Will Crummer

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

Will Crummer
OriginCook Islands
GenresPolynesian music
Years active1960s, 2000s–present
LabelsViking Records, Ode
Associated actsWill Crummer and the Sea Stars, Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans, Pepe and the Rarotongans, Annie Crummer

Background

In his teens, Crummer climbed coconut trees in his village to sing songs he had heard on the radio, including songs by Pat Boone and Nat King Cole.[1] He moved to New Zealand in the early 1960s to work as a concreter, a job his brother had arranged for him.[2]

Crummer became well known in Auckland during the 1960s when the Polynesian music scene was popular.[3] The band he became known for fronting was Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans,[4] performing at venues such as The Orange Ballroom and The Reefcomber.[5]

He made some recordings in Auckland, his EP Rarotonga in 1962 and Cook Islands Magic the following year. He also released Romantic Rarotonga and Love Songs of Polynesia. [6]

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.[7][8]

Crummer performed in Tahiti, and Hawaii where he was offered a residency by a Hawaiian promoter. After performing there for a time, he broke his contract for personal reasons and headed back to New Zealand where he found work in warehousing.[9] According to his daughter Annie, he gave up music to raise his family.[10]

Later years

In 2011, Ode Records released his album Shoebox Lovesongs.[11] Produced by Nick Bollinger and Arthur Baysting, it features his old friend Dinky Ngatipa and a string arrangement by Don McGlashan.[12] Daughter Annie and The Yandall Sisters also feature on the album.[13]

On Saturday, 25 January 2015, Crummer and his band, Will Crummer and the Rarotongans performed aboard 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"
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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. BMG; Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Volume 66 Page 136
  8. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51825 Action Rarotonga!
  9. Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM., Volume 67, Pacific Publications, 1997 Page 51 by Alma Raganivatu
  10. New Zealand Herald, Tuesday 18 February 2014 - Sarah Stuart 's Opinion , Twelve Questions: Annie Crummer
  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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