Frankie Stevens (bornFrancis Donald McKechnie Stevenson inWellington, 1950),MNZM, is aNew Zealand entertainer and singer. He was a judge for all three seasons on the reality seriesNew Zealand Idol. He is the brother of singerJon Stevens. He is of Scottish and of Maori descent.[1]
He got his start singing in a band while atHeretaunga College.[2]He began his career at the age of 16, when he moved to Sydney, Australia to join a group called "Peter Nelson and the Castaways". After several years of touring and recording with the group, he went solo.
As a solo artist, his first record "My Elusive Dreams" in 1969 was a major hit in New Zealand.[3]
The next year, he moved to London where he won the talent showOpportunity Knocks six times in a row, sang at bothThe Palladium andAlbert Hall, represented Great Britain in several song contests, winning the Silver Prize in the SecondTokyo Music Festival, the Bronze Medal inCaracas Venezuela, and the Gold Medal at theGolden Orpheus Song Festival inBulgaria.[3]
Through the 1970s, he toured extensively, working with many major acts includingOlivia Newton-John,Shirley Bassey,Milton Berle, andSammy Davis Jr.[3] and acting inHawaii Five-O.[4] played King Nodos in the Hercules TV series.
In 1982, Stevens returned toNew Zealand.[3]
In 1994, he played the High PriestCaiaphas in the New Zealand tour ofJesus Christ Superstar, and later the '94-95' tour of Australia - with his younger brotherJon playingJudas.[3]
From 2004, he was a judge on all three seasons onNew Zealand Idol.[5]
In the2005 New Year Honours, Stevens was made aMember of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to entertainment.[6]
Stevens has been honoured by his home town ofUpper Hutt, which named a street in the suburb ofRiverstone Terraces, Frankie Stevens Place, after the entertainer.
He is an ambassador of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.
In October 2015 he was presented with a Scroll of Honour from theVariety Artists Club of New Zealand for his contribution to the New Zealand entertainment industry.
In November 2024 he was presented with theBenny Award from theVariety Artists Club of New Zealand, the highest honour for a New Zealand variety entertainer.
