Background
Rowles was born in Whakatane, New Zealand, and is part Māori. His father, Eddie Hohapata Rowles, played for the 1938 Māori All Blacks. His mother was Pākehā.
Rowles was born in Whakatane, New Zealand, and is part Māori. His father, Eddie Hohapata Rowles, played for the 1938 Māori All Blacks. His mother was Pākehā.
He was brought up in Kawerau, in the North Island of New Zealand. Rowles is best known in New Zealand and Australia, though he has also performed in the United States, particularly Las Vegas, Nevada and Hawaii, where he was managed by Kimo Wilder McVay. In the United Kingdom he was best known for the hit, "If I Only Had Time", which reached number 3 in the United Kingdom Singles Chart in spring 1968, and stayed in the chart for eighteen weeks.
This was a cover version of the French song "Je n"aurai pas le temps" with which the French singer Michel Fugain, had a hit in 1967.
Rowles had another Top 20 hit in the United Kingdom with "Hush.. Not a Word to Mary", also in 1968.
Rowles had a cameo role in the 2008 New Zealand film, Second-Hand Wedding. In early 2009, Rowles was selected to appear in Dancing with the Stars for 2009.
He was partnered with Krystal Stewart.
Under doctor"s orders, he had to retire from the competition but has since recovered. Rowles released his autobiography, If I Only Had Time, in October 2012.