Gugi Waaka Explained

Gugi Waaka
Birth Name:Hore Wiremu Waaka
Birth Date:1 August 1937
Birth Place:Whakatāne, New Zealand
Death Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Origin:New Zealand
Instruments:Guitar, vocals
Genre:Māori show band
Years Active:1960–2014
Associated Acts:Quin Tikis, Polynesian Trio, Maori Volcanics Showband, New Zealand Impacts Showband, Maori Premiers, Gugi Walker Quartet

Hore Wiremu "Gugi" Waaka (1 August 1937 – 5 July 2014), also known as Gugi Walker, was a New Zealand musical entertainer. A guitarist and singer, he was a founding member of the Quin Tikis and the Maori Volcanics Showband.

Biography

Of Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Pūkeko descent, Waaka was born on 1 August 1937.[1] He grew up at Poroporo, near Whakatāne.[2]

After serving in the air force in the late 1950s, Waaka began his show business career[3] and was a founding member of the Quin Tikis.[4] Moving to Australia, he formed in the Polynesian Trio with his brother and sister-in-law, Nuki and Mahora Waaka, in 1961.[5] [6] The trio then joined with Matti Kemp, John Clarke and Hector Epae,[7] forming the Maori Volcanics Showband in 1964.[6] Waaka left the band after a few months following a minor disagreement with Nuki.[4]

Waaka was a member of a number of other show bands, including the Maori Premiers and the New Zealand Impacts Showband, and formed the eponymous Gugi Walker Quartet.

Between 2002 and 2007 Waaka performed at the annual Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards, providing post-awards entertainment.[2]

Following his death from heart problems on 5 July 2014, Waaka's body lay in state at Papakura Marae.[1] [3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Death search: registration number 2014/16183 . Births, deaths & marriages online . Department of Internal Affairs . 29 October 2021.
  2. Web site: He aitua Maori Sports Awards loses a great friend and music legend . 6 July 2014 . Māori Sports Awards . 2 August 2014.
  3. News: Showband veteran Gugi Waaka dies . 7 July 2014 . Waatea News . 2 August 2014 . 11 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140811185602/http://www.waateanews.com/Waatea+News.html?story_id=NzMzMA . dead .
  4. Book: Peters . Mahora . George . James . Showband!: Mahora and the Māori Volcanics . 2005 . Huia . Wellington . 1-86969-159-8 . 66.
  5. News: Volcanics set for blast from past . 6 June 1997 . The Dominion . 9 . Warren . Barton .
  6. Huata . Tama . December 2011 . Farewell to one of our icons . Waiata Magazine . 2 . 2 . 2 August 2014.
  7. Book: Peters . Mahora . George . James . Showband!: Mahora and the Māori Volcanics . 2005 . Huia . Wellington . 1-86969-159-8 . 59.