Fiji loses a great musician
NEXT Saturday, some of the pioneers of the fledgling but vibrant Fijian music scene of the ’60s and ’70s will gather at Club Central in Hurstville, Sydney, Australia, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Golden Dragon night club — the hallowed halls of which launched careers and created legends. Sadly, one of the greatest musicians, vocalists and composers of all time who kick started his musical journey at the Dragon will not be there. Gilman Lasaisuva died last week and will be laid to rest tomorrow in Lautoka. iTaukei music lovers will remember him for songs such as Lakeba, Au sa Tamata Ca, Luvuci Au and many more.
But those who entered the Dragon in the late ’60s and early ’70s would remember the dapper drummer and bassist performing alongside jazz guitar legend Tom Mawi, his brother Ben Rabaka and Samisoni Koroitamudu.
The Kabara, Lau, man was musically gifted and Mawi recognised his gift very early on.
In 1966, he invited Gilman to join him in Tahiti. That invitation to perform at a few gigs resulted in Gilman staying in French Polynesia
for close to two decades.
He became fluent in French and was even tasked with being an interpreter to visiting French dignitaries when he returned to Fiji.
As we remember the life of this music legend, it is important we look back at his very humble beginnings.
From how he was forced to drop out of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School in 1962 because of financial challenges in the family and enrolled at the Suva Youth Centre — a place where students who failed to complete secondary school could take up vocational studies.
It was there that he got his first taste of the spotlight and the stage.
Gilman’s first public performance was singing Elvis Presley’s mega hit at the time — One Night With You — at the Deans Cup finals after-match function at Ratu Kadavulevu School.
From there, he never looked back.
In 1964 he was literally summoned by Mawi to play at the Golden Dragon. I remember Gilman sharing with me that when he got the message he felt like he was “going to Hollywood”.
The band Gilman performed with during his time in Tahiti had some of the best in the business from across the Pacific — Mawi played lead guitar, Paul Daynes from Australia was the saxophonist and the rhythm guitarist was Charlie Tumahai — he would later go to become the bass guitarist for New Zealand reggae band ‘Herbs’.
Despite his musical status being elevated and rubbing shoulders with the greatest Fijian musicians of that era — Gilman never let it get to his head.
He remained humble and encouraged younger musicians to continue the struggle.
“Nothing comes easy” was a mantra he often shared.
After performing in Tahiti for five years, Gilman accepted an offer to be the resident band leader at Coco Beach Resort in New Caledonia.
His five-month contract turned into 15 years.
During a visit to Fiji, he married Olivia Raikuna and the couple returned to New Caledonia together.
Three of his children – Charles, Pita and Adi Maitoga were born there.
Gilman also took keyboard wizard Tui Ravai and popular female vocalist Lela Seruvakula over in the mid ‘80s.
Apart from his amazing musical talent, Gilman managed to land a role in the hit television series of the ‘70s and ‘80s,
The Love Boat.
When quizzed about it he just modestly said “I was at the right place at the right time”.
And that was Gilman all over. Modest, kind and generous.
Fiji has lost one of her greatest musical sons, but we will continue to remember him through the songs he penned and recorded.
Moce mada Gilman.