Rolf Harris: The Novelty Folk and Pop Entertainer
Rolf Harris was an Australian-born entertainer whose multifaceted career in music, television, and art spanned over half a century. From Perth, he achieved major chart success in the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s with a series of distinctive novelty and folk-infused songs.
Early career
Born in 1930 in Bassendean, Western Australia, Harris initially trained as a portrait painter before moving to London in 1952. His musical journey began with the didgeridoo and the stylophone, leading to his first UK single, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport," released on Columbia Records in 1960.
Breakthrough
His 1969 single "Two Little Boys," released on the Columbia label, became a defining breakthrough. The song topped the UK Singles Chart for six weeks during the Christmas period and eventually sold over one million copies in the UK, earning a gold certification.
Key tracks
Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport — This 1960 novelty track, featuring his own didgeridoo playing, became his first major hit and established his Australian-themed persona.
Two Little Boys — His signature number-one hit, this sentimental ballad defined his peak commercial success and remains one of the best-selling singles of the era in the UK.
Sun Arise — Featuring the didgeridoo prominently, this 1962 track reached number three on the UK chart and showcased his incorporation of Australian elements into pop music.
Jake the Peg — This 1965 comedic song, complete with a humorous stage routine about a man with an extra leg, became a staple of his live television performances.
Stairway to Heaven — His 1993 novelty cover of the Led Zeppelin classic, played on the stylophone, surprisingly reached number seven on the UK chart, demonstrating his enduring public profile.
Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Harris became a ubiquitous family television personality in the UK, hosting popular shows like "Rolf's Cartoon Club." His recording output continued intermittently, often tied to his TV work, though he never again matched the chart heights of his late-60s peak. His artistic pursuits ran parallel, with several painting programs and a notable portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
For a similar blend of novelty and folk from Australian artists, explore The Wiggles. Their children's music shares a focus on simple, catchy themes and broad family appeal. The storytelling style of Barry Humphries through his Dame Edna character offers a comparable mix of comedy and music. The folk-pop sensibility can also be heard in the work of John Williamson, who celebrates Australian culture in his songs.
Rolf Harris's music maintains a rotation on classic pop and nostalgia-focused FM stations, as well as on specialized online radio streams dedicated to the sounds of the 1960s and 1970s. His biggest hits are regularly featured in retrospective chart shows and era-specific programming blocks.
Listeners can discover the music of Rolf Harris, from his novelty folk beginnings to his chart-topping ballads, through the curated playlists of various radio stations available on onairium.com. Tune in to hear the tracks that defined a unique chapter in pop entertainment history.
