98/99/2000/01)
· 1998 Christmas Lotto Draw

Stevens has hosted the “Miss New Zealand Show” on four separate occasions and has been invited to once again host in March 2000.

Recently he has performed in numerous Corporate Events throughout New Zealand and overseas, culminating in a personal highlight as the Master of Ceremonies for the Governor-Generals Waitangi Day Celebrations held at Government House in Wellington.

As an Actor in recent years Stevens has guested in the following Television Series:

· Hercules
· Swiss Family Robinson
· Lawless

Stevens recently completed his contract with the New Zealand Millennium Office. His role was as events coordinator working on New Zealands Official Millennium Programme.

Since then he has event managed or been involved with many large and small events such as the Aotearoa National Maori Rugby League Tournament, the Capital Shakers Netball team in the Coca Cola Cup.

As a performer in 2001 he has hosted and sang at some of
the following major events
· Air New Zealand Queenstown Winter Festival
· Tyco International Conference in Hawaii
· New Zealand Tourism Awards
· New Zealand House of the Year Awards
· Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2001
· Master Builders of South Australia Excellence Awards in Adelaide
· The Evening Post College Sportsperson of the Year Awards
· The Maori Sports Awards 2001

He is currently filming the Matrix 2 at Fox Studios in Sydney.

Countries he has performed in are - New Zealand, Australia, England, USA, Canada, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Spain, Bulgaria, South America, Scandinavia, South Africa.

Television shows he has appeared in:

New Zealand- This is Frankie Stevens, Ray Wolfe Show, Tip Top TV Special, Huia Pacific, Miss New Zealand Show, The Royal Command Performance. Christmas in the Park 1998/99/2000 & 2001, The Maori Sports Awards 2000 & 2001

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, Top of the Pops, Stars on Sunday – plus local gaming shows.

U.S.A: Johnny Carson, 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: John Rowles, Shirley Bassey, Ben Vereen, Howard Morrison, Liberace, Tessie O’Shea, Milton Berle, Paul Williams, Des O’Connor, Sammy Davis Jnr, Olivia Newton John, Lulu, Jack Jones.

RECORDING COMPANIES: EMI, Magnet, and CBS/Sony

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.