Roger Lusby

Roger Lusby
Born 1947 (age 70–71)
Roxburgh, Central Otago, New Zealand
Origin Christchurch, New Zealand
Genres Folk
Occupation(s) Singer, Songwriter, Bush Poet
Instruments Guitar, Ukulele
Years active 1960–present
Labels Singoutkiwi
Associated acts Rural Mail
Website singoutkiwi.com

Roger Lusby (born 1947) is an award-winning New Zealand songwriter. Lusby has been a professional Rural Balladeer, bush poet, environmentalist, folk singer, early childhood creative music tutor, vintage car enthusiast, and sound recording engineer. Born near to The Old Man Range, Roxburgh in Central Otago, New Zealand. Lusby has been a musician all his working life. He travels New Zealand performing at pubs, music venues,folk and community festivals and has also performed internationally in the UK and Canada. He wrote his first children’s song in 1983. Lusby was runner up in the 2014 New Zealand Music Awards with his album "Magical Places"[1][2]. In 1994, he won the prestigious Trust Bank Song for Canterbury competition, written with school children in mind, with his song Canterbury Pride. Lusby was director of creative music at the New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education, Christchurch, New Zealand, where he thought early childhood teacher trainees to interact musically with young children.

'The Optimist' is a book and recordings written using some of Lusby's poems and most recently, an illustrated children's storybook and a song "Mr. Slitheram Litheram Lop". In 2014 he was the winner of the Tui Award for Best Children's Music Album of the Year. Lusby also hosted the Poets Session at the hugely popular Tui Folk Festival, near Nelson, New Zealand.

Early life

Lusby was born in the township of Roxburgh, Otago the son of Orchard Farmers[3] in 1947. He attributes his musical talent to an Irish grandfather and was brought up with music all around him.

Career

Lusby wrote his first composition - The Skylark Song - after his wife Penny developed cancer. He went on to write Anna's Gold, as a record of swimmer, Anna Simcic's, golden performance in the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

He has performed in front of Queen Elizabeth, an International Environment Conference in England and an International Lions Convention in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Lusby served as a volunteer fitter mechanic in Scot Base Antarctica , as part of Operation Deep Freeze for a year in 1969 /70.[4] [3]

Sing Out Kiwi program

Lusby conceived and developed the Sing Out Kiwi programme[5][6] to encourage the children of Canterbury, New Zealand to take their own messages to the world through music. "If you witness what happens to the children, it's just fantastic," he says. "It puts them in a different space altogether. It creates an awareness."[7]

Festivals

Lusby is a fervent supporter of a number of New Zealand community festivals[8] including the famous or infamous Ballads & Bulldust festival in Otago.[9][10]

Environmentalism

Lusby has been an environmentalist since childhood. Previously Lusby was chairman of the Christchurch Estuary Association[11][12], he also formed the educational offshoot Friends of the Estuary[13] a number of years ago. He earned his own "1st" when his composition Canterbury Pride won a competition to find a song reflecting Canterbury's distinctive character and spirit[14]. It remains popular with school children, including those at Wharenui. A visit to his daughter Charlotte working for the Department' of Conservation's (DOC) Black Stilt Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre produced Counting on You, a new song. Lusby was involved in the establishment of Hoddy Estuary Park Tasman, New Zealand[15].

Lusby was one of the first in New Zealand to import and use an environmentally friendly all electric car.[16]

Personal life

Lusby now lives outside Nelson with his wife Deirdre, the children from his merged family are all professional musicians and have participated with the recording of Lusby's children’s music albums in his own home studio.

Bibliography

  • Mr Slitherham Literham Lop[17]
  • The Optimist: - New Zealand Ballads in Verse[18]
  • Marching Home - A poem for Anzac Day [19]
  • Hens go Moo! - A children's Story By Roger Lusby : Illustrated by: Polly Rabbits[20]
  • 40 new songs & a dance - A book resource for Primary School Teachers in co-operation with New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education[21]
  • Enhancing the Estuary - Roger Lusby in association with: John Freeman [22]
  • The Alphabet Nursery Rhyme Songbook - published by Singoutkiwi 2017

Discography

Golden Songs of the valley - Roger Lusby - Singoutkiwi 2017

Magical Places - Songs for Children

40 New songs and dance - in song - to accompany the book 2003

Mr Slitherham Literham Lop - to accompany the book of the same name 2014

Lunch Box - Songs for Children - 2015

The Hay Shed - Songs for Children - 2017

Push Bike - Songs for Children - 2017

Kia Ora - Songs for our Country New Zealand - New Zealand Environmental songs - 2002

Alpha Beats - Songs for Children - 2017

Videography

Friday Poems - A series of Video Poetry [23]

References

  1. ↑ "Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards | Roger Lusby". www.nzmusicawards.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  2. ↑ "2014 New Zealand Music Awards", Wikipedia, 2016-10-20, retrieved 2018-09-06
  3. 1 2 "Radio New Zealand National. 2015-08-09. 00:00-23:59". ngataonga.org.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  4. ↑ "New Zealand Antarctic Veterans Association". antarctic.homestead.com. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  5. ↑ "PRD5 - Sing Out Kiwi". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  6. ↑ "About Us - Sing Out Kiwi". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  7. ↑ New Zealand Environmental songs: Sing out kiwi., Roger Lusby : Sing Out Kiwi Productions, 2002, retrieved 2018-09-06
  8. ↑ Henderson, Simon. "Homecoming for Rural Mail musician". www.thenews.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  9. ↑ "Bards, ballads and bulldust". Otago Daily Times Online News. 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  10. ↑ "The Maniototo Bards, Ballads & Bulldust Festival". www.Facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  11. ↑ "Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust". www.estuary.org.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  12. ↑ "Roger Lusby - Our Environment: Issue 15 Winter 1998". archived.ccc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  13. ↑ "Environment Directory". www.cyberplace.org.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  14. ↑ "Roger Lusby - Our Environment: Issue 15 Winter 1998". archived.ccc.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  15. ↑ James, Trevor. "Estuary Restoration" (PDF). www.google.co.nz. Tasman District Council. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  16. ↑ "Leading the charge for electric cars - but can they go the distance?". Stuff. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  17. ↑ "Children's music educator releases picture book | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  18. ↑ "9780473186104 | Page 1 of 1 | Items | National Library of New Zealand". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  19. ↑ INNZNA, Lusby, Roger, (2017-01-01). "Marching home / by Roger K. Lusby | National Library of New Zealand". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  20. ↑ "Hens go moo / created by Roger Lusby ; illustrated by Polly Rabbits. | National Library of New Zealand". natlib.govt.nz. Rabbits, Polly, illustrator. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  21. ↑ Roger., Lusby, (2003-01-01). "40 new songs & a dance [kit] : new songs from New Zealand for children from 1 to 13 years / [created by Roger Lusby with the students of the New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education]. | National Library of New Zealand". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  22. ↑ "Enhancing the Estuary | National Library of New Zealand". natlib.govt.nz. 2000-08-18. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  23. ↑ "Singoutkiwi". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
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