Will Crummer

Will Crummer
Origin Cook Islands
Genres Polynesian music
Years active 1960s, 2000s–present
Labels Viking Records, Ode
Associated acts Will Crummer and the Sea Stars, Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans, Pepe and the Rarotongans, Annie Crummer

Will Crummer is a Cook Island singer and entertainer who was well known in the 1960s in both Auckland, and the Cook Islands. He released some EPs and albums during the 1960s. Along with Pepe and the Rarotongans, he was a pioneering Cook Island artist. His is also the father of singer Annie Crummer.

Background

In his teens, Crummer would climb up the coconut trees in his village and sing. In island fashion He'd sing songs which he had heard on the radio. Some of the song's he sang were songs by Pat Boone and Nat King Cole.[1] He came to New Zealand in the early 1960s to work as a concreter, in a job which his brother had set up for him.[2]

During the 1960s in Auckland with the Polynesian music scene being very popular, Crummer achieved a level of fame to become very well known.[3] The band he became famous for fronting was Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans.[4] He performed at venues such as The Orange Ballroom and The Reefcomber.[5]

He made some recordings in Auckland. His EP Rarotonga was released in 1962. He also had, Romantic Rarotonga released. The following year, Cook Islands Magic was released. He also released Love Songs of Polynesia. The places he performed in the Pacific include Tahiti and Hawaii.[6]

During his career he was offered a residency in Hawaii by a Hawaiian promoter. After performing there for a period of time, he broke his contract for personal reasons and headed back to New Zealand where he found work in wharehousing.[7] According to his daughter Annie, he was an incredible singer. He gave up music to raise his family.[8]

In 1968, Viking Records issued the compilation, Action Rarotonga!, which featured his group, Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans as well as Pepe and The Rarotongans.[9][10]

Later years

In 2011, Ode released his album Shoebox Lovesongs.[11] It was produced by Nick Bollinger and Arthur Baysting It features Dinky Ngatipa who is an old friend of Crummer. There's also a string arrangement by Don McGlashan on the album.[12] Daughter Annie, and The Yandall Sisters also appear on the album.[13]

On Saturday, 25 January 2015, Crummer and his band, Will Crummer and the Rarotongans were one of the acts that performed on the HMNZS Otago to an audience of around 10,000. His daughter Annie was also at the event.[14]

Discography

Single
Act Title Release info Year Notes
A) Loma avec l'orchestre Hotel Tahiti
B) Will Crummer and the Seastars		 "Pua'a Choux"
"Omai Na To Rima"		 Tahiti Records 190
EP
Act Title Release info Year Notes
Will Crummer and the Sea Stars Romantic Rarotonga Viking VE 114 [15][16]
Will Crummer and the Seastars Rarotonga Viking VE 118 1962 [17][18]
LP
Act Title Release info Year Notes
Will Crummer and the Seastars Cook Islands Magic Viking VP 94 LP[19]
Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans Love songs of Polynesia Viking VP 110 1963 LP[20][21][22]
Eddie Lund and His Tahitians and Will Crummer and the "Seastars"* Tahiti Meets Manihiki Tahiti Records EL 1015 LP[23]
Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans
Pepe and the Rarotongans		 Action Rarotonga Viking[24] VP 251 LP
Will Crummer Shoebox Love Songs Ode CDMANU5113 2011 CD[25]
Various artist compilations
Title Release info Year Notes
Music of the South Seas! A Visit to Tahiti, New Zealand, Rarotonga World Records ST889 Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans songs: "Sinsano",
"Tu Takariki", "Rarotonga"

References

  1. ↑ Cook Islands News, Sunday 11 January 2015 - Will Crummer croons away the years Written by Matariki Wilson
  2. ↑ New Zealand Herald, Monday 4 April 2011 - Annie Crummer: Songs of my father
  3. ↑ Cook Islands News, Sunday 11 January 2015 - Will Crummer croons away the years Written by Matariki Wilson
  4. ↑ Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM., Volume 67, Pacific Publications, 1997 Page 51 by Alma Raganivatu
  5. ↑ Cook Islands News, Sunday 11 January 2015 - Will Crummer croons away the years Written by Matariki Wilson
  6. ↑ New Zealand Herald, Monday 4 April 2011 - Annie Crummer: Songs of my father
  7. ↑ Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM., Volume 67, Pacific Publications, 1997 Page 51 by Alma Raganivatu
  8. ↑ New Zealand Herald, Tuesday 18 February 2014 - Sarah Stuart 's Opinion , Twelve Questions: Annie Crummer
  9. ↑ BMG; Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Volume 66 Page 136
  10. ↑ The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51825 Action Rarotonga!
  11. ↑ Elsewhere.co.nz, 28 March 2011 - Will Crummer: Shoebox Lovesongs (Ode) - Graham Reid
  12. ↑ New Zealand Listener, 2 April 2011 - The Pasifika Social club By Chris Bourke In Music
  13. ↑ Elsewhere.co.nz, 28 March 2011 Will Crummer: Shoebox Lovesongs (Ode) - Graham Reid
  14. ↑ New Zealand Herald, Monday 26 January 2015 - Auckland Anniversary Weekend: Music, food and fun - what's on today? By Tom Carnegie
  15. ↑ Discogs Will Crummer And The Sea Stars* – Romantic Rarotonga
  16. ↑ OPAC-Notice Notice n° 37326
  17. ↑ The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 21041, Apai atu koe iaku e ine
  18. ↑ New Zealand Herald, Monday 4 April 2011 - Annie Crummer: Songs of my father
  19. ↑ Discogs Will Crummer And The Seastars – Cook Islands Magic
  20. ↑ The age, Thursday, 8 September 1966 Page 24
  21. ↑ WorldCat Love songs of Polynesia
  22. ↑ WorthPoint Lot of 4 Records Vintage Polynesia NZ Eddie Lund
  23. ↑ Discogs Eddie Lund And His Tahitians And Will Crummer And The "Seastars"* – Tahiti Meets Manihiki
  24. ↑ WorldCat Action Rarotonga!
  25. ↑ Discogs Will Crummer – Shoebox Love Songs
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