A tribute to a great entertainer
A tribute concert honouring the late Craven Noble is all about what the Palmerston North man did best – entertainment.
Noble was a radio presenter for Kia Ora FM and a musical director for national acts such as Billy T James, Prince Tui Teka and Eddie Low. He also worked with international artists such as The Drifters.
His son Cam Noble said over the past 30 years, his father taught thousands of students as a teacher and lecturer at schools in Manawatu¯ and Horowhenua, and was also part of the development team for We Came To Play music school in the 90s.
In the 1980s, Craven Noble and the Craven Noble band were the lead band for a national Telethon, as well as performing in all New Year’s and Christmas events in The Square, Palmerston North.
Cam Noble said that when a radio station last year ran a tribute for his dad, it said: ‘‘No matter where he was, he came to entertain. And for many years, entertain he did.’’
The tribute show features Manawatu¯ artists with songs from the 60s through to the 90s, backed by an international show band.
Cam Noble said his father was a huge influence on the New Zealand music scene.
‘‘We have had close to 100 musicians from around the country and also Australia contact me asking to perform and pay tribute.
‘‘To the family, this show will be one of the last times we will see his band and all these Manawatu¯ musicians perform.
‘‘Many of us are musicians overseas, and we are all coming back to perform in his honour one more time.
‘‘I have spent the last five years touring the world playing piano and have worked with some of the top artists – but there is nothing more humbling than performing alongside the very musicians that I grew up watching and learning from here in Palmerston North.’’