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

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

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 Kūiti Te Kūiti is a town in the north of the King Country region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of New Zealand State Highway 3, State Highways 3 and New Zealand State Highway 30, 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk rail ...

, New Zealand in 1951 and has

Ngāpuhi Ngāpuhi (also known as Ngāpuhi-Nui-Tonu or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland regions of New Zealand centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei. According to the 2023 New Zealand census, the estimate ...

and Ngati Hine

iwi Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori, roughly means or , and is often translated as "tribe". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, and is typically pluralised as such in English. ...

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 The Benny Award is bestowed on a New Zealand variety entertainer. It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded to a variety performer who h ...

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 The 2020 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebratio ...

, 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 ...

, 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 ,

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