The Maori Troubadours
Encyclopedia
The Maori Troubadours were a Māori-based showband which performed in Australia
and Southeast Asia
, beginning in 1958 and continuing well into the 1960s. The three original members were Prince Tui Latui (aka Tui Teka), Matt Tenana and Johnny Kealoah (real name Johnny Nicol
). Drummer Neville Turner joined the band not long after its inception. They were a popular act, playing at Chequers and the Rex Hotel (Sydney
), the Theatre Royal (Brisbane
) as well as a host of centres on the Australian country show circuit. They also toured as support band with the Mickey Mouse Show and the Harlem Globetrotters
.
Johnny Nicol became a solo performer, playing throughout the USA and England in the late 1960s, and Southeast Asia in the 1970s. He is recognised as one of the finest jazz
singer-guitarists in Australia. Originally from North Queensland he currently lives in Cairns, North Quuensland and is still performing regularly both solo and with various jazz/swing bands.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, beginning in 1958 and continuing well into the 1960s. The three original members were Prince Tui Latui (aka Tui Teka), Matt Tenana and Johnny Kealoah (real name Johnny Nicol
Johnny Nicol
Johnny Nicol is a jazz singer born in Ayr, Queensland.Nicol began his career in 1958 as a member of The Maori Troubadours and recorded an album, A Little This, A Little That, with them...
). Drummer Neville Turner joined the band not long after its inception. They were a popular act, playing at Chequers and the Rex Hotel (Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
), the Theatre Royal (Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
) as well as a host of centres on the Australian country show circuit. They also toured as support band with the Mickey Mouse Show and the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
.
Johnny Nicol became a solo performer, playing throughout the USA and England in the late 1960s, and Southeast Asia in the 1970s. He is recognised as one of the finest jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer-guitarists in Australia. Originally from North Queensland he currently lives in Cairns, North Quuensland and is still performing regularly both solo and with various jazz/swing bands.