Johnny Bond at Joe Deweys Roast 25 Aug 1998

Sponsored by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, johnny does comedy for 10 minutes. Albert Edward (Johnny) Bond was born in London, one of six siblings. His mother was a professional singer who taught him to play the piano-accordion and banjo. His forte was comedy, dressing up as a cockney pearly king and performing humourous Music Hall songs by English artists such as George Formby and Frank Crumit. Johnny immigrated to New Zealand in 1958 searching for better weather. His wife Betty worked with one of the founders of Little Howick Theatre who found out that Johnny was a carpenter and put him to work making sets. He featured in many more plays as well as around 20 television commercials. A highlight of his television work was a musical which went live for three weeks and he also featured as a clerk of the court in the series Aerobus: The aftermath. He appeared on Sing, Happen Inn and did a stint with Alma Johnson in the children’s series, The Old Curiosity Shop. In 1961 the folk trio The Convairs was formed consisting of Johnny (vocals, banjo), Michael Dolan (vocals, guitar) and Phil Seth (vocals, guitar). They spent 18 months practising together before entering and winning the radio talent show Have A Shot on 1ZB. As part of their prize they recorded their first single ‘Lemon Tree’ for the Mascot label. In 1963 they competed in the television version of Have A Shot and came third. Nevertheless this exposure led to a five-year record contract with HMV and their very own six-part television series entitled Give My Love An Apple, which was also the title of their debut single on HMV. The television series was a great success and led to a second series, which was called Convairs On Camera – also the name of their debut album released by HMV in September 1963. A steady stream of singles were released which were all promoted on their own national weekly radio show. In 1964 they embarked on a tour of Australia where they appeared on the television show Bandstand and headlined at the Tamworth Festival. Johnny left the group in 1965. In 2005 EMI released a 28 track CD called Little Boxes – The Very Best of The Convairs. Johnny and fellow Londoner Doug Aston ran an Old Time Variety Show at Otahuhu's Turquoise Room for three years, ending in 1976. He also appeared on Wally Lewis’ Wheel Tappers and Shunters Club show. In 2008 Bond featured in a VAC Meet and Greet Sofa Interview with David Hartnell at the Gables Pub in Herne Bay. In later years after retiring as a property valuer for State Advances Corporation he played in a jazz trio in RSAs. He also worked as a Marriage and Death Celebrant. Johnny passed away at the Bruce McLaren Retirement Village in April 2015, aged 90. He and Betty had a daughter, Maureen.

Added 7 Jun 2026