Tui Teka’s ‘magic quality’

Press, 3 August 1983, Page 19

Tui Teka’s ‘magic quality’

When Derek Wooster decided to produce the “Prince Tui Teka” show, screening on Two at 7.30 tonight, he had never seen Tui Teka perform but he could sense the charisma from listening to his music, says TVNZ. “I just loved the music. There was something in it — in the voice — that told me that there was a magic quality,” says Wooster. “I went up to the Ace of Clubs to see the show and I just sat there with my mouth open.” Since returning to New Zealand after 10 years of performing in Australia, Prince Tui Teka has had a string of successes. He was voted Entertainer of the Year in 1982 and the same year released a best-selling L.P. and a single that went gold. “E Ipo” (“My Loved One”) has sold 7500 copies. This year, the popular performer — dubbed New Zealand’s Prince of Entertainment — has crowned his reign of success with two hour-long television specials — the first screening in “Showtime,” on Two tonight. In Australia, Tui Teka was a familiar figure on television with appearances on “Bandstand,” “Rock Around the Clock” and “The Don Lane Show.” In New Zealand, until now, it has been possible to see his act only in pubs and nightclubs. “I thought there wouldn’t be enough work to keep me here,” says Tui Teka, but his following seems to .be stronger than ever. /

When it was publicised that the television shows were tb be done before a live audience, requests from fans, friends and relatives to be there exceeded available seating by more than 250.

To capture Tui Teka in the environment in which he

performs best, a club atmosphere was recreated in the television studios, with the audience seated at tables facing the stage. The jokes were tempered slightly to suit a family audience. “There are certain jokes that you can tell in the pub, that you can’t tell here,”, said Tui Teka. “But I’ve done shows in Mormon churches. I adapt my personality to suit where I am. I give the audience what they like.” Audiences love Tui Teka, says TVNZ. As he sings, he rolls'his eyes and wiggles his 22 stone. “I add my own humour to the songs,” he says. “I entertain them.” Between songs he keeps up a line of corny jokes, which include cracks about his weight. “I went to Weightwatchers and they gave me my money back,” and “I’m on a seafood diet — I see food and I eat it.” Friends and family are included in the show. Tui Teka clowns around onstage with wife, Missy, and she joins him to sing their latest single, which she wrote and produced — “I Need Your Love.” Tui Teka’s brother, Tewi Teka, is part of the 10piece backing band, playing bass guitar, and other friends make up the rest of the band under the direction of Bernie Allen. The Yandall Sisters, who back most of Tui Teka’s records, are singing back-up vocals. Missy’s aunt and her three sisters have come from Tokomaru Bay to perform and their nephew accompanies them on guitar. When Tui Teka is joined by his old friend, Hector Epae, who used to perform with him as one of the Volcanics, to do “Cinderella Rockafella” with Epae singing falsetto, it brings the house down, says TVNZ.