Willie Hona | |
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![]() Hona (right) in 2019 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Wiremu Hona |
Born | Rawene, New Zealand | 22 July 1953
Died | 5 May 2024 Paraparaumu, New Zealand | (aged 70)
Formerly of | Herbs, the Face |
Wiremu Hona (22 July 1953 – 5 May 2024) was a New Zealand musician. [1]
Wiremu Hona was born in Rawene on 22 July 1953. [2]
Hona's career began alongside Mark Williams, Mack Tane and Gregg Findlay in the band the Face. [3]
In 1983 he released She Needs You and it reached #41 on the New Zealand Charts. [4]
In 1983 he also joined Herbs as singer and guitarist. [5] He appeared on two albums, Long Ago (1984) and Sensitive to a Smile (1987) and on multiple singles such as songs Slice of Heaven, Sensitive to a Smile and Listen. He left the band in late 1988. [6]
In 1991 he released a solo album called Keep an Open Heart. [7]
Hona died from pancreatic cancer in Paraparaumu, on 5 May 2024, at the age of 70. [7]
Title | Album details |
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Keep an Open Heart |
|
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
NZ [4] | |||
1983 | "She Needs You" | 43 | |
1991 | "Keep An Open Heart" | – | Keep An Open Heart |
The Aotearoa Music Awards are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Willie Hona (as part of Herbs) | New Zealand Music Hall of Fame | inductee | [8] |