Kingpins of ’60s music industry
THE Rabaka brothers were the kingpins of Fiji’s music industry during the swinging ’60s. Even though he was only 17 at the time, Tom Mawi led the country’s premier musical outfit which featured his siblings – Ben Rabaka on drums, Marika Rabaka on rhythm guitar and Simione ‘Shucks’ Rabaka on saxophone at the Golden Dragon cabaret at Victoria Pde, Suva.
The band played a very wide repertoire — from island tunes to Latin jazz to rock and roll and pop.
“We didn’t have bass guitars and keyboards at that time, so whoever was playing rhythm guitar had to cover the bass parts too,” Mawi recalled.
“Today, a lot of bands would not go on stage without a bass guitarist. But back then, we just worked with what we had.
“My brother Ben was a good drummer and Marika was a very strong rhythm guitarist, so, between the two of them, we were able to recreate some of the jazz standards and popular songs of that time.”
The band drew in music lovers night after night, and along the way, they also uncovered some new and exciting talent.
Mawi said the group mainly played instrumentals of the popular songs of the ’50s and ’60s.
But every so often, they would chance upon a singer who would get on stage and wow the audience.
“We used to have people like Alex Wendt and Mickey Heatley who were great singers.
“They used to perform songs like September In The Rain (1937 hit for American artist James Melton) and I’d Like To Get You On A Slow Boat To China (1948 hit for Frank Loesser).
“Whenever they made it to the Dragon, we would always get them up on stage.
“And there were also two young ladies who had amazing voices — Louise Miller deceased) at the Golden Dragon in 1962. (nee Whippy) and Zita Kamali.
“They used to sing mostly jazz standards, and I really learnt a lot from them because it challenged us to learn those songs and this helped us develop as musicians.”
Louise said singing at the Golden Dragon was one of the highlights of her music career.
“I used to perform songs like Tweedle Dee (hit tune for Lavern Baker in 1954) and Yesterday (The Beatles 1965), Can’t Give You anything But My Love (The Stylistics) and Quando Quando Quando (Pat Boone),” the now Sydney, Australia, resident shared.
“Tom Mawi would have been about 17 and I was 16 at that time, but he was already such a talented guitarist.
“I just loved singing. One day the band asked me if I wanted to get up on stage and I didn’t hesitate.
“They were very encouraging and I think that gave me the boost I needed.”
Louise said singing with the Rabaka brothers gave her the confidence to get in front of the microphone with other groups.
“I also sang at the Grand Pacific Hotel with another group called the Suva
Swingers and had music lessons with one of the members — a Mr Houng Lee.”
The Suva Swingers had some of the Colonial centre’s most hip musicians at the time. The lineup included Cecil Dass on guitar, banjo player Peter Moore, Noel Woo on clarinet and Geoffrey Houng Lee on the piano.
It later went on to include Mike Woo on drums and Simione ‘Shucks’ Rabaka on tenor saxophone.
Louise Whippy grew up in Suva and attended Suva Girls Grammar School from 1958 to 1959.
Both of her younger brothers Joseph and Julian Whippy played in bands in Sydney and her elder sister Anna Holmes used to sing in the church choir.
When asked what the atmosphere was like in the Golden Dragon in the ’60s, she said it was a very warm and happy place.
“Mr Janson and his son Ken were great hosts.
“I have a picture with Zita Kamali, who also used to sing at the Golden Dragon, but sadly she has since passed away.”
Louise said the live music and the musicians who played at the Golden Dragon made it the “must go to” venue at the time.
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