Roger Tibbs splits his time between his home of New Zealand and the US.
Born in Lower Hutt, NZ, he has built up a long and prestigious career with his cowboy/country-style of singing.
Just a guitar as accompaniment accented with a bit of yodelling, forms the foundation of his performing style today.
The Music Takes Hold
A band, called ‘Borderline’ helped to hone his performing skills as he played country covers at clubs and school auditoriums when he was in his late teens and early 20s. It was during this time that he met Denise, and soon the two became inseparable. They were married in a simple ceremony in a small church in Lower Hutt, NZ, and made their first home in Stokes Valley.
With Denise's encouragement Roger entered several country music contests, and before long was taking top honors at music competitions across New Zealand. Through one of those competitions, the producers of the “That's Country” television show noticed Roger and his talent. On this popular New Zealand series he was privileged to share the stage with such American artists as Johnny Russell, Connie Smith and Emmylou Harris. Performing on “That’s Country” served as a springboard to increased bookings and a larger fan base, as the weekly series gave him exposure across the entire country of New Zealand.
Soon Roger and his music caught the attention of a NZ recording company called Music World, whose executives believed he had the potential to produce a successful recording. With their encouragement, he made an all-yodelling album called “Yodelling Man,” which became a runaway success and later won that label's Gold Disc Award for strong sales, as well as the Gold Guitar award for the highest-selling album in Australasia at the Tamworth NSW Awards in 1987. He remains the only male New Zealand artist to be awarded a Tamworth Gold Guitar.
He was later awarded a Gold Disc Award from Music World for sales of “Yodelling Man.”
When his daughter and son were born, the responsibilities of providing for his young family moved to the forefront in his list of priorities. Relegating his music to weekends only, he began to build his business as a home builder and worked to establish himself as a viable competitor in the new home construction market. During these years he produced two albums: “Southbound” and “Born to Be a Cowboy,” both of which have done well and continue to sell well. Selected tracks from these two albums continue to be played on radio stations around the world.
A fourth album, “You're Everything to Me” was produced and recorded at Manuka Studios in Auckland, NZ, and exemplifies Roger's widening range of music styles. Largely an exploration of deeper feelings and life experiences, this project is built around seven of his original songs, including “The Card,” and “You’re Everything To Me,” both songs offering a reflective view on the enduring triumph of love.
Expanding Horizons
The huge Calgary Stampede in Canada in July 2008 was Roger's first experience performing for a crowd of more than 10,000 fans and proved to be the catalyst for a career launch into North America. “It has always been a dream of mine to take my music to North America,” Roger says, “and what better way to start than via the Calgary Stampede.”
A fifth album, “This Ole House,” released in January 2009, is proving successful with audiences in both the United States and at home in New Zealand.
During Roger's 2010 trip to the United States, he was inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame, a project of the National Traditional Country Music Association.
A gospel album entitled “The Place Where I Worship” recorded and produced in the United States, was released in early 2011.
Plans for a full concert tour in the USA, including some prestigious gigs in Nashville, are in the works as is a Roger Tibbs USA fan club.
