Rangi Ruru Wananga Karaitiana

Rangi Ruru Wananga Karaitiana (4 March 1909 – 15 December 1970) was a New Zealand musician and songwriter. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitane iwi. He was born in Dannevirke, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand on 4 March 1909.[1][2]

He served with 28th New Zealand (Maori) Battalion during World War II, and led the battalion's concert party. After the war he assembled a quintet, and in October 1948 recorded a version of his song ‘Blue smoke’ with singer Pixie Williams to a Hawaiian-style backing - the first record wholly produced in New Zealand from composition to pressing, and provided the début for the TANZA record label.[3][4] It topped the New Zealand radio hit parades for six weeks, and It went on to be covered by a number of overseas artists, including Dean Martin in 1951.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ Spittle, Gordon. "Rangi Ruru Wananga Karaitiana". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 25 Feb 2017.
  2. ↑ "Karaitiana, Rangi Ruru Wananga". Te Ara. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Blue smoke". NZ History. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  4. ↑ "Blue Smoke". NZ Folk Song. August 8, 2001. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  5. ↑ "DEAN MARTIN - Blue Smoke (1951)". Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "Blue Smoke". Te Papa. Te Papa. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
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