Billy T james

Who was Billy T james?

Billy T james AKA William j\James te tai toko was born 17 january 1949. James was of waikato tainui and and clan campbell, This  meant he was half Maori half Scottish which he talked about quite often in his comedy routines. 

James joined the maori volcanics snow band in the 1970’s and performed around the world. Prince tui teka( a famous Maori actor) encouraged James to start a solo career which later had him in high demand for his performances. 

James made his stage name Billy T James because it was something Australians could pronounce. 

I find that this is a poor effort on Australians and other peoples part for not trying hard enough to be able to pronounce James’s name correctly. Although if he kept his name it may have caused a drop in james popularity with foreigners such as Australians because they just wanted to see some comedy.

What he did?

In 1980 James appeared on a variety New zealand TV show which proved great success for him allowing him to start his own TV show in 1981. In the same year he was was named the New Zealand entertainer of the year. I have watched a few of james’s videos and I believe that this award was rightfully earned. 

His entertaiment

When performing his comedy routines and TV shows James would focus most of his jokes on maori stereotypes among others about different ethnicities and races. At the time William’s jokes were viewed as funny and non harmful, but if these jokes were used today myself among many other people think people would be offended by his racial but unharmful jokes. 

While watching his videos I believe that he tends to belittle maori including himself. But this is different when you watch the video a “Billy T James History of Nz” James acts as the maori who made first contact with the british settlers. While interacting with the Maori the settlers treated them like they were stupid then james proceeded to speak perfect english and reply to what they said causing the british to look on in shock. I found this to be hilarious and it goes to show that the maori were as capable as the British which treated them like savages. Thsi is the video.

His death

In 1998 James suffered a heart attack and underwent a quadruple bypass operation which was unsuccessful. In 1989 a heart transplant was performed on James which proved to be successful. He returned to the stage in 1990, but his return was short lived. James died of a heart attack in 1991 in the green lane hospital Auckland.