Harris, Rolf (1930-2023), an Australian entertainer and singer, first became well known when his song “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” was a great success in 1960. Harris recorded another hit in 1962, “Sun Arise,” which was based on an Aboriginal chant. His version of the 1903 song “Two Little Boys” sold over 900,000 copies in the first 15 weeks in the United Kingdom after it was released in 1969. His other hit recordings include “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (1985), “Stairway to Heaven” (1994), and “One Hand in My Pocket” (1997).
Harris was born on March 30, 1930, in Perth, Australia, and went to England in 1952 to study art. He turned to show business in the late 1950’s and became a popular performer on children’s television programs. In 1989, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia, an award for service to the country or to humanity. He was made an Officer of the Order, a higher level of the Order of Australia, in 2012. Harris was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison in 2014, after being found guilty on charges of indecently assaulting four girls. In 2015, his appointments as Officer and Member of the Order of Australia were revoked. Harris died on May 10, 2023.
