Success in Europe

Te Ao Hou, June 1963, Page 4

Success in Europe After this the band toured France, Germany and Holland with great success. They had a part in Wald Disney's film ‘The Cast-aways’, then were booked for a tour of Sweden, Norway and Finland. Here again the story was one of success, with broken attendance records and many return engagements. Meanwhile, back in London, Kawana Pohe was undergoing the second of the series of delicate operations necessary to save his sight. Again all went well. He had 60 per cent vision now, and could see well enough to write music. After the final operation on their next trip to London, Kawana should have nearly 100 per cent vision once more. Shortly before their return to New Zealand, the Hi-Fives—there were already six of them—added a seventh member to their group. Peter Woolland from Wanganui is a spectacular drummer with a fabulous rhythm and an amazing technique. The only pakeha in the group, he claims he is joining them in order to show overseas audiences that there are some Europeans in New Zealand also! Next step for the Hi-Fives is Sweden, then a tour of other European countries. Then they are heading for Las Vegas, the famous entertainment centre in the United States. The Hi-Fives' future is bright indeed. Already, after three short years, they must be considered as New Zealand's most successful entertainment group—Maori or Pakeha—ever to travel overseas. They have achieved this by managing to combine their natural Maori exuberance, charm and musical talent, with strenuous self-discipline, adaptability, and really hard work. They have certainly earned their success. Solly Pohatu's version of ‘Speedy Gonzales’, complete with mule, usually leaves their audience in hysterics.