Sam Mateparae and The Rockin' Rockers

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.

Wez Taiaroa, Gary Wahrlich, Rim D. Paul, Anzac Te Oka, 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
‘Rockin’ Rockers’ – Sam Mateparae with the Rockin’ Rockers
The Quin Tikis in Vietnam: Weasel Taiaroa, Gary Wahrlich, Kevin Rongonui, Freddy Summers, Keri Summers, Sam Mateparae
Photo credit: Noel Bell
Quin Tikis - Hoki Mai/E Whitu/Pa Mai (1968)
The Quin Tikis (L- R): Sam Matepaere, Gary Wahrlich, Weasel Tairoa, Keri Summers, John Ferguson, Rim D Paul, Freddy Summers. 
The Quin Tikis - Guitar Boogie Shuffle from the 1966 film 'Don't Let It Get You'
The Quin Tikis, Sundowner Hotel, Sydney, 1964. From left: Rim D. Paul, Sam Mateparae, Weasel Taiaroa, Anzac Te Oka, Dora Amohau on drums
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
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.

Members:

Sam Mateparae - vocals, bass, saxophone

Peter Wolland - drums

Kawana Waitere - piano

Alfred Paranihi - guitar

Herbert Steadman - saxophone

Posie Te Tana - guitar

Labels:

Ace


Philips

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