Kiwi folk pioneer gets fond farewell
Christchurch folk singer Phil Garland has been remembered as a ‘‘troubadour’’, family man and mentor.
Hundreds gathered at Knox Church on Bealey Ave in Christchurch yesterday to farewell the musician, who was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 2014 for services to folk music, and recorded 18 albums and won the New Zealand Music Awards folk album of the year three times. He also founded the Christchurch Folk Club in the 1960s.
Garland died on
March 15, aged 75, survived by an older brother and five daughters.
Brother
Mike Gar- land said many people knew his older brother as a ‘‘musician, troubadour, raconteur, historian and singer songwriter’’, but he wanted to share memories of growing up with him.
‘‘He was a mentor. He was there and kept an eye on me as I grew up,’’ he said.
He remembered his brother’s love of rugby and cricket before his life changed when he saw the film Rock Around the Clock in 1956. From that moment on he was dedicated to music and obsessed with rock ’n’ roll, he said.
He remembered his brother practising with his band in their Christchurch home while he had to do homework, meeting the the Rolling Stones backstage at the Isaac Theatre Royal and buying the Gibson 12-string acoustic guitar that led him to explore folk music in the 1960s.
The beloved guitar stood on a stand at the front of the church during the service.
Sister-in-law Margaret Garland, who ran the ceremony, spoke of Phil Garland’s impact on the Kiwi music scene.
‘‘He was a man whose influence on, and contribution to, New Zealand music was enormous.’’
A family statement described Phil Garland as ‘‘the father of New Zealand folk music’’.
‘‘Phil Garland is one of New Zealand’s true musical treasures, a respected folklorist and a musical balladeer. His mission for over 30 years has been to gather and preserve for posterity the songs and stories of New Zealand.
‘‘Phil will be missed by the many people he impacted during his rich life, not only for his music, but his teaching, running of folk clubs and music nights, concerts and so much more.’’