Howie Morrison Jnr on life in the shadow of Howard Morrison

A "raw" new book on the life of Sir Howard Morrison written by his son, Howie Morrison Jnr, reveals for the first time what it was like growing up in the shadows of the iconic entertainer.
The book, titled How Great Thou Art Sir Howard Morrison - the Untold Story, celebrates the remarkable achievements of Sir Howard while also touches on rumours of adultery and behind the scenes dramas, including being kicked out of Manila at gunpoint and alleged tensions with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa at the Knight With A Dame Concert.
It also reveals how Sir Howard was never keen to share the limelight, including with his namesake, and how he criticised his nephew, Temuera Morrison, for his role in Once Were Warriors.
Howard Morrison Junior with a copy of How Great Thou Art, his new book about his dad. Photo / Andrew Warner.
Morrison Jnr said the "raw and uncompromising insights" could now be told - just over 11 years since Sir Howard died in September 2009.
The book, which has been three years in the making, will be launched on Thursday night next week at the Te Puia, the first night of the two-night Howard Morrison Quartet Take Two show paying tribute to Sir Howard.
Morrison told the Rotorua Daily Post he and his two siblings, Donna Grant and Richard Morrison, owed a lot to their mother, Lady Kuia Morrison, for what she sacrificed throughout the decades of their father's touring around the world.
Lady Morrison suffers from dementia and is now living in Whare Aroha Home and Hospital in Rotorua.
The book, which is written in movie script genre, addresses how the family handled Morrison Jnr's concerns about Sir Howard's adultery while on tour.
In the book it details a particular conversation where Lady Kuia told Sir Howard she was "sick of your sorrys".
"Don't you think I know about all the other women. Bloody hell! The whole world knows, but you leave that crap on the road, you don't bring it home and rub it in my face," the book quotes Lady Kuia as saying.
While Sir Howard was singing for the Hilton Hotel chains throughout South East Asia, the book said first Lady Imelda Marcos would often frequent his shows in Manila. On one occasion, according to the book, she invited Sir Howard to perform a private concert for her at the Royal Palace.

Sir Howard Morrison. Photo / File
Rumours started circulating throughout Manila and one morning at 1am there was a knock on the door at his Sir Howard's hotel suite, the book said.
Sir Howard was met with a man in a suit accompanied by two soldiers wielding automatic machine guns who informed him his contract was over and he would be sent to Bangkok.
Sir Howard frantically packed his bags and was led at gunpoint to a waiting limousine which took him to a private plane at the airport, the book said.
"Howard is absolutely terrified and genuinely concerned for his life," the book said.
The book said his minder later told him that with the rumours about Sir Howard and the First Lady, the "powers that be thought it better that you leave Manila".
Morrison said his book also revealed publicly for the first time alleged tensions between Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Howard at the Knight With a Dame Lakeside 2000 concert attended by 40,000 people at the Rotorua International Stadium.
The book said Sir Howard was taken aback by Dame Kiri's alleged manner.
"Even I'm not that demanding," the book quoted Sir Howard as saying.
"And I'll be the first to admit I can be a pompous pr**k."
Sir Howard was also allegedly told by Dame Kiri, according to the book, there was to be "no banter" and he wasn't to communicate with the audience, just sing.
After the first half of the show, the book said good friend and fellow entertainer Frankie Stevens noticed there was something up with Sir Howard's performance so hit him up backstage.
"Come on, doy! This isn't you and you know it. Give the people what they want,"...

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