Malcolm James Prentice Black ONZM (10 February 1961 – 10 May 2019) was a New Zealand musician and lawyer. He was a member of 1980s Dunedin band, Netherworld Dancing Toys, and was the first specialist music industry lawyer in New Zealand.[1]
Malcolm Black | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Malcolm James Prentice Black |
| Born | 10 February 1961 |
| Died | (aged 58) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Early life and family
editBorn in 1961, Black was the son of James Alexander Prentice Black and Lesley Grace Wardell.[2] He grew up in the Dunedin suburb of Waverley, and was educated at Otago Boys' High School.[3] He went on to graduate with a law degree from the University of Otago.[4] Black was twice married, first to artist Tracey Tawhiao, with whom he had two children, and later to Julia, with whom he had two more children.[4]
Netherworld Dancing Toys
editBlack played in several bands while still at high school, and joined Netherworld Dancing Toys in 1982 as a singer and guitarist during his second year at university.[3] In 1985, the band released the single "For Today", which reached number 3 in the New Zealand singles chart, and has subsequently been described an "alternative national anthem".[5] Black and Nick Sampson won the 1985 APRA Silver Scroll for the song, but the group disbanded not long after.[3]
Legal and music industry career
editIn 1986, Black joined Auckland law firm Russell McVeagh, before returning to the University of Otago three years later to study for a master's degree and work as a lecturer.[3] He also ran a music consultancy and began representing bands including Straitjacket Fits, The Chills, and The Verlaines.[3] Three years later, Black returned to Auckland, without having completed his master's, and established Sinclair Black, a specialist entertainment law firm, with Mick Sinclair in 1989.[3] In 1996, Black joined Sony Music New Zealand as director of artist and repertoire after the departure of Paul Ellis, and worked with artists including Che Fu, Dave Dobbyn, and Bic Runga.[3][6]
Black was involved in a review of NZ on Air in 2002, and in 2004 he set up Les Mills Music Licensing, supplying music for use in gyms in 80 countries.[5][6] He left Sony in 2009 to work in artist management, and co-managed Crowded House and Neil Finn.[6]
Later life and death
edit
Black was diagnosed with bowel cancer after attending the 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Awards in Dunedin.[7] In 2018, he performed "For Today" with a reformed Netherworld Dancing Toys at the APRA Silver Scrolls, and in 2019 he recorded an album, "Songs for My Family".[1][5] In the 2019 New Year Honours, Black was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the music industry.[8] He died from bowel cancer in Auckland on 10 May 2019.[2][6][9]
References
edit- ^ a b "For Today singer and music industry lawyer Malcolm Black ONZM dies". 1NewsNow. TVNZ. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Malcolm Black death notice". New Zealand Herald. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Malcolm Black profile". Audio Culture. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Neil Finn says former manager Malcolm Black's 'generous spirit' will live on". Stuff. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ a b c Steel, Gary (10 May 2019). "Malcolm Black: A man who was so much more than just For Today". Stuff. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Malcolm Black: fair-minded and humble NZ music hero". RNZ Music. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- ^ "Netherworld Dancing Toys frontman Malcolm Black dies". New Zealand Herald. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2019". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ Butcher, Nick (15 May 2019). "Malcolm James Prentice Black, 1961 - 2019". lawsociety.org.nz. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.