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That's Country

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NZBC TV Archive / Chris Grosz

Earlier TV Pop Show ....   That's Country   Later TV Pop Show ....

NZBC/TVNZ Pop Shows

 
 

That's Country  —  1980s Music Television Programme (image shows the cast of the first series of the show) (1980-84)

That's Country was a New Zealand country and western television variety show which was broadcast natioanlly between 1980 and 1984 on TVNZ.  Hosted by Ray Columbus, it featured local as well as international talent and became one of the highest rating shows of the early 80s.  Local stars included Ritchie Pickett, Peter Posa, Dinah Lee, John Hore (Grenell), Suzanne Prentice, Patsy Riggir and The Topp Twins.  American artists Emmylou Harris and Dobie Gray and George Hamilton IV also performed on That's Country.

 
 

Dinah Lee



John Hore (Grenell)



Ray Columbus



Jodi Vaughan



Brendan Dugan

 
 

Pat Kearns + Ray Columbus



Patsy Riggir



Jade Hurley



Ennylou Harris



Dinah Lee + Ray Columbus

 
 

An American offer to buy the show and install a US presenter was resisted, and instead the show was sold to The Nashville Network (a US-based cable TV network), in a New Zealand first - enabling the show to reach an audience of 30 million in the USA when it aired on The Nashville Network whilet punk rock was breaking, and musical styles changing.  In New Zealand, this little splash of country music was required viewing at 7:00pm on a Saturday.  

 

 

That's Country Backing Band



That's Country Backing Band
(From left) Gary Sammons, Wayne Allen, Gray Bartlett,
Paddy Long, Murray Wood and Peter Gillette



That's Country Backing Band

 
 

That's Country Backing Band



..... those naughty electricians couldn't resist this opportunity