Anita Ruth Prime is a singer-songwriter from New Zealand. At the 2011
Los Angeles Music Awards she won the Best Music Video for ''La La La,'' becoming the first New Zealander to win a Los Angeles Music Award.
Biography
Prime was raised in
Palmerston North
Palmerston North (; mi, Te Papa-i-Oea, known colloquially as Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatu Plains, the city is near the north bank of the ...
in a musical family with family members playing the piano, trumpet and ukulele. She began singing at a very early age, began learning piano from the age of 5 and went on to learn the flute, guitar and drums. Prime entered her first talent contest at 13 as part of a group called Three 'n One. As an adult she worked the New Zealand club circuit and performed in community and charity events.
In 2011 Prime began an international tour performing in Paris, London, Vancouver and Los Angeles. Whilst in France Prime performed a solo concert at the
Carlton Cannes Hotel on the
French Riviera
The French Riviera (known in French as the ; oc, Còsta d'Azur ; literal translation " Azure Coast") is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France. There is no official boundary, but it is usually considered to extend fro ...
during the
MIDEM
Midem is the acronym for Marché International du Disque et de l'Édition Musicale, which is organised annually in and around the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France. The trade show, organized by Reed MIDEM, a subsidiary of Re ...
Music Festival.
The ''Destiny'' single "Complicated" entered ''Billboard'' Dance Club chart in October 2011 and peaked at number 33 in November.
Between US tours Prime continued to work the club circuit in New Zealand and local festivals such as the Flava
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day ( mi, Te Rā o Waitangi), the national day of New Zealand, marks the anniversary of the initial signing – on 6 February 1840 – of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is regarded as the founding document of the nation. The first Wait ...
Festival in
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
, and the
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...
Motown Festival in Napier.
In March 2011 Prime was nominated for two LA Music Awards, Best International Artist, and Best Music Video for ''La La La''. She performed at the Nomination Awards ceremony and again toured the US including other venues in Los Angeles and venues in New York. In November of the same year, Prime won the LA Music Awards Best Music Video category.
In May 2011 Prime joined the 2011 All Star Rock Tour alongside
Orleans,
Robbie Dupree
Robert Dupuis (born December 23, 1946), known professionally as Robbie Dupree, is an American singer best known for his hit songs "Steal Away" (No. 6 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100) and " Hot Rod Hearts" (No. 15).
Early life
Robbie Dupree was ...
,
Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner (born Joseph Arthur Mark Linquito, August 2, 1951) is an American singer known for his work in the hard rock bands Rainbow, Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Deep Purple.
During his career, Turner fronted and played guitar with pop ro ...
(
Rainbow
A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows c ...
, &
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...
),
Joe Bouchard
Joseph J. Bouchard (; born November 9, 1948) is an American musician. He was the bassist and one of the lead singers of the hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult during their most successful period. He is the younger brother of original Blue Öyster ...
(
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult ( ; sometimes abbreviated BÖC or BOC) is an American Rock music, rock band formed on Long Island in Stony Brook, New York, in 1967, and best known for the singles "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", "Burnin' for You", and "Godzilla ( ...
).
Prime has worked with charitable group Team Xtreme, a charity that helps youth with esteem and life skills issues, and appeared in fundraising concerts.
In the
2021 Queen's Birthday Honours Prime was awarded the
Queen's Service Medal
The Queen's Service Medal is a medal awarded by the government of New Zealand to recognise and reward volunteer service to the community and also public service in elected or appointed public office. It was established in 1975 and is related to ...
for her services to youth and the community.
Discography
Singles
Albums
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime, Anita
21st-century New Zealand women singers
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
People from Palmerston North
Recipients of the Queen's Service Medal