Al Hunter

Who is Al Hunter?

Al Hunter is a New Zealand country music singer-songwriter whose debut album, Neon Cowboy, released in 1987, "made country hip".

Hunter was a soul singer in such Auckland bands of the late 1960s and '70s as Killing Floor, Cruise Lane, Chapeaux and the Hunter McCallum Band before embracing country music.

His debut album was produced by Stuart Pearce on a budget CBS had provided for a single. It was recorded in Australia and included contributions from Dave Dobbyn.

Hunter's following two albums were released by Pagan in the 1990s.

Respected New Zealand rock historian John Dix wrote, "Wellington had the Warratahs; Auckland had the indomitable Al Hunter. In 1993 Pagan released The Singer, cementing Hunter's rep as a genuine country rock talent."

Eight tracks from Hunter's 1997 release Cold Hard Winter reappeared on the compilation album Troubadours - NZ Singer/Songwriter Series: Vol 1, which also featured eight tracks each from Glen Moffatt and Red McKelvie.