Rolf Harris

Rolf Harris, AO, CBE (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian-born, British-based entertainer. He is a musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter, and television personality. He has lived in the UK for more than five decades, residing in Bray, Berkshire. Harris, who was born and grew up in Perth, Western Australia, was a champion swimmer before studying art. In 1952, he moved to the United Kingdom, where he started to draw animations for television programmes. Harris soon afterwards began a musical career, initially singing and playing the piano accordion. In 1957, he wrote "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport", which later became a Top 10 hit in Australia, the UK and the United States. While performing in Canada he introduced a longstanding, popular routine around his song "Jake the Peg". Harris often uses unusual instruments in his performances: he plays the didgeridoo, is credited with the invention of a rhythmic percussion instrument, the wobble board, and is associated with the Stylophone, a small electronic keyboard instrument. During the 1960s Harris became a popular television personality, later presenting shows including Rolf's Cartoon Club, Animal Hospital and various programmes about serious art. In 2005 he painted an official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that was the subject of a special episode of Rolf on Art. In 2013, Harris was charged with twelve counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of a child; the three alleged victims were aged between 7 and 19 at the time. He denies any wrongdoing and his trial is due to begin on 30 April 2014.

Links To Peel
On 15 September 1981, Peel played Rolf Harris' War Canoe song to show how the track sounded very much like Adam And The Ants' Prince Charming, which was a big hit around that time. Peel enjoyed very much of Rolf's live performances and on one article he wrote himself that was published on Olivetti Chronicles, he regretted missing one of his performance after arriving late to see him play.

Other Shows Played
1980 1981 1993
 * 24 September 1980: Sun Arise (7") EMI
 * 15 September 1981: 'War Canoe (7 inch)' (Columbia)
 * Rolf Harris 81: War Canoe (7 inch) Columbia
 * Glastonbury 1993: Tie Me Kangaroo/Stairway To Heaven (live)