Sam Mateparae and The Rockin' Rockers Profile
aka The Del-Rockers
Whanganui was a hotbed for rock and roll in the late 1950s, with not just Johnny Devlin emerging from the sleepy river town but also sax player Sam Mateparae, whose ‘Rockin’ Rockers’ on the Ace label is a rare slab of swinging wildness.
Mateparae was the bandleader and vocalist, and he played bass on the track. The song was recorded live to portable reel-to-reel at a Sunday afternoon/evening youth club social in Whanganui in 1959, and the band members were aged 16 and 17.
The Quin Tikis with Sam Mateparae on the left
The Quin Tikis, Sundowner Hotel, Sydney, 1964. From left: Rim D. Paul, Sam Mateparae, Weasel Taiaroa, Anzac Teoka, Dora Amohau on drums
Photo credit:
Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Quin Tikis in Vietnam: Weasel Tairoa, Gary Wahrlich, Kevin Rongonui, Freddy Summers, Keri Summers, Sam Mateparae
Wez Taiaroa, Gary Wahrlich, Rim D. Paul, Anzac Teoka, Tab Paenga, Sam Mateparae at the Rex Hotel, Kings Cross, Sydney, 1964
Photo credit:
Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Miss NZ Tour 1965. From top left: Fred Whitaker, Sam Mateparae, Wez Taiaroa, Lou Clauson, Ian Saxon, Simon Mehana, Peter Posa. Middle: John Hore, Howard Morrison, Miss NZ 1965 Gay Phelps, Keri Northover. Front: Gary Wahrlich, Rim D. Paul.
Photo credit:
Courtesy of the Rim D. Paul Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rockin' Rockers
Labels:
Ace
Members:
Sam Mateparae - vocals, bass, saxophone
Peter Wolland - drums
Kawana Waitere - piano
Alfred Paranihi - guitar
Herbert Steadman - saxophone
Posie Te Tana - guitar
Trivia:
The B-side of the band's only single listed second saxophonist Roy Steedman (aka Herbert Steadman) with the band. Little is known of him but they were always professionally known as Sam Mateparae And The Rockin' Rockers.