Russell Harrison (broadcaster)

Russell Harrison is a New Zealand television presenter, vocalist and musician, best known as presenter for the televised weekly Lotto draw.

Russell Harrison
GenresSoul, Rnb, vocal, jazz/big band, traditional pop
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1993–present
LabelsUnsigned
Associated actsRussell Harrison and the Brown Brothers, Howard Morrison Jr Quartet
WebsiteProfile, former artist management

Film and television career

Harrison has been the main presenter for the New Zealand Lotteries Lotto draw, broadcast weekly on TV2, since 2000.[1]

Other roles as TV host have included Arnott's Dreams Come True (Eyeworks Touchdown, TV3, 1999) and the Steinlager Rugby Awards (TV ONE, 1998).

Russell Harrison also appeared in the TV2 game show, The Singing Bee as one of the lead singers.

His film debut came in 1999, when he played a minor (uncredited) role in Ian Mune's film, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.[2]

Music career

As a musician, Harrison is best known as a vocalist, in which he performs in a wide range of styles, most prominently soul and Rnb.

He first became widely known in New Zealand as an entertainer when he joined the Howard Morrison Quartet in 1993. He later had a successful run on TV talent quest Showcase (TVNZ, TV ONE, 1998), reaching the semi-finals.[2]

He later formed a vocal quartet, Russell Harrison and the Brown Brothers, which has performed on primetime national television several times (Saturday Big Night In, TVNZ, TV ONE, 2001).

Harrison began his solo career in 2006, releasing the single Why You Wanna, with an accompanying promo video.

He has been a guest performer with Billy Washington's version of The Drifters[3] (one of the several splinter groups of the original doo-wop band which continue to tour today), Sir Howard Morrison, Rob Guest, Tina Cross, Jackie Clarke and Temuera Morrison.[2]

Community work

Russell Harrison is involved in a variety of community work.

In 2009, Russell Harrison participated in a celebrity boxing match fighting Tawera Nikau to assist youth to pursue their boxing careers.[4]

After the devastating Samoan tsunami in 2009, Harrison and his wife Nikki joined forces with Donna Grant[4] and assisted in the set up the Sir Howard Morrison Tsunami Relief Project[5]

Personal life

Russell Harrison is the son of Ngahuia Peihopa (Ngati Hine) and John James "Slim" Harrison (Nga Puhi) and is the youngest of 12 brothers and sisters. He has 2 sons to his first wife Dylan Tyrone (1990) & John Luther (1991). He also has twin girls to his second marriage Nicolette, Maia Ngahuia and Tyra Mae Nicolette born 2004. His well known gambling issues put the family into financial difficulties in early 2010.

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Russell Harrison sings with "The Drifters"". YouTube. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  4. "Local, latest and breaking news from the Rotorua region - Rotorua Daily Post". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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