Rolf Harris: The Novelty Folk-Pop Entertainer

Rolf Harris was an Australian-born entertainer whose multifaceted career in British television and music spanned over five decades. His musical output, a blend of novelty songs, folk-pop, and children's music, achieved remarkable commercial success in the UK and Australia during the 1960s and 1970s.

Early career

Born in Perth, Australia in 1930, Rolf Harris initially trained as a portrait painter before moving to England in 1952. He began performing on BBC television in the 1950s, combining his artistic skills with musical performances on unusual instruments like the wobble board and the stylophone.

Breakthrough

His major musical breakthrough came in 1960 with the release of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport". The single, released on Columbia Records, became a number one hit in Australia and reached the Top 10 in the UK, establishing his signature comedic and antipodean-themed style.

Key tracks

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport — This 1960 novelty song was his international breakthrough hit, defining his early Australian bush persona.

Sun Arise — A 1962 track featuring didgeridoo, it reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and broadened his musical palette.

Two Little Boys — His signature song, this 1969 sentimental ballad spent six weeks at number one in the UK and was the best-selling single of that year.

Jake the Peg — This 1965 comedic song about a three-legged man became a live favorite and a staple of his television shows.

Stairway to Heaven — His 1993 novelty cover of the Led Zeppelin classic, played on the stylophone, surprisingly reached number seven on the UK chart.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Harris became a ubiquitous family entertainer on British television, with his music often tied to these programs. His 1969 album "Rolf Harris" and the 1970 compilation "The Best of Rolf Harris" both achieved gold certification in the UK, reflecting his consistent popularity. His later chart success was sporadic but notable, including a 1992 top 20 hit with a cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" with The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

Similar artists in the novelty and folk-pop vein from Australia and the UK include Rolf Harris. For another Australian entertainer who blended comedy and music, explore Barry Humphries. The whimsical, child-friendly approach can be heard in the work of The Wiggles. For a British television personality with musical chart success, consider Keith Harris.

Rolf Harris's distinctive brand of folk-pop and novelty songs maintains a rotation on classic hits and nostalgia-focused radio stations. His biggest singles are regularly featured on programs dedicated to chart history from the 1960s and 70s, as well as on specialty shows highlighting novelty records and family entertainment music.

Listeners can explore the unique musical catalogue of Rolf Harris through the various radio stations available on onairium.com, where his classic hits remain a part of the enduring pop landscape.