The Amboina Serenaders were a successful and popular group that did well in the Netherlands in the 1950s. Its members included Ming Luhulima, Rudi Wairata and Joyce Aubrey, the ex-wife of George de Fretes. They had a top ten hit in the Netherlands with "Klappermelk Met Suiker". They are named after the city of Ambon in the Maluku Islands.
History
The Amboina Serenaders evolved out of the Mena Muria Minstrels, a group founded by Rudi Wairata in 1950.Recollecting Resonances: Indonesian-Dutch Musical Encounters Edited by Bart Barendregt and Els Boegerts Page 286 Chapter twelve, Rein SpoormanDutch Exotica http://www.dutchexotica.nl/artists.htm The Mena Moeria Minstrels – South Sea Breeze
Line ups The line up included George de Fretes's ex-wife Joyce Aubrey.Recollecting Resonances: Indonesian-Dutch Musical Encounters Edited by Bart Barendregt and Els Boegerts Page 286 Chapter twelve, Rein SpoormanWaikiki Islanders Rudi Wairata Another member of the group was Miing Luhulima.Geheugenvannederland.nl From Moluccan history and culture in pictures of the Museum Maluku, The Amboina Serenaders o.l.v. Ming Luhulima In addition to Wairata, Luhulima and Aubrey, their 1953 line up also included Jack Salakory and Joop Sahanaya.Indo-Rock Gallery Rudi Wairata, 1953 In that year, there was a disagreement of sorts within the group which caused founder Wairata to leave. From then onwards, the group was led by Luhulima.Waikiki Islanders Rudi Wairata In 1958, Aubrey left the band to join the Royal Hawaiian Minstrels which was a band led by her former husband George.Recollecting Resonances: Indonesian-Dutch Musical Encounters Edited by Bart Barendregt and Els Boegerts Page 286 Chapter twelve, Rein SpoormanBillboard March 30, 1963 Page 37 International News Reports, Holland The group broke up some time after that.
Recordings In 1955, they did well with "Goro Goro Né’".Harry Knipschild Artikelen, 04 - Dutch-East Indies artists and their role in the music industry 1950-1970, Rudi Wairata and George de Fretes The following year their single "Klappermelk Met Suiker" which was composed by Pierre Wijnnobel peaked at #9, spending 5 weeks in the charts.uk-charts.com The Amboina Serenaders met Lou Lima & Joyce Aubrey - Klappermelk Met Suiker (song) The title of the song translates as "I want coconut milk with sugar.Recollecting Resonances: Indonesian-Dutch Musical Encounters Edited by Bart Barendregt and Els Boegerts Page 286 Chapter twelve, Rein Spoorman
Later years In 1981, founding member Rudi Wairata died.Billboard August 1, 1981 Page 68 General News, Deaths
Members Joyce Aubrey aka Joyce de Fretes - Vocals Charlie Kuipers - Steel Guitar Ming Luhulima - Ukulele David Nanuru - Steel Guitar Joop Sahanaya - Guitar Tjak Salakory - Bass Rudi Wairata - Steel Guitar
Other members Pariury Pattyhttp://www.geheugenvannederland.nl Uit Molukse geschiedenis en cultuur in beeld van het Museum Maluku, Hawaiian Band 'The Amboina Serenaders'. V.l.n.r.: Joop...INdo-Rock-Gallery Rudi Wairata
Discography 78 RPM Singles The Amboina Serenaders O.l.v. Rudi Wairata – "Ja Hoera" / "Hela Arombai" - RCA – 18154 Rudi Wairata En Zijn Amboina Serenaders - "Nona Pédédé" / "Hoera Hoera Tjintjin" - RCA 28105 - (1955) Discogs Amboina Serenaders Discography Rudi Wairata En Zijn Amboina Serenaders - "Ik wil klappermelk met suiker" / "Soerabaja" - RCA 28117 - (1956)Rate Your Music Ik wil klappermelk met suiker / Soerabaja Rudi Wairata And His Amboina Serenaders – "É-Tanasé" / "Waktoe-Potong-Padi" - RCA – 28119 Rudi Wairata And His Amboina Serenaders – "Goodbye To You Nona Manis" / "Kota Ambon" - RCA – 28129 - (1956)Discogs Amboina Serenaders Discography
45 RPM singles The Amboina Serenaders - "Panggajo E Panggajo" / "Sarinandé" - RCA 48102 - (1955) The Amboina Serenaders - "Waktoe Potong Padi" / "E Tanase" - Omega 35.357 - (1962) The Amboina Serenaders - "Goodbye To You Nona Manis" / "Kota Ambon" - Omega 35.359 - (1962)
Extended play The Amboina Serenaders - "Ouw-Ulat Ee", "Pantai Waijamé" / "Ladju-Ladju", " Hoehaté" - CID 75.875 - (1957)45Cat The Amboina Serenaders - Discography
10" LP Rudi Wairata And His Amboina Serenaders – Amboina - RCA 130.153 L.P
12" LP Amboina Serenaders – Goodbye To You, Nona Manis - Dureco 51.054 The Amboina Serenaders* o.l.v. Ming Luhulima - The Amboina Serenaders - GIP – 2L 51.015/16 - (1967) Ming Luhulima And His Amboina Serenaders - Ming Luhulima And His Amboina Serenaders - Dureco 51.005Discogs Amboina Serenaders Discography
References