Prince Tui Teka
Prince Tui Teka | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tumanako Teka 28 January 1937 Ruatahuna, New Zealand |
| Died | 23 January 1985 (aged 47) |
| Genres | Folk, contemporary, pacifica |
| Occupations | Actor, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocal, guitar, saxophone |
| Years active | 1951–1985 |
Tumanako "Tui" Teka (28 January 1937—23 January 1985),[1] [2] better known by his stage names Tui Latui or Prince Tui Teka, was a Māori singer and actor. Teka was a member of the Maori Volcanics Showband before having a successful solo career.
Career
Teka was born in Ruatāhuna, New Zealand near Te Urewera. His parents were both musicians, and he learnt to play the guitar and saxophone at a young age.[3]
He moved to Sydney in the early 1950s. In 1959, Teka, Jonny Nicol, and Mat Tenana joined the Royal Samoans and Maoris. The band was later renamed Prince Tui Latui & The Maori Troubadours. In 1968, he joined Maori Volcanics Showband, touring the Pacific for six years. In 1972, he began his solo career, and returned home releasing two albums: Real Love and Oh Mum,[4] as well as the Māori love song "E Ipo".[5]
In 1974, he met with Noel Tio; both Tui and Noel had known each other since 1958, so Noel Tio Enterprises Pty Ltd. became his (Australia only) manager for 11 years. Before his death in 1985, he was in the West German TV series Jack Holborn and starred in New Zealand films Came a Hot Friday and Savage Islands.[6]
Teka died in 1985, aged 47, of a heart attack in his room while waiting to perform at the Ruawai Tavern in Northland, and was survived by his wife Missy and daughters Davinia and Missy Jr.[7] Missy died in 2008 in a motor vehicle accident.[8]
Discography
| Year | Title | New Zealand Chart (peak) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | E-Ipo | 1 | The Man, The Legend |
| 1985 | Out in the cold | 30 | The Greatest |
| Year | Title | New Zealand Chart (peak) | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Tui - The Entertainer | 39 | |
| 1982 | The Man The Music The Legend | 5 | |
| 1982 | The Best Of Prince Tui Teka | 28 | |
| 1983 | Prince Tui Teka - Live | 9 | |
| 1984 | The Prince Tui Teka Show | 38 | |
| 2002 | The Greatest | 2 | |
| 2016 | E Ipo: The Very Best Of | 19 | NZ Platinum[11] |
References
- ^ "FindaGrave". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "AudioCulture". Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Follow Amplifier". Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2008.
- ^ "Prince Tui Teka – New Zealand Musicians & Bands". Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Prince Tui Teka". p. 1. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- ^ Prince Tui Teka at IMDb
- ^ Prince Tui Teka, nzonscreen.com. Accessed 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Maori music legend's widow dies in road crash". Waikato Times. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Search the Charts by artist, title etc". Official Aotearoa Music Charts. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ "Search the Charts by artist, title etc". Official Aotearoa Music Charts. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ https://www.radioscope.co.nz/2024/04/06/album-cert-search/ In search field type "E Ipo: The Very Best Of" Accessed 9 October 2025