Saimone Vuatalevu is a veteran Fijian musician who has had a career in music lasting more than 45 years. He also known for the popular Fijian hit, "Tucake Mai".
Background 1960s to 1980s His career started in 1968 when he was aged 21, winning his first local talent quest.Fiji Times, 25 May 2017 - 49 years of successful music - Manasa Kalouniviti He also fronted a bad called the Quin Tikis in the late 1960s.Fiji Sun, 23 Dec 2013 - Vuatalevu releases new album By WATI TALEBULA In 1986, he found success with the hit "Tucake Mai" which would go on to become a classic.Fiji Sun, 23 Dec 2013 - Vuatalevu releases new album By WATI TALEBULAPressreader, Fiji Sun, 2 Dec 2016 - A Tribute to the ClassicsFiji Times, 13 February 2014 - Backtracks: Vuatalevu's music journey
He was popular during the 1980s and as cassettes were the recorded medium back then, Vuatalevu along with Sakiusa Bulicokocoko and Laisa Vulakoro may have been helped along by the good fidelity of Fijian cassettes.World Music: The Rough Guide. Latin and North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, edited by Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham, James McConnachie, Orla Duane - Page 225 Poynesia
1990s to 2000s By 1998, he had won his fifth Vacalutu-i-Voce Award.Fiji Times, 25 May 2017 - 49 years of successful music - Manasa Kalouniviti In April, 2016, two of his compositions were nominated in the FPRA Music awards. They were "Mere Khuda Meri Dohai Sun" in the Best Hindi Song category and "Noqu Kalou Au Tagi vei Kemuni" in the Best Gospel Song category.Fiji Village, 13/04/2016 - FPRA announces nominees for music awards By Ana Ravulo
In 2014, his album Na Loloma Uasivi, a 10-track compilation of some of his more memorable work was released.Fiji Times, 28 December 2014 - Saimoni Vuatalevu Na loloma uasivi In July, 2019, his song "Tucake Mai" was danced to by around 60 year 7 and 8 students who also paid tribute to Fiji by singing the national anthem at the Pacific Games opening ceremony.Fiji Sun, 07 Jul 2019 - I’ll Cheer For Fiji 7s Team: Tuilaepa by Rosi Doviverata
As of 2019, he is the chairman for The Fiji Performing Rights Association.Fiji Village, 09/05/2019 - FPRA receives $10,000 sponsorship from Courts Fiji Limited ahead of Music Awards By Navitalai Naivalurua
Discography Saimone Vuatalevu and the Quin Tikis - Hibiscus HS-4Discogs - Saimone Vuatalevu – Saimone Vuatalevu and the Quin Tikis My originals - Mangrove MGV CD 1330 - 2001National Library of Australia - 2001, English, Fijian, Sound, Recorded musicedition:My originals (sound recording) / Saimone Vuatalevu.Vuatalevu, Saimone. Na Loloma Uasivi - 2014Fiji Times, 28 December 2014 - Saimoni Vuatalevu Na loloma uasivi
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