Sign Singers: ‘Harmony’

1982 •

The Sign Singers perform 'Harmony' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983. They are introduced in sign language, in one of the first examples of a non-Deaf person signing on prime time television.

The Sign Singers feature on Stars on Sunday, singing the song Harmony. Ian Watkins, the presenter of the show introduces the singers in sign language, in one of the first examples of a non-Deaf person signing on prime time television. Filmed on March 3, 1982 at Highwic, Newmarket, Auckland. Four songs were filmed that day at the same time, Oh What a Beautiful Day, Harmony, Born Free and Sailing. Harmony screened soon after filming, on April 10, 1982. It was also rescreened on April 24, 1983.

Can you help?

NZSL story – Taonga source: Susie Ovens

Switching Between Modes: Total Communication on Stage, NZSL Off

Susie Ovens shares her memories of the well-known Deaf Sign Singers group founded by Dulcie McKie, which used a Total Communication approach. She knew it wasn’t natural signing, and the group would often relax and switch to NZSL during breaks. Still, Susie recalls the performances having a strong impact, especially on hearing audiences who were moved by the group's energy and visual expressions.

NZSL story – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

Shona McGhie and the Magic of the Auckland Sign Singers

Shona McGhie reflects on her time with the Auckland Sign Singers, a group that helped raise awareness of Deaf culture and showed what Deaf performers could do. Rehearsals were often held at Dulcie McKie’s home, with support from Mac McKie and Gavin Gibbons. Shona recalls her favourite song and the challenge of remembering over 25 routines. It was a busy time full of travel, performance, and connection, and a chapter she looks back on fondly.

Dulcie McKie

Gavin Gibbons

Ian Watkins

Len Tabrar

Lesley Schischka (Wratt)

Lesley Schischka (Wratt)

Susie (Suzanne) Ovens

Susie (Suzanne) Ovens

Taonga source:

Dulcie McKie

Produced by:

Stars on Sunday, Television New Zealand

Original format:

VHS

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, DM04-02-SP82

Copyright status:

This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Note:

This item has been compressed and/or edited.

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publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: July 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

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video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

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video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

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<img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-dulciemckie.jpg" alt="Dulcie McKie" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-dulciemckie.jpg" alt="Dulcie McKie" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img data-lazyloaded="1" data-placeholder-resp="128x128" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxMjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMTI4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTI4IDEyOCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" data-src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-dulciemckie.jpg" alt="Dulcie McKie" width="128" height="128" /><noscript><img src="https://signdna.org/wp-content/uploads/taongasource-dulciemckie.jpg" alt="Dulcie McKie" width="128" height="128" />

video – Taonga source: Ngaire Doherty

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publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: July 1983

video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Sailing’

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Dulcie McKie

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article – Taonga source: Central Leader

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video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

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The Sign Singing Superstars

The Sign Singing Superstars

The Sign Singing Superstars

COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

The Sign Singing Superstars

Throughout the early 1980s, the New Zealand Deaf community created two sign singing supergroups: The Sign Singers from Auckland, and The Silent Singers from Christchurch. These two groups pioneered Sign Singing as an art form and gained considerable public admiration for their efforts. Both groups made appearances on national Telethon events, and the Auckland group also were regulars on the Stars on Sunday programme, making more appearances than any other single group.