Peter Posa

ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

Peter Posa  —  famous New Zealand guitarist .....

Peter Paul Posa MNZM (8 August 1941 - 3 February 2019) was a most famous for his instrumental The White Rabbit, which was released in New Zealand in 1963 on the Viking Label and sold 100,000 copies.  Peter was born in West Auckland, New Zealand, on 8 August 1941 to Paul and Millie Posa, who had immigrated from Croatia.  He started learning the ukulele at the age of seven and formed his first band The Peter Posa Combo when he was 18 years old.  In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to entertainment.  Peter died at Waikato Hospital on 3 February 2019 at the age of 77.  In 2012, White Rabbit The Very Best of Peter Posa went to the top of the New Zealand album charts, spending six weeks in the number-one spot.

Peter in his latter years

Peter in his latter years

Viking publicity shot

In Sydney

One of the most successful and prolific New Zealand musicians of all time, 1960s superstar Peter Posa grew up in Auckland's Henderson Valley, and by the time he was seven, he had started playing the ukulele.  While his mates were content with model planes and trains, Peter would scour the family vineyard for suitable pieces of wood to carve or cut into model guitar shapes.   After signing to Zodiac in 1960, his 3rd single Wheels went on to sell 50,000 copies becoming the label's biggest seller.  After three years he jumped ship to Viking Records, and his second single with that label would become known as his signature  —  White Rabbit  —  made Peter Posa a household name in New Zealand, Australia and across The Pacific.  Posa toured extensively during this time and also took up opportunities in America where White Rabbit was also released.  His recorded output remained immense and he is arguably the most prolific recording artist of the sixties.

Unfortunately a car accident in 1970 sidelined Peter's musical career and he wouldn't record again until the 1990s.  Even so, his legacy as NZ's pre-eminent guitarist and a musician who would inspire countless others to emulate his achievements was sealed.  Peter was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008, and a collection of his greatest hits became the highest selling album of 2013.  After several years of illness and a stroke, Peter passed away in February 2019.  In 2020 Peter's legacy and vital contribution to New Zealand music was honoured by his welcome into the NZ Music Hall of Fame.

Photo by Birch Rising Photography

Peter in the famous "White Rabbit" publicity shot

Peter at Stebbings Saratoga Avenue studios

Dinah Lee with Peter Posa

Zodiac's top recording artist of the day, interviewed by Mike Baker of 2XG Gisborne