Lou Paul

aka Uramao Paora, Lu Paul, Ruru Paul


A rising star of New Zealand music, Lou Paul was killed when he stepped on a landmine in Italy during the Second World War. In an alternative history, he would have been the first to release a locally written song on disc: he already had the momentum to go far.

Paul was a well-known singer in Auckland in the late 1930s, on 1ZB and stages throughout the city.. But his career was cut short on 7 December 1943 while serving with 28 Māori Battalion.

Lou Paul of 1ZB, photographed for the Radio Record, 1938.
Photo credit: RNZ Infofind
Lou Paul's recording of Walter Smith's King Tawhiao', recorded in Auckland with Ted Croad's Band, c. 1939, and pressed in the United States. Beacon Recording Studios were in the Riverslea Building on Customs St, Auckland. 
Photo credit: Brian Wafer
Lou Paul on the cover of the Radio Record, 4 March 1938. 
Photo credit: RNZ Infofind
Clifton Firth's full-length portrait of Lou Paul when he was an announcer at 1ZB. This photo was used on the cover of Radio Record, 4 March 1938. 
Photo credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 34-P1A
Lou Paul performs at a charity concert in Auckland; among the other acts is Ramai Te Miha, actor and filmmaker (aka Ramai Hayward). 
Photo credit: Auckland Star, 1 June 1940
Label for Lou Paul's recording of 'Beneath the Māori Moon' with Ted Croad's Band, c. 1939.
Photo credit: RNZ Sound Archive
Lou Paul appears at a 1ZB community singing event at the Majestic, Auckland. 
Photo credit: Auckland Star, 3 August 1938
A portrait of Lou Paul, taken by Clifton Firth in Auckland, c. 1938
Photo credit: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 34-P1B
A medium shot of Lou Paul, taken by Clifton Firth in Auckland, c. 1938. 
Photo credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 34-P1C
Lou Paul performs at the Auckland Town Hall with his Māori Party.
Photo credit: NZ Herald, 1 February 1938
A close-up of Lou Paul when he was at 1ZB, taken by Clifton Firth c.1938. 
Photo credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 34-P1D
Tributes to Lou Paul in the NZ Herald, 7 December 1944, a year after his death. 
Lou Paul, a 1940 caricature. 
Lou Paul's portrait while with 28 Māori Battalion, early 1940s.
Lou Paul, 1939. 
The Northern Advocate announces Lou Paul's death, two weeks earlier in Italy, 23 December 1943. 

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