music.wikisort.org - Poet

Mahinārangi Tocker MNZM (1955[1] – 15 April 2008) was a singer-songwriter from New Zealand. Tocker wrote more than 600 songs in a 25-year career.[2] Her vocal style has been compared to that of Joan Armatrading and Tracy Chapman.[3] She also gave lectures around New Zealand about the use of music and creativity to boost learning and self-esteem, and was an adult literacy tutor, writer and poet.

Mahinārangi Tocker
Tocker at the 2007 Auckland Folk Festival
Background information
Born	1955
Died	15 April 2008(2008-04-15) (aged 52–53)
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1985–2008

Biography

Tocker was born in Taumarunui and was of Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Jewish and Celtic ancestry.[2] Tocker spent much of her life at Glendene in West Auckland.[4]

In the 2008 New Year Honours, Tocker was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.[5]

Tocker died on 15 April 2008 in Auckland's North Shore hospital following a severe asthma attack. She was 52.[6] Her final performance had been at the Titirangi Festival of Music in March 2008.[4] A memorial tree was planted for her at Falls Park in Henderson.[4]

Personal life

Tocker came out openly as a lesbian.[6] Tocker openly talked about her diagnosis with bipolar disorder.[4]

Discography

Albums [7]

• 1985 Clothesline Conversation
• 1987 I'm Going Home
• 1996 Mahinarangi
• 1997 Te Ripo
• 2002 Hei Ha!
• 2002 Touring (With Charlotte Yates)
• 2005 The Mongrel in Me

References

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