The bird pictured here is part of our national heritage; the 'nocturnal Kiwi' (click on Kiwi to see greater detail). New Zealanders travelling overseas are quite often affectionately refered to as Kiwi's.

I was born in Timaru, in the South Island. My Grand-Dad Ernie Sinclair was a hot piano player (similar to Winifred Atwell), and played in several bands, as was also my Father A.E.J (Lex) Sinclair who has had several bands of his own as a bass player. My Mother Violet Lillian Clyma sang with many of my father's bands and performed in many musicals in Timaru and Auckland. Dad has played bass behind visiting bands such as Lonnie Donegan, Acker Bilk and many others. He was also a member of The Plainsmen when they recorded the hit 'The Ballad Of Waitaki'. Although our family name is Scottish, my Great Grand Mother was an Italian Opera Diva with the surname Valda. So our bloodline is MUSIC.

We moved to Auckland when I was 12, and Dad switched from band leadership to playing behind many of our prominent country artists including Glory Thorburn, Rusty Greaves and many others.

By the age of 18 years I had aquired quite a extensive record collection of varying musical styles ranging from classical to punk.

In 1977 I started at Metro Music as a Music Shop Manager. I joined Roger Marbeck of Marbecks in Queens Arcade in 1984. During my time at Marbecks I started a radio show on Student Radio 95 BFM, and that was a blues show called 'Blues Anytime'. Assisting me was my friend Darryl, and the show's Program Director was Paul Casserly of Strawpeople fame. During this time I got to promote, and meet some of the world's biggest blues stars i.e. Roy Buchanan, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Clarence Gatemoth Brown, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Charlie Musselwhite and many others (with special thanks to promoters Pat & Charlene Shaw). This radio slot lasted five years before Real Groovy Records took over as the show hosts.

A year later Nigel Horricks (Editor of Net-Guide magazine) approached me about taking over his Sunday Brunch spot on BFM. I did and renamed it 'Gazz On Jazz'. This was when I first started calling myself Gazz.

In 1994 I moved to TrueTone Records on Broadway, Newmarket. This is where I met the infamous Mel Moratti, whose classical knowledge is up there with Murray Marbeck. Mel now works for Marbecks. During this period at Truetone I maintained my musical association with Leighton Smith (Talkback host Newstalk ZB), and started working with show hosts like Rick Morin on Classic Hits & Radio I. These are two people I admire greatly.

Not too long after leaving Truetone I started at Cedica in High St, Auckland as a musical consultant. In January 2000 I was approached by Jazz Show Host Errol Baker to do a radio slot on 1593 AM. I relaunched 'Gazz On Jazz'. I had a great time doing the show, and needed to be a bit of a night owl at the same time as the show was on real late. This show lasted about six months before changes happened at 1593AM and forced it's closure. Thank you to all of the supporting record companies and especially Errol baker for all of your help.

I left Cedica to work at www.flyingpig.co.nz as their Music Content Manager. I left Flying Pig nine months later, and became a freelance writer for the RIP IT UP, the media magazine; not long after that I became the General Manager for www.cdstar.com a division of ITMedia that owned the now defunct Flying Pig.
I am currently working for Sounds Mega Store Queen St Auckalnd

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