Memories of the Music Man

MUSIC MAN: Dennis Collins, whose music brought pleasure to many.

The music stopped at 6.30pm on January 26 when Dennis Collins passed peacefully away.

In its place the sounds of surf on the beachfront, at home in Taupo Bay, where 'Music Man' Dennis had almost daily practised his keyboard skills and rehearsed the songs he had written for his twice-weekly performances, including Saturday market days, outside The Warehouse in Kaitaia with his concert-quality sound system.

Over the past four years he had sussed out the preference of the Kaitaia public for country music, in which he excelled, and succeeded, making six CDs, which were snapped up during his busking sessions.

He was nimble-fingered on the keyboard but also adept on the guitar, which he began playing in his early days, singing in (and winning) song quests.

Born in 1940, his early schooling along with his three brothers and two sisters at the native school at Te Ahuahu, where he was known as Dennis Rangi, later going on to Northland College in Kaikohe.

A stint in the regular Army led to a role in the Military Police, which saw him put in charge of his own Landrover, which he kept meticulously clean and polished. His pride, loyalty and diligence saw him called out often, regardless of the time, day or night, to carry out his 'specialist driving' role'.

He had a passion for driving, and after leaving the Army began driving trucks. He had married Margaret in 1962, joining her family of seven girls and nine boys, which he sometimes found overwhelming. So he indulged in his second passion, hunting, disappearing into the bush at 4am with his dogs.

Dennis and Margaret raised three children, Shayne, Debbi and Leagh, and he worked incredibly long hours to provide for his family, then living in Rotorua, delivering Lockwood Homes all over New Zealand and 'going bush' on the weekends to bring home the bacon (bush pig) and deer.

It was not possible to nail down how many cars he owned - it was many. If he liked the radio, he said, he bought the car. They would be always be clean and polished, and when venturing out he would drive in slippers.

Dennis moved back north (from Mount Maunganui) 12 years ago to stay with cousin Gayle in Taupo Bay. He continued hunting, bringing home his last pig on December 17. He was a fisho as well, pottering around in boats for much of his life in the Bay of Plenty and back here in the North.

Music Man, the people of Kaitaia will miss your smiling face and melodic voice, the people of Taupo Bay will miss your fun-filled concerts on the deck, but your legacy will be heard through your CDs, and those close enough will not forget you and your many tales, tall and true.