Dennis Te Uhi Marsh (born 22 February 1951) is a New Zealand

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

singer and television presenter, best known for his series of popular albums in the 2010s and for hosting the country music TV show ''My Country Song''. He is New Zealand's best selling country music artist.

Background

Marsh was born in Te Kuiti, New Zealand in 1951 and has

Ngāpuhi Ngāpuhi (or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland region of New Zealand and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei. According to the 2018 New Zealand census, the estimated population of Ngāpuhi is 16 ...

and Ngati Hine

iwi Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori roughly means "people" or "nation", and is often translated as "tribe", or "a confederation of tribes". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, ...

affiliations. He moved to Auckland to pursue a career as a carpenter, but became involved with Christian music, studied theology and lead a youth ministry. In 1984 Marsh became involved with country music and began performing around New Zealand. He won a number of local awards, and eventually release his debut album, ''For You'', in 1989. Marsh has since released 29 albums, including two which reached No. 1 on the New Zealand albums chart, four gold albums and six platinum albums. He has won numerous country music awards, including being honoured as the 2011 Country Music Legend at the National Country Music Awards, and inducted into the Golden Guitar Awards Hands of Fame, also in 2011. In 2013, Marsh hosted the

Māori Television 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 Co ...

country music showcase series ''My Country Song''. This was followed by a compilation album, ''The Best of My Country Song'' and a live album, ''My Country Song – The Showcase Concert'', both of which featured songs from Marsh. In October 2019, Marsh received the Benny Award from the

Variety Artists Club of New Zealand The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand enterta ...

, the highest honour for a NZ entertainer. In the 2020 New Year Honours, Marsh was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...

, for services to music and fundraising.

Discography

Albums

Awards

, - , 1997 , Dennis Marsh – ''Out of Nashville'' ,

New Zealand Music Awards The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously called the New Zealand Music Awards), conferred annually by Recorded Music NZ, honour outstanding artistic and technical achievements in the recording industry. The awards are among the most significant that ...

– Best Country Album , , - , 1998 , Dennis Marsh – ''Faith'' ,

– Best Gospel Album , , - , 2002 , Dennis Marsh – ''Faded Love'' ,

– Best Country Album , , - , 2007 , Dennis Marsh , National Country Music Awards – Best Selling Country Music Album of the Year , , - , 2007 , Dennis Marsh , Australian Country Recording Awards – Overseas Artist Award , , - , 2008 , Dennis Marsh , National Country Music Awards – Country Music Male Artist of the Year , , - , 2009 , Dennis Marsh , National Country Music Awards – Country Music Male Artist of the Year , , - , 2009 , Dennis Marsh , Top Male Vocalist –

Awards , , - , 2011 , Dennis Marsh , National Country Music Awards – Country Music Legend , , - , 2011 , Dennis Marsh , Golden Guitar Awards – Hands of Fame , , - , 2013 , Dennis Marsh , National Country Music Awards – Country Music Male Artist of the Year , , - , 2016 , Dennis Marsh - ''Maori Songbook 2'' ,

– Best Maori Album , , - , 2019 , Dennis Marsh , Benny Award

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marsh, Dennis Living people New Zealand country singers New Zealand television presenters 1951 births People from Te Kūiti 20th-century New Zealand male singers 21st-century New Zealand male singers Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit Māori-language singers