Skip to main content

Story: Recording companies and studios

John Prouse, baritone

Image
John Prouse, baritone

Wellington singer John Prouse, seen here in 1922, was a leading bass-baritone in New Zealand. He also performed internationally, and in 1905 recorded 12 songs in Britain for commercial release, becoming New Zealand's first commercially recorded artist.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Harold Temple White Collection

Reference: PAColl-8018-2-6

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Mark Derby, Recording companies and studios – Birth of a recording industry, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/45083/john-prouse-baritone (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 2 May 2014.