Dalvanius

aka Maui Dalvanius Prime, Dalvanius Prime, Dalvanius and The Fascinations


Dalvanius will be forever remembered for one song – ‘Poi E’ by the Pātea Māori Club – the No.1 selling record in New Zealand for four weeks in 1984. People may forget that Dalvanius lived a lifetime in music. Dal was not a one-hit wonder.

‘Poi E’ is correctly considered the pinnacle of his musical career but to get there Dalvanius studied on stages in bars, clubs, cabarets, concert halls and maraes from Pātea to Perth.

The famed Māori linguist and teacher Ngoi Pēwhairangi. Ngoi wrote the lyrics to two No.1 singles, The Patea Māori Club's Poi E and and Prince Tui Teka's E Ipo. She died in 1985.
A Dalvanius & The Fascinations publicity photo from around 1973
Dalvanius and the Fascinations with Australian Soul Appreciation Society Awards, Auckland
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Dalvanius sings Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (Sweet Soul Music TV special, 1986)
Dalvanius Prime
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
The Joe Wylie cover for Patea Māori Club's Poi-E album
Dalvanius performing in the 'Sweet Soul Music' TV series, in the Shortland Street studio, Auckland, 1986. He was also the MC in the show, which featured many leading R&B singers such as Bunny Walters and the Yandall Sisters. Murray Cammick wrote the script. 
Moana Maniapoto remembers Dalvanius (interview by Ross Cunningham, 2017)
Moana - Kua Makona (with Dalvanius in the producer's chair)
Dalvanius & The Fascinations in Sydney
Photo credit: Sue May collection
Dalvanius with the Pointer Sisters at Mormon College Hamilton.
An allstar cast in the 1980s, which includes Christina Asher, Dalvanius, Mark Williams and Annie Crummer
Photo credit: Christina Asher collection
Dalvanius sings Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms) on Dixie Chicken (1987)
A mid-70s Dalvanius & The Fascinations publicity shot
Photo credit: Sue May collection
Dalvanius with The Patea Māori Club
Photo credit: Photo by Gil Hanly. Simon Grigg collection
Patea Maori Club - Poi E
Dalvanius and the Fascinations with Manteca at the Casino in Hobart in 1974. L to r: Wally Kafoa, Barry Brackenborough, Barletta Prime, Ken Tait, Uwe Stengel, Paula Brackenborough-Williams, Ian Beddows, Peter Cross and Dalvanius Prime.
Photo credit: Uwe Stengel collection
Dalvanius & The Fascinations
Photo credit: Sue May collection
Dalvanius Prime interview, Give It A Whirl, 2003 (NZ On Screen, 2022)
Dalvanius
Photo credit: Photo by Guy Robinson
Dalvanius & The Fascinations in Australia
Photo credit: Sue May collection
Collison and Dalvanius with The Commodores in Sydney in the mid-1970s
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Dalvanius and The Fascinations with Australian band Manteca outside the Wrest-Point-Casino, Hobart, 1974. L to r: Peter Cross, Paula, Barletta, Barry Brackenborough, Uwe Stengel, Ken Tait, Wally Kafoa, Ian Beddows and Dalvanius.
Photo credit: Uwe Stengel collection
Dalvanius & The Fascinations onstage in the mid-1970s
Photo credit: Sue May collection
Dalvanius and Carmen performing in Poi E The Musical at the State Opera House, Wellington, 1995
Photo credit: Peter McLennan collection
Dalvanius and the Fascinations
Dalvanius presents and sings Arthur Conley's Sweet Soul Music (Sweet Soul Music episode 1, 1986)
Dalvanius and The Fascinations with Australian band Manteca at the Wrest-Point-Casino in 1974. L to r: Ken Tait, Peter Cross, Paula, Barry Brackenborough, Wally Kafoa, Barletta, Dalvanius and Ian Beddows
Photo credit: Uwe Stengel collection
Dalvanius and The Fascinations with Manteca at the Wrest-Point-Casino, Hobart, 1974. L to r: Ken Tait, Wally Kafoa, Peter Cross, Ian Beddows, Uwe Stengel, Barry Brackenborough, Barletta, Dalvanius and Paula.
Photo credit: Uwe Stengel collection
Opening for The Pointer Sisters, Auckland Town Hall, March 1980
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Dalvanius with Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie.
Opening for The Pointer Sisters, Auckland Town Hall, March 1980
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
The Collisions playing Dalvanius & The Fascinations' 'Voodoo Lady' at The Others Way (2018)
‘Poi E’ wins the award for the best Polynesian recording, 1984. Dalvanius with lead singer Hui Kahu.
Collision with Dalvanius, Auckland
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Dalvanius and friends at an unknown awards ceremony in the early 1990s. Clockwise from top left: Daniel Wrightson (Max TV), Push Push's Shayne Silver, Dalvanius and unknown.
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Dalvanius with members of The Patea Māori Club, 1983
Photo credit: Murray Cammick Collection
Dalvanius and the Fascinations, Sydney 1970s
Dalvanius & The Fascinations with The Supremes in Sydney
Photo credit: Sue May collection
Dalvanius and the Fascinations, Great Northern Hotel, Auckland, 1976
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
How the UK music press saw The Patea Māori Club. Blues & Soul, February 1985
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