Cate, William, 1940-

Date: 25 Feb 1993

From: Pop Music Oral History Project

By: Cate, William, 1940-

Reference: OHInt-0485-13

Description: William Cate was born in Lower Hutt, in 1940. Talks about his father who worked in Petone Wollen Mills until death in cricket accident around 1945, his mother and sister. Names mother's second husband Dick Richards, brother of Jock Richards. Describes Jock Richards, the 1924 Invicible's All Black rugby captain, and his invovlement with the television documentary on the New Zealand Rugby Union's centenary celebrations. Recalls early piano and dance lessons at the Dorothy Daniel's School of Dancing, performances at the Variety Company in Petone singing war tunes, 2ZB radio broadcasts and concerts at the Saint James Theatre and Wellington Town Hall under George Miller. Talks about education at Naenae College including fellow student Bob Jones, contemporary fashions, social events and dances. Describes meeting classmate Bill Robertson and ukelele duets. Outlines graduation, work from 1959 and university classes at Victoria University. Talks about song writing, early gigs with Bill, marriage to Gail Rogers in 1964 and fellow musicians Benny Dick, Denny and John Mahon, Mick Dawson and Don Richardson. Describes radio show the Lever Hit Parade, government controlled broadcasting, seeing Johnny Devlin in 1959 and the Everly Brothers. Outlines development of 'Bill and Boyd' routine and use of backing bands. Recalls first record release in 1959, Auckland variety shows and Showtime Spectaculars with Howard Morrison. Mentions Jock Newbits Big Band, Harry Miller, Tony Williams and Jimmy Rogers. Compares Auckland and Wellington club scenes and touches on youth clubs. Outlines performances with the Premiers, Don Linden, Peter Posa and the Howard Morrison Quartet and record detail with EMI studios in Wellington. Names technician Frank Douglas. Discusses acts and tours with Jimmy Rogers, Chubby Checker, Johnny Mathis, Frankie Vallee and the Four Seasons, Tijuana Brass, the Seekers, Bob Hope, Janice Ian, Herb Alpert, Harry Secombe and Glen Cambpell in New Zealand, Australia, United States, Britain and South Africa. Mentions Doug Elliot, Harry Miller, Benny Levin and and Graham Dent. Recalls royal performance for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Compares recording and live performances and talks about professionalism in the music industry. Discusses multiple performances on Band Stand, Max Merritt and the Meteors, the Beatles, musicians fees, work loads and the 1975 Australian telethon to raise money for Darwin after Cyclone Tracy destruction. Names gold record song 'Santa never made it to Darwin'. Recalls Bill Robertson's retirement from Bill and Boyd in 1989. Talks about new partner Des Gibson, computer-sequenced accompaniments and his children. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Roger Watkins Accompanying material - Leaflet with history of `Bill & Boyd' Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005038-005040; OHLC-1001164-001166 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2076. 4 photographs of `Bill & Boyd'

Date: 1955-1971

By: Hill, Morris James, 1929-2002

Reference: PA-Group-00375

Description: Wellington, openings of Parliament, politicians, Governors General, show personalities, Antarctic teams, police, army, visiting diplomats and heads of state, ship visits, memorials, RNZAF, fighter planes and fighter plane training, rugby and rugby players and selectors, film censorship, conferences, agricultural air shows, artists, royalty, manufacturing industries, models and fashion parades, New Zealand Players, etc Source of title - Title supplied by Library Arrangement: Negatives housed at 35mm-18037 to 18703, 120-0881 to 0959, 1/4-071736 to 072044, 1/2-177020 to 177461. Quantity: 1483 b&w original negative(s) 78 120 strips comprising 158 images, 666 35mm strips comprising 1,976 images, 308 1/4 plate negs, 441 1/2 plate negs. Total images 2,883. Finding Aids: Library generated negative registers provide a good access point to this collection. The negatives are listed within subject groupings.. Processing information: Originally arranged and described in 1995. Reference number changed from PAColl-4814 to PA-Group-00375 in 2009.

Date: 27 Feb 1993

From: Pop Music Oral History Project

By: Robertson, William Boyd, 1941-

Reference: OHInt-0485-16

Description: William Boyd Robertson was born in Wellington, in 1941. Outlines naming of group Bill and Boyd and mentions previous name The Two Lads. Talks about his parents, education in Lower Hutt and meeting Bill Cate. Mentions Selwyn Toogood's Lever Hit Parade radio program. Discusses big band dance music, early musical influences, American fashions, Johnny Devlin and introduction to the New Zealand music industry. Outlines education and training as draughtsman and engineer for the Ministry of Works. Describes work as Bill and Boyd in Auckland with Don Richardson, recording processes and equipment, record releases and radio interviews. Recalls spot on television show and tour of Harry M Miller's Showtime Spectacular. Talks about Auckland venues, Peter Posa, Max Merritt, Peter Sinclair and Lou and Simon. Outlines work in Australia in 1964 and introduction of Beatle mania. Outlines Bill and Boyd's New Zealand tour, marriage in 1965 to Rosalie Evans and success in Australia and the Pacific. Discusses Johnny O'Keefe, tour with the Seekers in 1966, the Beatles, Sandy Paterson, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and Sherwin Bash. Recounts time spent in United States. Talks about birth of his children in 1970 and 1972. Describes time spent in England including performances, record deals, television exposure and his return to New Zealand in 1973 after the death of his father. Touches on South African tour 1974. Describes Darwin Cyclone and Bill Cate's song 'Santa never made it into Darwin'. Talks in detail about collaboration and touring with Glen Campbell. Recounts end of Bill and Boyd and subsequent career in real estate. Discusses Ray Columbus, Eldred Stebbing, Brian Henderson, Roger Whiteman, Spike Jones, the City Slickers, the Kingston Trio, Ronny Green, the Everly Brothers, Pat Boone, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, James Smiths, Pat Mc Minn, Red Hewitt and the Buccaneers, Keith Anderson, the Morrisons, Toni Williams, the Tremellos, Joe Brown, Ricky May, Penny Lane, the Seekers, the New Seekers, Mike Walsh, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny Farral, Tom Jones, Wings, Paul McCartney, David Mackay, Barry Crocker, Johnny Mathis, Harry Secombe, Dinah Lee and Margaret Urlich. Interviewer(s) - Roger Watkins Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005047-5050; OHLC-001173-001176 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 4 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2091.

Date: [ca 1956?]

From: Robertson, Boyd : Sound recordings

By: Robertson, William Boyd, 1941-; Cate, William, 1940-

Reference: MSD10-0059

Description: Other - This is the only disc that exists although Boyd thinks that he may have the original tape somewhere (information from Roger Watkins). Label: Hi-Fi First recording made by Bill & Boyd. It was made from a tape they recorded on an old Phillips machine in Boyd's bedroom in Naenae in the mid 1950s. Quantity: 1 10" disc(s). Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - (A93-301) - Donor Mr Boyd Robertson, Australia

Date: [ca 1956?]

By: Robertson, William Boyd, 1941-; Cate, William, 1940-

Reference: 93-301

Description: The Two lads; Angel, sung by Bill and Boyd Performer: Bill and Boyd (voc) Quantity: 2 10" disc(s) acetate discs.

Date: [ca 1956]

From: Robertson, Boyd : Sound recordings

By: Robertson, William Boyd, 1941-; Cate, William, 1940-

Reference: MSD10-0058

Description: Other - This is one of only two copies that exist (information from Roger Watkins 3 Mar 1993). Source of title - The Two lads was what they called themselves before deciding that Bill and Boyd sounded better (information from Roger Watkins). Contents: Carol -- Angel -- Mr Blue -- Come along with me Label: Hi-fi Responsibility - Made with friends from school playing other instruments, late 1950s. Quantity: 1 10" disc(s). Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - (A93-301) - Donor Mr Boyd Robertson, Australia

Date: November 1964

From: Hill, Morris James, 1929-2002 :Negatives of Wellington, and national events and personalities

Reference: 1/4-071861-F

Description: The wedding of Bill Cate, of the pop group Bill and Boyd. Photograph taken November 1964 by Morrie Hill of Wellington. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate negative

Date: November 1964

From: Hill, Morris James, 1929-2002 :Negatives of Wellington, and national events and personalities

Reference: 1/4-071860-F

Description: The wedding of Bill Cate, of the pop group Bill and Boyd. Photograph taken November 1964 by Morrie Hill of Wellington. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate negative