Pepe and the Rarotongans were a popular Cook Island music group fronted by a female singer, Pepe. They were active in the 1950s and 1960s. As recording artists, they had albums released on the Viking and Salem labels.

Background The main force of the group was Pepe, formerly known as Pepe Taimata Pekamu Maoate, and Sonny Terei, also known as Sonny Tutai O Poko Maru Tamariki Nootu Teatuairo Terei. Sonny was born on 27 August 1933 in Ngatangiia, Rarotonga. He left the Cook Islands for New Zealand in 1947, to train as an electrical linesman. Pepe and Sonny were married on 29 May 1955.Cook Islands News, Saturday, 12 December 2009 Entertainment, peu Tamataora, Sonny's musical life remembered MM

As an act, Sonny did the arrangements for their music. Pepe became known for being the first Cook Islands singer to be recorded by Viking Records.Cook islands Herald, 25 June 2014 Pepe-a gift from God By Charles Pitt Along with Will Crummer, they achieved a level of fame and had a short succession of hits from the late 1950s to the 1960s.Jane's Oceania Cook Islands culture, University of the South Pacific. Institute of Pacific Studies Page 36 As mentioned in Glenda Tuaine's Celebrate Cook Islands Tarekareka! article in Escape Magazine, like Crummer, Jon Jonassen and Jake Numanga, they are considered pioneers.Escape Magazine of the Cook Islands, Issue 21 raro rhythm, Celebrate Cook Islands Tarekareka!, story: Glenda Tuaine Sonny has also been an influence on Cook Islands musicians such as Mann Short and John Lindsay.Cook Islands News, Saturday, 12 December 2009 Entertainment, peu Tamataora, Sonny's musical life remembered MM

Guitarist for the group, Nat Mara, was a recording artist in his own right. In addition to his album Peeping At Papeete and EPs La Tahitienne and A Taste Of Tahiti which were released on Viking,Discogs - Pepe And The Rarotongans – Rarotonga CallingDiscogs - Nat Mara And His Tahitians Discography he had an album Welcome to Tahiti which was released on the Olympic label.The New Records, Volumes 46-48 - Page 97

Career The beginning of the Viking connection can be possibly traced to an event in the late 1950s. Sonny, a musician, was to back a female singer in an Auckland recording studio. The singer never turned up and the producer asked Sonny's wife Pepe if she could take part in the session.Cook Islands News, Saturday, 12 December 2009 Entertainment, peu Tamataora, Sonny's musical life remembered MM

By 1964, they had at least two albums issued on Viking, they were Rarotonga Calling and Passion Flower, details of which appeared in the Pacific Islands Monthly magazine.Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM, Volume 35, Issues 1-6 Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM, Volume 35, Issues 1-6 The line up at the time of their Rarotonga Calling release consisted of Pepe, Sonny Terei, Nat Mara, Charles Carlson and Mark Anton.Discogs - Pepe And The Rarotongans – Rarotonga Calling In 1965, their EP Songs Of The Cook Islands was released on the Salem label. All compositions were by Sonny Terei. The four songs were "Te Marama Te Au Etu", "Momotu Te Inangaro", "Tatara Apa", and "E Oa".Discogs Pepe And The Rarotongans – Songs Of The Cook Islands In 1968, their album Memories of Rarotonga was released on Salem. The album of Rarotongan songs featured a painting by Kase Jackson, a well-known artist.Te Ao Ho, The Maori Magazine, March–May 1968, Number 62 Page 61 SALEM RECORDS-New Releases, Pepe and the Rarotongans In 1973, Siren Songs Of The South Seas, credited to Pepe & Her Rarotongans, was released on the Olympic Records label.Discogs Pepe & Her Rarotongans* – Siren Songs Of The South Seas

In 1977, the Rarotongan Hotel had just opened and Sonny and Pepe were invited by Cook Islands Premier, Albert Henry, to return there to provide entertainment for the hotel.

Later years In the early 1980s, Sonny was teaching music and assisting the choir at the Titikaveka Cook Islands Christian Church, after having approached by the Rev Teariki Vaerua. Quite likely, as a result of his input, for four years in a row the church won the Celebrations choir competition. In 1984, on a fundraising trip, and under the leadership of Bishop Pere (then known as Rev Tutai), Sonny and Pepe toured New Zealand with the Titikaveka CICC choir. Sonny remained a dedicated Christian for the rest of his life.Cook Islands News, Saturday, 12 December 2009 Entertainment, peu Tamataora, Sonny's musical life remembered MM

Sonny died on 25 November 2009. Pepe died at 6.40pm on Sunday, 8 June 2014 at age 81.Cook islands Herald, 25 June 2014 Pepe-a gift from God By Charles Pitt

In 2011, one of Pepe, and Sonny's compositions, "Tama Ine" appeared on Will Crummer's Shoebox Love Songs compilation, released on the Ode label.SMART Libraries BRN: 576183, Main Title: Shoebox love songs [sound recording] / Will Crummer

Members Mark Anton ... steel guitar or keyboards? Charles Carlson ... guitar Nat Mara ... guitar Pepe Taimata Pekamu Maoate ... vocal Sonny Terei ... guitarDiscogs - Pepe And The Rarotongans – Rarotonga Calling

Discography

+ EP Title Release info Year Notes Do you understand? Viking VE 110 C 1962 Cook Islands Song Festival Viking VE 113 C 1962 Songs Of The Cook Islands Salem XE 3015 1965 Discogs Pepe And The Rarotongans – Songs Of The Cook Islands

+ Album Title Release info Year Notes Rarotonga Calling Viking VP 81 1962 WorldCat Rarotonga calling Passion Flower Viking VP 89 1962 Popsike LP - Pepe & The Rarotongans - Passion Flower - Cook Islands - Viking Meet me in Rarotonga Viking VP 118 Pinterest Explore Zealand Viking, Pacific Vinyl and more!WorldCat Meet me in Rarotonga Memories of Rarotonga Salem XP 5020 1968 Te Ao Ho, The Maori Magazine, March–May 1968, Number 62 Page 61 SALEM RECORDS-New Releases, Pepe and the Rarotongans Cook Islands Pacific Paradise Salem XPS 5056 1969 WorldCat Cook Islands Pacific Paradise South Seas Idyll Music of the Tropical Isles Viking VP 329 1970 MP3PLUX South Seas Idyll Pepe and the Rarotongans MP3PLUX Large view Note The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television has this as Siren Songs Of The South SeasMusic of the Tropical Isles Pepe & her RarotongansThe New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51851 LP-NTK Siren Songs of the South Seas Siren Songs Of The South Seas Olympic OL-6153 1979 Discogs Pepe & Her Rarotongans* – Siren Songs Of The South Seas Eddie Lund Presents .... Pepe and the Rarotongans Tahiti Records EL 1014 Hipwax Tahitian & Cook Islands Music, Tahitian LPs Siren Songs of the South Seas, Music of the Tropical Isles Everest 6153 Hipwax Tahitian & Cook Islands Music, Tahitian LPs

+ Appearances - various artists compilations Title Release info Year Songs by artist Notes Island Songs of Farewell Salem 1965 National Library of New Zealand Island songs of farewell (sound recording) Ports of Paradise Salem XPS 5023 1966 "Tatara apa", " Te marama te au etu" National Library of New Zealand Ports of Paradise (sound recording)Discogs Various – Ports Of Paradise Cook Islands Pacific Paradise Salem 1969 National Library of New Zealand Cook Islands Pacific Paradise (sound recording) / featuring Reres Traditional Entertainers Call of the Pacific Salem 1969 "Manuiri", "Nga pu ariki" National Library of New Zealand Call of the Pacific (sound recording) : a musical panorama / Various artists Action Rarotonga!Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans, Pepe and The Rarotongans Viking VP 251 1967 National Library of New Zealand Action Rarotonga! (sound recording) / Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans; Pepe and The RarotongansThe New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51825 Action Rarotonga! National Library of New Zealand Action Rarotonga! (sound recording) / Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans; Pepe and The RarotongansThe New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51825 Action Rarotonga! Music Of The South Seas!A Visit To Tahiti, New Zealand, Rarotonga World Record Club 889 "E Tiare", "Easy Mama""Kua Akaruke" Discogs Various – Music Of The South Seas! - A Visit To Tahiti, New Zealand, Rarotonga

References