As Glen Moffatt says in Rikki Morris's AudioCulture profile, "There are hardly any positions at the coalface of the New Zealand music industry that Rikki Morris has not filled with aplomb. Roadie, sound man, band member, songwriter, pop star, studio manager, producer and talent spotter – he’s done it all."
Prior to his songwriting career, at the age of 18 Rikki was the live sound engineer for his brother Ian's band Th' Dudes, until they broke up in 1980. He then joined The Crocodiles, initially as a sound engineer and then as rhythm guitarist. The Crocodiles moved to Sydney but broke up soon after.
After several years songwriting in England he returned to New Zealand, and his solo career began. Produced by Rikki's late brother Ian Morris, Nobody Else topped the NZ charts in October 1988, and in 1991 Rikki's song Heartbroke won the APRA Silver Scroll award for the best New Zealand song of the year.
While playing some of his own songs at a friend’s party, Rikki caught the eye of former Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner, and in 1996 he released a solo album, Everest, produced by Rayner. Following the album's release, Rikki scored support gigs with US chart-toppers Hootie & The Blowfish, and New Zealand and Australian tours with the legendary Bread.
Over the years he'd also been honing his skills as an engineer and producer. In 1999 he and his then-wife Debbie Harwood (When The Cat's Away) set up a studio in Devonport, and Rikki produced landmark albums for the likes of When The Cat’s Away, Hammond Gamble and Graham Brazier, amongst many others.
Rikki is currently working with entertainment company Operatunity, but he has always wanted to make another record.
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