John Fuller Sr. was a gifted singer with a magnificent tenor voice who finally gave up his day job as a compositor when he was invited to join the famous songwriter Harry Hunter's Mohawk Minstrels of the Agricultural Hall, Islington, in October 1881.
Harry Hunter wrote John Fuller Sr's signature song "Geraldine", which was composed by W.C. Levy.
In 1889, John Fuller Sr. accepted an invitation to tour Australia with the London Pavilion Company and arrived in Melbourne aboard the Cuzco on 3 August 1889.
opportunely took out a short lease on the Auckland City Hall in September 1893 and started The People's Popular Concerts along with his son John Fuller Jnr., they then took their Company and toured New Zealand's main townships including Dunedin and Wellington, drawing great crowds and encores everywhere they went.
Another son Walter and daughter Lydia boarded the Kaikoura, and joined the family in Auckland, arriving in April 1895.
remained in Auckland managing the Fuller's Theatres until he stepped back from the business allowing his sons to take the helm by 1910.
continued his singing career in Auckland, often appearing on the stage of his own theatres, by popular demand, until his retirement in 1915.
He was recognised as one of New Zealand's most popular entertainers and was always encored to sing some of his most famous songs, which included the all-time favourite, "Geraldine" as well as "Does your Heart Beat True to Me, Wait Till the Clouds Roll by Jennie, We Don't Know how we Love them Till we Lose Them, The Anchor's Weighed, Jennie with the Light Brown Hair and Sally in our Alley".