BILLY T.K. IS BACK IN TOWN

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 3, 4 May 1978, Page 8

BILLY T.K. IS BACK IN TOWN

William James Taitoko (Billy T. James the entertainer) has gone solo after ten years of being involved in show band and big band sounds.

Born and bred in Te Kuiti, a commercial artist by trade, Billy has emerged from his small town background as a fully professional entertainer. In early 1964 he joined a band in Noumea, where overseas entertainment is mostly used, and therefore played there for two years. His next big musical event was to join the fabulous “Maori Volcanics” with whom he spent the next four and a half years, travelling extensively through such countries as New Zealand, England, Europe, Australia, America and all the U.S.A.A.F. bases in Germany. After a six months solo stint in Australia he returned to New Zealand, and is now building on his solo career in the night clubs here.

After his experience Billy has formed some strong feelings about the entertainment scene in New Zealand. He would like to see more financial and moral support for Maori and other Polynesians in comparison, in Australia 40 per cent of air time goes to local artists. His ideas include such things as, overseas scholarships for Polynesian students, more government finance to support local talent and a school for grooming of professional entertainers. As a solo singer Billy is often disappointed with the ability of local bands to read music charts and thus back solo artist like himself adequately. Although Billy says he was influenced in his early years by 8.8. King and blues music, his show is a mixture of humourous jokes, easy listening songs and realistic impersonations of the Platters, Jose Feliciano and Tom Jones, to mention just a few. He

has a way of involving his audience, and seems to gain more energy from their appreciation. Watching Billy T. James perform is an enjoyable experience right up to his last number “Neilson” “Without You” which is harmonious and pleasing to the ear and satisfying to the emotions. Billy wants to stay in New Zealand now supporting and working with Polynesian talent where he feels at home.

If you want to catch him, Billy is moving on to the Barcelona, Birkenhead Trust, Manhatten, Taupo’s Checkers and up to Whangarei’s Henry Bth. On June 2nd, Billy is supporting act for the ‘Supremes” show at Trillos. Mana recommends you catch that one. MANA wishes you all the best for the future, Billy T. James Footnote:

Concerts coming up in the future — June 2nd at Trillos

Downtown, the “Supremes”. That will be a good one. Joan Armatrading will be coming to New Zealand in June, her first concert will be in Christchurch June 9th, Wellington the 10th, and Auckland on the 12th — there will be more information to come about her concert. The musical editor wishes to appeal to the young Maori and Polynesians to send in any views you may have on how we could run the musical section in Mana, as we would like to make it as active as possible. You may have a cousin or a brother, sister overseas that is in the entertainment scene. All this information we could use, write it up and send it in, and we will use it. Write to: Mana Musical Editor, Mr J. D. Karaka 7 Rowena Crescent Glen Innes or Mana office, Auckland.