BILL SEVESI & His Novelty Five - Go Man Go / Christmas Time 🎅🏽🎄(1957)
50s Country Boogie - Hillbilly Bopper / Christmas Song B & A-Side from New Zealand Vocal: Morgan Clarke - Zodiac Records 45-Z1008. The legendary Tongan Hawaiian Steel Guitar player (since 1936!) was a massive drawcard around Auckland in the '50s and '60s, but this seems to have been his only 45 for Zodiac. This was also the first Zodiac single to be released only on 7" 45. Bill Sevesi (1923 - 2016) was born in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, in 1923 and came to New Zealand at the age of nine. He saw active service during World War II and in 1944 he was in Italy. When he returned to New Zealand after the war, he resumed his career, performing with his band as 'Bill Sevesi and His Islanders'. They would play at the Orange Ballroom, in Auckland. He first recorded in 1949 with Tex Morton, a country singer. They were credited as The Rough Riders. Other names he and his group "The Islanders" had recorded as were: The Astyro Trio (or a similar name) for Mavis Rivers; and The Bluemountain Boys for Luke Simmons who was a Canadian-born Hillbilly singer. On Phil Warren's label, he was : Will Jess with "Bye Bye Baby Goodbye". This became a big hit in 1959. He was a recording star on the legendary New Zealand Viking Records label. More info: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BillSevesi/about/?ref=page_internal http://www.simongrigg.info/zodiac.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK3ZTeO2mbI #countrymusic #hillbillymusic #newzealand
50s Country Boogie - Hillbilly Bopper / Christmas Song B & A-Side from New Zealand Vocal: Morgan Clarke - Zodiac Records 45-Z1008. The legendary Tongan Hawaiian Steel Guitar player (since 1936!) was a massive drawcard around Auckland in the '50s and '60s, but this seems to have been his only 45 for Zodiac. This was also the first Zodiac single to be released only on 7" 45. Bill Sevesi (1923 - 2016) was born in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, in 1923 and came to New Zealand at the age of nine. He saw active service during World War II and in 1944 he was in Italy. When he returned to New Zealand after the war, he resumed his career, performing with his band as 'Bill Sevesi and His Islanders'. They would play at the Orange Ballroom, in Auckland. He first recorded in 1949 with Tex Morton, a country singer. They were credited as The Rough Riders. Other names he and his group "The Islanders" had recorded as were: The Astyro Trio (or a similar name) for Mavis Rivers; and The Bluemountain Boys for Luke Simmons who was a Canadian-born Hillbilly singer. On Phil Warren's label, he was : Will Jess with "Bye Bye Baby Goodbye". This became a big hit in 1959. He was a recording star on the legendary New Zealand Viking Records label. More info: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BillSevesi/about/?ref=page_internal http://www.simongrigg.info/zodiac.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK3ZTeO2mbI #countrymusic #hillbillymusic #newzealand