Tina Cross

Cross is one of six siblings and grew up in Otara from the age of four, except for a three-year stint in Kaitaia. Cross' mother is of Maori-Croatian descent.[2] While the family were in Northland, Tina and one of her siblings won a talent quest.[2]

In 1974, her friend, Kim Hart, encouraged Cross to audition for the school's musical productions with their band, Chalkdust, and the pair sharing singing duties.[2] In 1975, the group auditioned for television talent show Opportunity Knocks and while the band missed out, the producers saw enough in 16-year-old Cross to offer her a one-year contract where she learned her craft. Cross was soon presenting herself to a national audience via popular television shows such as Smile and Once More With Feeling.

In 1977 Cross spent some time as a dancer on the television show, Top of the World and also appeared on several episodes of Ready to Roll, where she sang the current popular hits of the day. In 1978 Cross won the rising star award at the Entertainer of the Year awards.[2]

In 1979, Cross released four singles, all of which made the top 50 of the New Zealand charts.[3] Her fourth single, "Nothing But Dreams", was the New Zealand entry into the 1979 Pacific Song Contest, which it won.[4] Cross released her debut studio album You Can Do It in 1979.

In 1980, Cross again represented New Zealand at the Pacific Song Contest, this time, a duet with Derek Metzger titled, "Once Again With You", taking out second place.[2][4] Cross began working on a second studio album, a shift from disco to new wave ultimately failed and the album, Tina X, did not chart.

Cross maintained a high profile with numerous television appearances and in 1982 she relocated across the Tasman to Sydney, Australia and began singing on the cabaret circuit.[4]

In 1984 she teamed up with composer-pianist Leon Berger and formed Koo De Tah. They had a hit with "Too Young for Promises" in 1985 which made it to 6 on the Australian charts,[5] two further singles "Body Talk" and "Think of Me" were released and a self-titled album in 1986. The group disbanded in 1987.

Following Koo De Tah, Cross launched a corporate cabaret act and toured India and Asia before returning to Auckland in 1990.[2]

In 1992, Cross sang the vocals on the original theme song for the television soap opera Shortland Street, composed by Graham Bollard.[2]

In 1995 she appeared in touring productions of The Rocky Horror Show and Cats. She was named Best Theatrical Performer in 1995.[2] Over the following decade, Cross played major roles including the stage musical drama adaption of Once Were Warriors, (Michael Jackson's) Sisterella, Chicago, Boogie Nights and Miss Saigon, and produced The World Goes Round.[2]

In 2005 Cross co-founded the harmony group The Lady Killers with fellow vocalists Suzanne Lynch and Jackie Clarke.[2]

In 2007, Cross's career and charity work was recognised when she was named as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to the music industry.[2] In 2008, Cross was a contestant in the 2008 New Zealand series of Dancing with the Stars, placing fifth overall.[2] The Lady Killers released an album, Black is Back, in 2009.

In 2012, Cross worked with Australian DJ and music producer StereoLove. Together, they released three singles including a cover of "Too Young for Promises" by Koo De Tah. Cross recommenced writing and in June 2014, Cross released the single "Walk Away", which written to raise funds and awareness for Women's Refuge.[6] Cross released her third studio album Lay Down Your Heart in October 2014.

In October 2014, she was presented with the Benny Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc, the highest honour available for a New Zealand variety entertainer.[7]

In November 2017, Cross released "Another Little One", a song Cross wrote inspired by toddler Moko Tangitoheriri's brutal death. The single was released as the centrepiece of Shine's annual Christmas campaign in 2017, asking that no more children be lost to violence or suffer abuse.[8]