Graham Reid | | <1 min read
Years before New Zealand pop bands began trying to establish themselves in the Britain and the US, the Māori showbands were ambassadors for the country’s music. And of the showbands, the Māori Volcanics travelled further and lasted longer than their many contemporaries: they performed in nearly 60 countries over four decades.
Interviewed on television in the 1990s, Mahora Peters of the Māori Volcanics said, “We went for six months and didn’t come home for three years. That was the first time we came back, we had a couple of changes and off we went again.”
Had she been prone to bragging she might also have mentioned the international stars they encountered, were befriended by and sometimes performed with: singers Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Solomon King and Dionne Warwick, the jamming with members of the Count Basie band, meeting actor Sidney Poitier …
To read the full article on the Maori Volcanics' remarkable career go here to audioculture.co.nz.
Audioculture is the self-described Noisy Library of New Zealand Music and is an ever-expanding archive of stories, scenes, artists, clips and music. Elsewhere is proud to have some small association with it. Check it out here.
Graham Hooper - Dec 2, 2018
The Maori Volcanics came to Waiheke Island Recently.Mahora Still Has the Magic. With Her Partner on Guitar,and Married Friends on Sax/Bass and Female Vocals With Guest Ricky doing Prince Tui Teka, Roy Orbison Impersonations. Very Entertaining. So they Still Perform the Old Songs Lovely People
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