The Maori Community Centre, with its constant Sunday night ‘talent quests’ has proved a great stimulus to Maori amateur musicians. With a ready opportunity to come before a large public and compete with other musicians, many of the community centre performers have developed well. One talented singer heard at the centre is Freda Morrison, shown here with the Hawaiian Swingsters. who has been known for years to the people of Hawkes Bay. He began singing in Hastings at the age of six and has scores of performances—and a lot of recordings—behind him. With his resonant tenor voice, Kahu has a wide-ranging repertoire which includes Maori songs, Calypso and classical ballads. His ambition is to take his talents to the United States next year. The list of amateur Maori performers is almost endless. There are “rock” singers, like Ray Paparoa, of Pukehohe, who whips up tremendous audience enthusiasm with his Presley-like style and rubber legs. Freda Morrison is one of many talented girls who appear on the stage of the Maori Community Centre and handle the microphone like veterans. One of the youngest musicians is 12-year-old drummer Doug. Young, who has been playing since he was seven. He is an important member of the Hawaiian Swingsters from Papatoetoe. The others are Paul Robinson, Danny Robinson, Heke Kawini and Simon Mohana. Bands of this type, with real musical ability as well as the lusty enthusiasm of amateurs, are exciting talent scouts in Auckland. With television on the way and greater recording chances than ever before, the opportunities for the young Maori who applies himself to musical study are almost limitless. Bobby Ewing, an Otahuhu carpenter, is among Auckland's talented Maori musicians.
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