Mark Williams

aka Boy Rocking


Mark Williams was the face of NZ pop in the late 1970s with the runaway success of two No.1 singles ‘Yesterday Was Just The Beginning of My Life’ (1975) and ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ (1977).

These radio-friendly singles came from three albums produced by Lower Hutt-based HMV in-house producer Alan GalbraithMark Williams (1975), Sweet Trials (1976) and Taking It All In Stride (1977). They charted No.2, No.14 and No.14 respectively. Tracks from these pop-soul albums are now viewed as rare groove classics by soul music fans.

Mark Williams, circa 1975
Photo credit: Phil Warren Collection
Mark Williams on stage in 1976 with the Coast to Coast Band. Among the musicians are Rick White, Bruce Robinson, Gavin Peacock, Alistair McQuillan, Paul Boyes and Daryl Kidd
Photo credit: Rick White collection
Mark Williams with Peter Hitchcock in the EMI Studio, Lower Hutt, Wellington 1976
Mark Williams - Career Overview
Face, featuring Mark Williams, circa 1972. Taken in the Ace Of Clubs, Cook Street.
Photo credit: Phil Warren Collection
Daryl Watt’s Hipgnosis-like cover for Williams' 1977 LP, his final for EMI before heading to Australia with album producer Alan Galbraith, who had by this time become his manager.
Steve Henderson’s design for Mark’s second album originally released in 1976, with photography by Alan Guildford
Title card graphic for Mark Williams and Face's performance of 'After Midnight' on early 70s Christchurch TV show Popco, drawn by Chris Grosz.
The Face in action. Left to right: Mack Tane, Mark Williams, Gregg Findlay, Willie Hona.
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
The Face. Left to right: Mack Tane, Willie Hona, Mark Williams, Gregg Findlay.
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Mark Williams.
Photo credit: Murray Cammick Collection
Mark Williams - Live From Chips TV special part one (1981)
Mark Williams.
Photo credit: Murray Cammick Collection
A mid-1970s EMI publicity shot, from the session that produced the cover of the 1977 Greatest Hits and the 1999 Best Of. The photographer is unknown.
Mark Williams and Annie Whittle both re-sign to EMI, 1975. In the centre is EMI staff producer and head of A&R, Alan Galbraith.
Photo credit: Rick White collection
The Face in 1972. From left: Mack Tane (bass), Willie Hona (front, guitar), Mark Williams (at rear, vocals) and Gregg Findlay (drums).
Photo credit: Phil Warren Collection
Watch: Mark Williams with Rockinghorse, 'I Shot the Sherriff', 1974
Mark Williams and Bruce Reid from Dragon playing the Twin Peaks venue in Kaitaia, Northland, 2010
Photo credit: Photo by Grant Stantiall
Mark Williams, Carlaw Park 1990
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
The cover of Mark’s 1975 debut, designed by Kevin Dunkley with photography by Michael Baigent. The first of a very successful three album collaboration with producer Alan Galbraith. EMI label-mates Redeye and Rockinghorse provided the backing.
Mark Williams June 1977
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Mark Williams - It Doesn't Matter Anymore (1977)
Mark Williams and Sharon O'Neill in the late 1970s
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
The trailer for the 1978 New Zealand feature film Angel Mine, featuring Mark Williams on vocals
The Face, 1972 with Mack Tane (top left), Willie Hona (bottom left), Mark Williams (top right) and Gregg Findlay (bottom right).
Photo credit: Phil Warren Collection
Mark Williams with Dragon at the Founders Theatre in Hamilton, 2007
Photo credit: Photo by Grant Stantiall
Mark Williams, August, 1975, at Auckland Town Hall with Rockinghorse and The Yandall Sisters - an all EMI line-up.
Mark Williams at the Dragon's 30th Anniversary gig, Sydney Entertainment Centre, 4 April 2009
Photo credit: Photo by Grant Stantiall
Mark Williams - Live From Chips TV special part two (1981)
Mark Williams and Sharon O'Neill, Auckland Town Hall, June 1977
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
A weekend at Auckland's Mardi-Gras nightclub, October 1974. On Friday night, Mark Williams and Face. On Saturday night: "masters of bizarre", Drut
Labels:

EMI


Zodiac


CBS

Trivia:

Mark Williams and Karen Boddington recorded the theme song for TV soap Home And Away in 1989.

Mark Williams and Tara Morice sang Time After Time on the Strictly Ballroom movie soundtrack (1992).

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