“RISING STARS”

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 4, 18 May 1978, Page 8

“RISING STARS”

SING FOR ENJOYMENT The ‘T’ SISTERS, T for TAULEALEA are three young New Zealand born Samoan girls on the verge of singing their way into the hearts of many New Zealanders. Living in a very comfortable home in Glen Eden, Auckland; along with three brothers and parents who have resided in New Zealand for over 24 years, Violet (18), Fay (17) and Helen (15) only real set-back to date is minimal opportunities for the big break and the usual “Madness” that we all have before slipping away from our shyness.

Fay and Helen are students at Kelston Girls High School, while Violet is training to be a teacher at North Shore. Their musical schooling however has been greatly influenced by the

church. Members of the local Presbyterian church, they declare that most of their repertoire is spiritual but acknowledge the need to entertain all with sentimental ballads both recent and old. Violet feels that the church can be a great help for budding musos in the congregation. She said that although the church have a lot of old humns. new songs are slowly increasing in volume. Their music is influenced by a Black American arranger Andre Crouch however their presentation is definitely urban Polynesian. The girls were rapped when asked to perform at Mana’s next fund-raising social. For the past few years they have been singing at school functions, weddings and talent

quests. They have had several successes including a win at a quest for talent over the North Shore in 1975. The Kiwanis club requested their talents while Helen has done some back-up vocals for established artists.

Both the girl’s parents are typically hard working Samoans. Their father originally from Safuni, Savaii met the now Mrs Taulealea nee Viola Soo’alo in New Zealand. Mr Taulealea works 12 hour shifts at a local factory and the mother works night shift as a nurse at Waitakere Hospital. The girls don't want to be famous but only to have more opportunities to sing for the people. Their future ambitions are to travel to Samoa and other places. It is “important to visit where you come from.” Professionally their

idea of jobs is to deal with people but mainly children. They prefer to sing for enjoyment. Hence their deliberate low key approach to talent quests and other competitions in recent months because of its competitive nature.