The Life and Times of...

There is a danger in reading biographies, that you will find out things about someone you admired that takes some of the shine off. Autobiographies especially tread a very thin line between providing insightful personal reflections and self indulgent aggrandisement. I am never sure when reading a biography if I want to know that the subject is actually a real person just like me or if I want them to remain on a pedestal. The perfect combination is a little bit of both.

With this in mind I picked up Billy T: The life and times of Billy T James (Matt Elliott). The Kiwi comedic icon makes a wonderful subject, with his mana, personality and huge heart shining through the pages of the book. This was made possible by the contributions of Billy's widow Lynn and a large number of his family and friends. Snapshots of his life both in the public eye and away from it build a portrait of a man who was loved by so many, was innocent in many ways, worked hard at his craft, endured death threats and constant criticism that he was stereotyping Maori.

The book is more than just a biography of Billy. It also chronicles parts of the entertainment industry in New Zealand from the showbands, through to cabaret and Television. We also get an insight into the comedy industry and what makes people funny, as Billy drew on international comedians to hone his material and presentation. We also meet a wide array of Kiwi entertainers.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the New Zealand entertainment industry, comedy or simply one of New Zealand's iconic figures.

As well as this biography, Rodney Libraries have several books, CD's and DVD's of Billy T. Check out this list on this catalogue link.