The Rumour (New Zealand band)

Formed in 1966 and featuring twin brothers Shade and Gerard Smith, Jacques Koolen and Ross Hindman they went on to achieve success in the NZ pop scene with chart-topping hits "L'amour Est L'enfant de la Liberte", No 1 on the New Zealand charts for four weeks [1] and "Holy Morning".

In New Zealand in the early 1960s, Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Buddy Holly and the Crickets and Elvis Presley were soon to be replaced in the national psyche of the new teen generation by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the rest of the British Pop Invasion.

Not long after, they became a Shadows-emulating band called The Sapphires and began performing at local and district functions, frequently in Hamilton at the Starlight Ballroom, the Waikato's entertainment mecca.

The move to Auckland coincided with Hindman leaving to go to Otago University so the band changed tack and brought in Colleen Ralph to strengthen the vocal line-up.

The band quickly came to the attention of artist manager Ray Columbus who changed the name to The Rumour at the suggestion of Dunedin radio presenter Neil Collins, and signed the group to the Polygram label.

"L'Amour est l'enfant de la Liberte (Love is the child of Freedom)" written by John Smith established the band nationwide and they frequently toured with and/or supported overseas acts such as Cilla Black, The Beach Boys, Robin Gibb, Neil Sedaka and Lobo amongst others.

By this time John "Shade" Smith was in demand as a songwriter and, despite the band's growing popularity he subsequently left the group to work as a solo artist.