Product Code: LL 30545
Artist: Maori Hi-Five The
Origin: New Zealand
Label: Leedon (1963)
Format: LP
Availability: Enquire Now
Condition:
Cover: VG
Record: VG+
Genre: Comedy/SpokenWord/Other , Pop , Rock U

The Maori Hi-Five

Nice clean combo. very good vinyl and cover considering their age.

The Maori Hi Five were a Wellington based Maori rock and roll show band. They arrived in  Wellington around the middle of 1955 and were soon at the forefront of the  Capital's entertainment scene. They began the era of the Maori Showbands. They  played such a wide range of music that they had an appeal to many. They played  dance music, country music, Maori songs, musical hits, comedy skits and many  other styles. There were a number of similar groups around at the time. Some  included the Maori Hi-Liners and the Maori Troubadours.

It is believed that  Malcolm Hayman was a member of the group for a short time in 1955 when he was  only 15. Malcolm later went on to form Quincy Conserve.

After playing Wellington  for a while, the group ventured to Australia and later went to the USA.

During their time some  line-up changes occurred. These included Ike Mete-Kingi being replaced by Paddy Tetai, Tuki  Witika  being replaced by Peter Wolland, and Charlotte Pohe being replaced by Mary Nimmo. When  Mary joined they became known as Mary and the Maoris and worked a lot on  the American casino and club circuit. In 1972, Frankie Stevens worked with them for a short period.

Their recorded output  consisted of singles, "Oasis"/"American Patrol" on Rex in 1962, "Now Is The  Hour"/"Putti Putti" on Vee Jay in 1962 and "Hippy Hippy Shake"/"Poi Poi" on HMV  in 1963.

They also released two  EP's in 1963 and four albums. The first was "Instrumental International" in  1962. This was followed by "Serenade In Blue" and "Maori Hi-Five", both in 1963  and then "Mary and the Maoris" in 1969.