Harry M Miller was born in Auckland in 1934. He was driven and ambitious. He saw opportunities, had ideas and followed these through, even though some of the projects he embarked on were not easy. One of the first things he became known for in New Zealand was as the manager of the Howard Morrison Quartet from 1959. He promoted Showtime Spectacular tours that had the quartet as headliners. He noted these shows were “full-blooded fun and foot-stamping entertainment.”

In the early 60s he brought overseas artists like jazz greats DIzzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald on tour to NZ. Often he handled the NZ leg of an Australasian tour alongside high profile promoter Lee Gordon who booked acts to tour Australia. In the early 60s Harry allowed people in NZ the chance to see popular stars like Connie Francis, Bobby Vee, the Everly Bros, Gene Pitney and Chubby Checker. In 1964 he cashed in on the Mersey sound, with the Liverpool Sound tour that included Gerry and the Pacemakers plus Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. The 1965 tour he promoted by the Rolling Stones was a highlight for him. He commented: “Of all the pop and rock ‘n’ roll shows I presented none was as exhilarating as that first tour by the Rolling Stones.”  He ended his days of promoting pop and rock in 1968.

Harry had moved to Australia in 1963 where he moved on to more projects including buying the rights to Hair so it could be performed in Australia and New Zealand. It began in Sydney in June 1969. Jesus Christ Superstar followed then The Rocky Horror Picture Show. All were big theatrical productions.

He died this week (July 2018). Part of his legacy is the exposure he provided the Howard Morrison Quartet throughout the lifetime of that group. Part of his legacy is the sheer volume of entertainment he supplied to Australian and NZ audiences for decades.

Several books have been written about his life, including My Story: Harry M Miller, as told to Denis O’Brien which is the source of the quotes above and Harry M Miller: confessions of a not so secret agent written by Harry with Peter Holder.