Freddie Keil and the Kavaliers

Grant Gillanders

11 May 2013

Samoan-born Freddie Keil had been a long time member of cousin Herma’s Keil Isles group. Just after the Keil Isles changed labels from Zodiac to Viking Records in 1960, a feud between Herma and Freddie saw Freddie leave and start his own new group.

Zodiac Records owner Eldred Stebbing was disappointed to have lost the popular Keil Isles and always held Freddie’s powerful vocal style and showmanship in high regard. He signed Freddie and his as-yet unformed new band, sight (and sound) unseen.

Briefly called The Zodiacs until settling on Freddie Keil and The Kavaliers, in the early stages many musicians came and went, including John (Yuk) Harrison (bass), Marsh Cook (saxophone), Alfonso Keil (rhythm guitar) and Jimmy Langabeer (piano) before a more settled line-up eventuated.

As a seven-piece band Freddie Keil and the Kavaliers were prodigious recording artists and soon became one of the hottest bands around.

According to drummer Vic Williams, “Freddie assembled musicians who like myself at the time, were either still learning or had very little experience, he then took us all aside and taught us all to play in his style. At the time all I owned was a set of bongo drums. By the time of our first gigs I had scrounged enough cash from my parents to buy one cymbal, a bass drum and a snare drum, plus a bracket to attach the bongos to the top in lieu of a proper tom-tom. I then persuaded my mother to make 'leopard skin' covers for my cobbled-together kit.”

As a seven-piece band, Freddie Keil and The Kavaliers were prodigious recording artists. They soon became one of the hottest bands around – with their stage routine and matching satin two-tone western-styled shirts that were hand-made by Freddie’s cousins Eliza and Helga Keil.

The band held several residencies in Auckland including the downtown club the Shiralee. Once a month the group would tour the top half of the North Island. Most of the group members owned big American cars and would travel in convoy – you always knew when The Kavaliers were in town.

As the effects of Beatlemania changed the music scene forever, promoters were loath to pay for a seven-piece band. The Kavaliers had no option other than to trim the group down by letting go pianist Dave Smith and rhythm guitarist Billy Belton.

As a five-piece Freddie Keil and The Kavaliers carried on for a while before eventually breaking up leaving behind one album and 13 singles including several solo records including a version of ‘The Twist’ released in direct competition to Herma’s hit version.

Freddie moved to Rarotonga in the 70s where he started the first FM Radio Station in the South Pacific and periodically recorded with Bill Sevesi.

Born in Samoa on 8 August 1939, Freddie passed away in Rarotonga on 24 August 1994.

An early lineup

Photo credit: Simon Grigg Collection

Swing Awhile With Freddy Keil And The Kavaliers - a classic shot of Freddie and his band taken at Potter's Park in Auckland's Balmoral. This album, issued by Zodiac in 1963, collected many of their earlier singles but misspelled Freddie's name on the front sleeve.

Freddie Keil

Part of the Freddie Keil and The Kavaliers line-up: David Paul, Jimmy Murphy, Brian Smith, Helga Keil, Bill Belton, and David Smith

A later line-up of Freddie Keil and The Kavaliers: L to R: Vic Williams, Dave Paul, Freddie Keil, Billy Belton, Jimmy Murphy. Front: Dave Smith, Brian (Tuffy) Smith

Photo credit: Phil Warren Collection