Life History
Vaughan Lawrence – real name Eric Lawrence Fryer- was born September 13th, 1944 in Liverpool, England, otherwise known as the home of The Beatles.
His parents and two brothers immigrated to New Zealand via Australia in 1951. Vaughan’s musical journey began when his mother recognised he had a good voice and convinced him to go carol singing around the neighbourhood for pocket money – an English tradition that proved very lucrative. She also arranged for him to have singing lessons with a coach named Mrs Bennett and it was during this time he won many competitions.
Throughout his teenage years, Vaughan was a keen member of the Boy Scouts and achieved their highest award to become a Queen Scout and also Queen Scout of the Year. He sang and acted in many of their Gang Shows, all the while gaining experience in the entertainment field. Vaughan was chosen to perform one of the Gang Show's skits on national TV on the 2nd day that television first went to air in New Zealand, which was produced out of the studios of Bell Television in Sandringham Road, Auckland.
He was educated at Mount Albert Grammar In Auckland, where he did so many solo performances and gained lead roles in light opera and drama productions. Subsequently he worked for the Justice Department before being called up for military service in the September intake of 1965. By November 1965, he had passed an SAS selection course and became a member of the Elite Special Force1 Ranger Squadron NZ SAS. Together with his brother Ian, the two Fryer boys became the second brothers to achieve dual acceptance. Vaughan served for 5 years whilst continuing his legal studies, after which he joined the legal firm Subritzky, Tetley-Jones and Way and became the first Legal Executive to be appointed in New Zealand.
About this time, he developed a strong urge to sing and went about tracking down a good tutor. He was accepted by Hubert Milverton-Carter, who at the time was considered the best in New Zealand. After a few months of lessons, Hubert advised Vaughan he had been contacted by John Barningham, a TV producer looking for new talent for a television series about to commence called “The Music Makers”. Vaughan’s name was given, and the rest is history.
Television/Entertainer
Music had always played a significant part in Vaughan’s life and it didn’t take long before his talents as a singer/entertainer were recognised on a national scale. He made more than 268 television appearances in New Zealand, for shows such as 'The Music Makers' and the very popular TV variety series 'Happen Inn', produced and directed by Kevin Moore with Bernie Allen as Musical Director. Vaughan became a resident performer alongside Suzanne and Craig Scott; later he was chosen by producer/director Michael Hockley to co-host a six part series with Beverley Lee called 'Smile', which was filmed in different locations across Auckland.
Other shows followed such as ‘Sing’, ‘Stars on Sunday’, ‘Top of the World’, ‘The Good time Show’, ‘Christmas Pudding’, ‘Town Cryer’, ‘Studio One’ and ‘Once More with Feeling’. The sheer amount of television exposure – together with his exuberant energy, vocal quality and showmanship – made him one of the most popular entertainers in New Zealand and a household name in the 1970s.
In 1972, Vaughan recorded ‘Take what You Can’, which he co-wrote with Lyn Bremner for the television series ‘Studio One’. The album presents twenty top title's from more than 2,000 original songs submitted from all over New Zealand.
A follow up single was released later in 1972, ‘So Long Love / My Ship Is Coming In’, which also gained recognition.
In 1977, Vaughan married his musical director Lyn Bremner and they decided to base themselves in Sydney, Australia, where Vaughan could expand his international career. Two beautiful girls, Joanna and Vanessa, resulted from their marriage
Many Australian television performances followed on shows such as ‘Mike Walsh’, ‘Don Lane’, Bob Rogers’, The Steve Raymond Show’, ‘After Nine’, ‘Reg Linday’s Travellin Out West’, totalling 36 TV appearances.
Later that same year, ‘Take What You Can / Go Away Little Girl’ was chosen to become Vaughans’ first single release, gaining instant chart recognition.
International Television Exposure;
Hong Kong; Enjoy Yourself Tonight and The Julie Show.
England; The Late Show
Tahiti; Film for FR3 France
Cabaret performances;
Include the Hilton International Hotel chain, English and Australian club circuits, Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas, Lisboa Casino Macau and Hindustan International Calcutta.
Concert supports;
Cilla Black, The Four lads, Shirley Bassey, The Young Americans, Roberta Flack and Tommy Trinder.
Acting;
Vaughan played the role of Charley in the stage play ‘Charley’s Aunt’ and of Caiaphas in the Rock Opera ‘Man of Sorrows’. Vaughan acted in the television dramas ‘The Producers’, ‘A Going Concern’, ‘The Mackenzie Affair’, and ‘The Restless Years’.
Real Estate
In more recent years, Vaughan held the position of sales director for a leading Sydney real estate company. He proved to be a multi-award winning agent and is considered one of Sydney’s finest, having successfully sold in excess of one billion dollars in real property. He has also served the community as a Justice of the Peace for over 30 years.
In 2014, Vaughan compiled a CD – DVD of television performances that survived the years, mainly from the popular Australian daytime show ‘Mike Walsh’ and New Zealand’s ‘Stars on Sunday’. He still does the occasional charity show and gets the same buzz out of live performances as he always has.
Vaughan has without a doubt experienced more diversity and interest throughout his life than most of us could ever imagine.
© 2016 Created by Nick Durney