Pepe and the Rarotongans
| Pepe and the Rarotongans | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cook Islands |
| Genres | Polynesian music |
| Labels | Viking Records, Salem |
Pepe and the Rarotongans were a popular Cook Island group fronted by a female singer Pepe. They were active in the 1950s and 1960s. As recording artists, they had albums released on the Viking and Salem labels.
Background
The main force of the group was Pepe, formerly known as Pepe Taimata Pekamu Maoate, and Sonny Terei aka Sonny Tutai O Poko Maru Tamariki Nootu Teatuairo Terei. Sonny was born in August 27, 1933 in Ngatangiia, Rarotonga. He left the Cook Islands for New Zealand in 1947, to train as a electrical linesman. Pepe and Sonny were married on on May 29, 1955.[1] As an act, Sonny did the arrangements for their music. Pepe became known for being the first Cook Islands singer to be recorded by Viking Records.[2] Along with Will Crummer, they achieved a level of fame and had a short succession of hits from the late 1950s to the 1960s.[3][4] And as mentioned in Glenda Tuaine's Celebrate Cook Islands Tarekareka! article in Escape Magazine, like Crummer, Jon Jonassen and Jake Numanga, they are considered Pioneers.[5] Sonny has also been an influence on Cook Islands musicians such as Mann Short and John Lindsay.[6]
Career
The beginning of the Viking connection can be possibly traced to a non-event in the late 1950s. Sonny, a musician was to back a female singer in an Auckland recording studio. The singer never turned up and Sonny's wife Pepe was asked by the producer if she could take part in the session.[7]
By 1964, the had at least two albums issued on Viking, they were Rarotonga Calling. and Passion Flower, details of which appeared in the Pacific Islands Monthly magazine. .[8] In 1965, their EP Songs Of The Cook Islands was released on the Salem label. All compositions were by Sonny Terei. The four songs were "Te Marama Te Au Etu", "Momotu Te Inangaro", "Tatara Apa", and "E Oa".[9] In 1968, their album Memories of Rarotonga was released on Salem. The album of Rarotongan songs featured a painting by Kase Jackson, a well-known artist.[10] In 1973, Siren Songs Of The South Seas , credited to Pepe & Her Rarotongans was released on the Olympic Records label.[11]
In 1977, the Rarotongan Hotel had just opened and Sonny and Pepe were invited by Cook Islands Premier, Albert Henry to return there to provide entertainment for the hotel.
Later years
In the early 1980s, Sonny was teaching music and assisting the choir at the Titikaveka Cook Islands Christian Church, after having approached by the Rev Teariki Vaerua. Quite likely, as a result of his input, for four years in a row the church won the Celebrations choir competition. In 1984, on a fundraising trip, and under the leadership of Bishop Pere (then known as Rev Tutai), Sonny and Pepe toured New Zealand with the Titikaveka CICC choir. Sonny remained a dedicated Christian for the rest of his life.[12]
Sonny passed 25th away on November 2009. Pepe passed away at 6.40pm on Sunday 8 June 2014 at age 81.[13]
In 2011, one of Pepe, and Sonny's compositions, "Tama Ine" appeared on Will Crummer's Shoebox Love Songs compilation, released on the Ode label.[14]
Discography
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do you understand? | Viking VE 110 | C 1962 | |
| Cook Islands Song Festival | Viking VE 113 | C 1962 | |
| Songs Of The Cook Islands | Salem XE 3015 | 1965 | [15] |
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rarotonga Calling | Viking VP 81 | 1962 | [16] |
| Passion Flower | Viking VP 89 | 1962 | [17] |
| Meet me in Rarotonga | Viking VP 118 | [18][19] | |
| Memories of Rarotonga | Salem XP 5020 | 1968 | [20] |
| Cook Islands Pacific Paradise | Salem XPS 5056 | 1969 | [21] |
| South Seas Idyll Music of the Tropical Isles |
Viking VP 329 | 1970 | [22][23] Note The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television has this as Siren Songs Of The South Seas Music of the Tropical Isles Pepe & her Rarotongans[24] |
| Siren Songs Of The South Seas | Olympic OL-6153 | 1979 | [25] |
| Eddie Lund Presents .... Pepe and the Rarotongans | Tahiti Records | EL 1014 | [26] |
| Siren Songs of the South Seas, Music of the Tropical Isles | Everest 6153 | [27] |
| Title | Release info | Year | Songs by artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Songs of Farewell | Salem | 1965 | [28] | |
| Ports of Paradise | Salem XPS 5023 | 1966 | "Tatara apa", " Te marama te au etu" | [29][30] |
| Cook Islands Pacific Paradise | Salem | 1969 | [31] | |
| Call of the Pacific | Salem | 1969 | "Manuiri", "Nga pu ariki" | [32] |
| Action Rarotonga! Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans, Pepe and The Rarotongans |
Viking VP 251 | 1967 | [33][34] | [35][36] |
| Music Of The South Seas! A Visit To Tahiti, New Zealand, Rarotonga |
World Record Club 889 | "E Tiare", "Easy Mama" "Kua Akaruke" |
[37] |
References
- ^ Cook Islands News, Saturday, December 12, 2009 Entertainment, peu Tamataora, Sonny's musical life remembered MM
- ^ Cook islands Herald, 25 June 2014 Pepe-a gift from God By Charles Pitt
- ^ Jane's Oceania COOK ISLANDS MUSIC, Recording artists
- ^ Cook Islands culture, University of the South Pacific. Institute of Pacific Studies Page 36
- ^ Escape Magazine of the Cook Islands, Issue 21 raro rhythm, Celebrate Cook Islands Tarekareka!, story: Glenda Tuaine
- ^ Cook Islands News, Saturday, December 12, 2009 Entertainment, peu Tamataora, Sonny's musical life remembered MM
- ^ Cook Islands News, Saturday, December 12, 2009 Entertainment, peu Tamataora, Sonny's musical life remembered MM
- ^ Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM, Volume 35, Issues 1-6 Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM, Volume 35, Issues 1-6
- ^ Discogs Pepe And The Rarotongans – Songs Of The Cook Islands
- ^ Te Ao Ho, The Maori Magazine, March–May 1968, Number 62 Page 61 SALEM RECORDS-New Releases, Pepe and the Rarotongans
- ^ Discogs Pepe & Her Rarotongans* – Siren Songs Of The South Seas
- ^ Cook Islands News, Saturday, December 12, 2009 Entertainment, peu Tamataora, Sonny's musical life remembered MM
- ^ Cook islands Herald, 25 June 2014 Pepe-a gift from God By Charles Pitt
- ^ SMART Libraries BRN: 576183, Main Title: Shoebox love songs [sound recording / Will Crummer]
- ^ Discogs Pepe And The Rarotongans – Songs Of The Cook Islands
- ^ WorldCat Rarotonga calling
- ^ Popsike LP - Pepe & The Rarotongans - Passion Flower - Cook Islands - Viking
- ^ Pinterest Explore Zealand Viking, Pacific Vinyl and more!
- ^ WorldCat Meet me in Rarotonga
- ^ Te Ao Ho, The Maori Magazine, March–May 1968, Number 62 Page 61 SALEM RECORDS-New Releases, Pepe and the Rarotongans
- ^ WorldCat Cook Islands Pacific Paradise
- ^ MP3PLUX South Seas Idyll Pepe and the Rarotongans
- ^ MP3PLUX Large view
- ^ The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51851 LP-NTK Siren Songs of the South Seas
- ^ Discogs Pepe & Her Rarotongans* – Siren Songs Of The South Seas
- ^ Hipwax Tahitian & Cook Islands Music, Tahitian LPs
- ^ Hipwax Tahitian & Cook Islands Music, Tahitian LPs
- ^ National Library of New Zealand Island songs of farewell (sound recording)
- ^ National Library of New Zealand Ports of Paradise (sound recording)
- ^ Discogs Various – Ports Of Paradise
- ^ National Library of New Zealand Cook Islands Pacific Paradise (sound recording) / featuring Reres Traditional Entertainers
- ^ National Library of New Zealand Call of the Pacific (sound recording) : a musical panorama / Various artists
- ^ National Library of New Zealand Action Rarotonga! (sound recording) / Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans ; Pepe and The Rarotongans
- ^ The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51825 Action Rarotonga!
- ^ National Library of New Zealand Action Rarotonga! (sound recording) / Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans ; Pepe and The Rarotongans
- ^ The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51825 Action Rarotonga!
- ^ Discogs Various – Music Of The South Seas! - A Visit To Tahiti, New Zealand , Rarotonga
