Unsung Heroes Of Maori Music Recognised

PUBLICITY RELEASE
MONDAY, AUGUST 23 2010

Unsung Heroes Of Maori Music Recognised

Influential Maori musicians of past and present largely unrecognised for their contribution to Maori music are profiled in an inspiring new documentary series on Maori Television.

UNSUNG HEROES OF MAORI MUSIC premieres on Maori Television on Friday, September 3 at 8.00 PM.

The 13-episode series begins with the music of Ratana and explores how the Whanganui brass band sound influenced Maori musicians and entertainers.

UNSUNG HEROES OF MAORI MUSIC tracks the developments in Maori music, with each episode profiling successful musicians and entertainers such as Tai Paul and Rim D Paul, and show band giants Mary and the Maori Hi Five, who hit the big-time overseas.

The musicians and entertainers tell their stories and explore the issues they faced being Maori musicians in Aotearoa and abroad.

This documentary series finally gives a voice to the musicians and entertainers who slipped under the radar yet contributed so much to Maori music. Their stories and achievements will amaze and entertain viewers.

Producer and musician Phil Crown says many influential Maori musicians found success overseas but were virtually unknown at home.

“Guys like Leo De Castro, who became one of Australia's most widely recognised and popular soul singers in the 1970s, is an example of an unsung hero,” says Crown.

“He was brought up in the bush in New Zealand and somehow he made it to the top of the Australian music industry. He was important in the timeline of Maori music evolution.”

Crown says the idea for the series had been forming for many years.

“My father Armand Crown and I have always thought that these stories needed to be told and we had been working on the concept since 2000.”

His father, who is also a musician, narrates the documentary.

Crown says his main concern was to acknowledge all the great performers in Maoridom who have gone largely unrecognised.

“We are all aware of the influence of American artists, but people should know that we have heroes of our own. As long as I do right by them then I'm happy,” he says.

UNSUNG HEROES OF MAORI MUSIC also profiles artists Tuhi Timoti and Tama Renata, Sonny Day, and Erana Clark and Joy Yates.

Join them as they tell their incredible life stories in UNSUNG HEROES OF MAORI MUSIC, starting on Friday, September 3 at 8.00 PM on Maori Television.

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