Malcolm Black

Born in 1961, Black was the son of James Alexander Prentice Black and Lesley Grace Wardell.[2] He grew up in the Dunedin suburb of Waverley, and was educated at Otago Boys' High School.[3] He went on to graduate with a law degree from the University of Otago.[4] Black was twice married, first to artist Tracey Tawhiao, with whom he had two children, and later to Julia, with whom he had two more children.[4]

Black played in several bands while still at high school, and joined Netherworld Dancing Toys in 1982 as a singer and guitarist during his second year at university.[3] In 1985, the band released the single "For Today", which reached number 3 in the New Zealand singles chart, and has subsequently been described an "alternative national anthem".[5] Black and Nick Sampson won the 1985 APRA Silver Scroll for the song, but the group disbanded not long after.[3]

In 1986, Black joined Auckland law firm Russell McVeagh, before returning to the University of Otago three years later to study for a master's degree and work as a lecturer.[3] He also ran a music consultancy and began representing bands including Straitjacket Fits, The Chills, and The Verlaines.[3] Three years later, Black returned to Auckland, without having completed his master's, and established Sinclair Black, a specialist entertainment law firm, with Mick Sinclair in 1989.[3] In 1996, Black joined Sony Music New Zealand as director of artist and repertoire after the departure of Paul Ellis, and worked with artists including Che Fu, Dave Dobbyn, and Bic Runga.[3][6]

Black was involved in a review of NZ on Air in 2002, and in 2004 he set up Les Mills Music Licensing, supplying music for use in gyms in 80 countries.[5][6] He left Sony in 2009 to work in artist management, and co-managed Crowded House and Neil Finn.[6]

Black served on the APRA AMCOS board of directors.[6]

Julia Black (right) accepts the insignia of ONZM on behalf of her late husband, from the governor-general, Patsy Reddy, in September 2019

Black was diagnosed with bowel cancer after attending the 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Awards in Dunedin.[7] In 2018, he performed "For Today" with a reformed Netherworld Dancing Toys at the APRA Silver Scrolls, and in 2019 he recorded an album, "Songs for My Family".[1][5] In the 2019 New Year Honours, Black was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the music industry.[8] He died from bowel cancer in Auckland on 10 May 2019.[2][6][9]

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