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Bill Gorrie, musician, dies
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DescriptionPrinted in greyscale in the ‘Leader’ on September 11, 1996, with an obituary.
Bill had died of a heart attack, aged 56.
After Mangaroa School and Wellington College, his career included working on the family farm, contracting, building, a bakery and fast-food outlet, working at Dunlop, farming at Te Horo for 10 years, and selling real estate for Gillies & Mark.
His band career began in the early 1960s with the Hi-Lites, as their pianist (also photographed with maracas). When the Hi-Lites disbanded, Bill began the Bill Gorrie Set, which was the first to play live music in pubs after drinking hours were extended from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. In later years he performed in dupos with people such as Sammy Southon, Mark Southon, Peter Hall and Selwyn Adams.
Until his death he played in Wall to Wall; a group he used as a vehicle to 'bring young musicians up through the ranks'.
Date Taken1990s
Bill had died of a heart attack, aged 56.
After Mangaroa School and Wellington College, his career included working on the family farm, contracting, building, a bakery and fast-food outlet, working at Dunlop, farming at Te Horo for 10 years, and selling real estate for Gillies & Mark.
His band career began in the early 1960s with the Hi-Lites, as their pianist (also photographed with maracas). When the Hi-Lites disbanded, Bill began the Bill Gorrie Set, which was the first to play live music in pubs after drinking hours were extended from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. In later years he performed in dupos with people such as Sammy Southon, Mark Southon, Peter Hall and Selwyn Adams.
Until his death he played in Wall to Wall; a group he used as a vehicle to 'bring young musicians up through the ranks'.
Date Taken1990sPart of
About the original
Reference1996 09 11 5FormatColour passportSize22 x 31 mmNegative ReferenceRosemary McLennan
FormatColour passportSize22 x 31 mmNegative ReferenceRosemary McLennanScanned byDon McLeod
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Bill Gorrie, musician, dies. Upper Hutt Libraries, accessed 22/08/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25546