Phil Warren (promoter)

Phil Warren (1938/39 – 23 January 2002) was a New Zealand music promoter, manager, agent and later a politician.

Background

He came from Kingsland, an Auckland suburb, and went to Mount Albert Grammar School. He was the father of two children and was married to Pat Warren who died in 2000.^[1]

Music career

1950s

In 1955, he was a drummer playing part-time. He also started work at Begg's Music Store that year.^[2] In 1956 at the age of 17, he also formed Prestige Records which was used to distribute independent material from overseas labels.^[3] In 1987, he signed up Johnny Devlin and recorded him.^[4]

1960s

He purchased the Fuller's Entertainment Bureau from founder Mary Throll in the mid 1960s. Under his control, it became one of the biggest management and booking agencies in New Zealand. He had Ray Columbus and Lew Pryme working for him, managing Fuller's. At the time, the Fuller's roster included Sandy Edmonds, The Keil Isles, The Chicks, The Rumour, and Shane.^[5] One of the artists he would book regularly was Tahitian singer, George Tumahai.^[6]

1970s

In early 1972, a syndicate headed by Lew Pryme and Glen Tabuteau purchased Fuller's Entertainment Bureau from Warren.^[7] In late 1972, Warren spotted singer Andy Waretini on the New faces contest, and later booked him for the summer period to appear at selected holiday centres with David Whitfield, an entertainer from the UK.^[8]

In May 1974, he engaged The Bulldogs All Star Goodtime Band as a supporting act for Daniel Boone and the Dillinger Show band on their New Zealand tour.^[9]

Political career

In later years, he was deputy mayor of Auckland and Chairman of the Auckland Regional Council.^[10] On 23 January 2002, he died of a heart attack at age 63.^[1]

References