Pepe and the Rarotongans were a popular Cook Island music 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, also known as Sonny Tutai O Poko Maru Tamariki Nootu Teatuairo Terei. Sonny was born on 27 August 1933 in Ngatangiia, Rarotonga. He left the Cook Islands for New Zealand in 1947, to train as an electrical linesman. Pepe and Sonny were married on 29 May 1955.
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.
Along with Will Crummer, they achieved a level of fame and had a short succession of hits from the late 1950s to the 1960s. 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. Sonny has also been an influence on Cook Islands musicians such as Mann Short and John Lindsay.
Guitarist for the group, Nat Mara, was a recording artist in his own right. In addition to his album "Peeping At Papeete" and EPs "La Tahitienne" and "A Taste Of Tahiti" which were released on Viking, he had an album "Welcome to Tahiti" which was released on the Olympic label.
Career.
The beginning of the Viking connection can be possibly traced to an 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 the producer asked Sonny's wife Pepe if she could take part in the session.
By 1964, they 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. The line up at the time of their "Rarotonga Calling" release consisted of Pepe, Sonny Terei, Nat Mara, Charles Carlson and Mark Anton. 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".
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. In 1973, "Siren Songs Of The South Seas", credited to Pepe &amp; Her Rarotongans, was released on the Olympic Records label.
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.
Sonny died on 25 November 2009. Pepe died at 6.40pm on Sunday, 8 June 2014 at age 81.
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.
References.
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