Rolf Harris came to London in 1952 to study Art. A year later he was appearing on TV as an artist and storyteller and had his first hit as a singer in the early sixties with Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport. After a relatively quiet period in his life in the late seventies, his brother 'Bruce Harris , which in turn led to the establishment of Operation Yewtree, a police investigation into historic sexual abuse by celebrities. Harris was arrested and charged by Operation Yewtree officers, although his crimes were not directly connected to Savile, and convicted by a unanimous verdict of the jury.
Studied at the University of Western Australia.
Has now lived in Britain for many years, where he has had his own television series since 1954, based on his expertise as both a popular singer and an artist.
It was in his capacity as singer/artist, that he was targeted in "The Goodies" episode: Scatty Safari - where there was a plague of Rolf Harrises - all of them singing and painting!
Rolf Harris was a star performer at the Opening Ceremony of the XIIth British Commonwealth Games, which were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, in 1982 - where Rolf Harris sang Waltzing Matilda and also a restructured form of his best-selling hit: Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport.
He was awarded the A.M. (Member of the Order of Australia) in the 1989 Queens New Years Honours List for his services to the community as an entertainer.
Has now lived in Britain since 1952: he has had numerous television shows since 1953 when he got an audition drawing cartoons on TV show "Jigsaw", based on his expertise as both a popular singer and a cartoonist. Queensland, Australia, in 1982 - where he sang Australia.
Named after writer Rolf Boldrewood.
He and Alwen have a daughter, Bindi Harris (born 10 March 1964). She is named after the town of Bindi Bindi in Western Australia where the Harrises found Bindi stone, a type of fossilised asbestos.
Invented the wobble-board - a musical instrument basically consisting of a large, flexible piece of wood which makes a characteristic oscillating sound when wobbled. This was parodied by The Kinks on their 1969 song Australia, which features a wobble-board solo.
He was awarded the C.B.E. for his services to entertainment in the 2006 Queens Birthday Honours List.
He was awarded the M.B.E. in the 1968 Queens Birthday Honours List and the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1977 Queens Birthday Honours List for his services to the performing arts.
He painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as part of her 80th birthday celebrations. It was documented on BBC 1s The Queen, by Rolf.
Harris was one of the guests who performed a cover of "Stairway to Heaven" on the Australian TV series "The Money or the Gun." Performed to the tune of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down," Harris version became a surprise hit, going to #7 on the charts. Harris version appears on a compilation DVD of 25 versions of the song performed on the show.
He was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queens New Years Honours List for his services to entertainment, to charity, and to community.
Inducted into the Aria Hall of fame.
Was for many years the face of British Paints, appearing in television and radio commercials that ended with a drum roll on a can of paint and the catchphrase: "Trust British Paints? Sure can!".
In June 2014 he was found guilty of (and in July 2014 he was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months) 12 historic indecent assaults against four girls aged between 8 and 19 at the time of the assaults. The sentence was referred to the Attorney General Dominic Grieve after complaints that it was too lenient. On 30 July 2014, the new Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, announced that he would not be referring the sentence to the court of appeal for review "as he did not think they would find it to be unduly lenient and increase it. The sentencing judge was bound by the maximum sentence in force at the time of the offending." On 1 August 2014, the Judicial Office said that Harris had applied to appeal against his conviction and that his lawyers had lodged papers at the Court of Appeal. In October 2014, Harris was refused permission to appeal. Since his conviction there have been further reports to police regarding alleged sexual offences on young girls and women by him.
Harriss BAFTA Fellowship was annulled on 30 June 2014 following his criminal conviction.
I hope that maybe I am on this planet to try and spread a bit of love,and affection and to try and help people to warm toward their fellow,man instead of all this destruction and misery,I draw the line at filth and crude language. It seems to be an excuse,for not being funny.
I like to slosh on paint to kill the white of the canvas with a bit of,turpentine. Then I start with a blur which looks something like the,subject and I gradually refine it.
