Jack Christie

Jack was a New Zealand businessman and musician who recorded the first entirely New Zealand made country music records in 1949. Jack served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War where he'd regularly perform for servicemen and on local New Zealand radio as "The Singing Cowboy". He was employed at TANZA, New Zealand's first record label, where he worked in copyrights and helped Stan Dallas in the construction of the studio and record press. While here he recorded the first commercially available New Zealand made country music, releasing just over ten records in his five year recording history. His songs "Overlander Trail" and "The New Zealand Cowboy" were frequently played on local radio. Jack later founded and became involved with various businesses and the New Zealand Grand Prix, receiving an MBE in the 1989 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to manufacturing, sport and the community.