their angel

Music

Boyz of Paradize and their angel

The new kids on the block are taking the town by storm and establishing strong support in Polynesia

By Barry Markowitz

Their heritage is Samoan, Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and American Indian. The Boyz of Paradise initial fervent fans are the ethnic rainbow of young and old that reflect Hawaii ...

Hawaiians, Haoles (Caucasians), Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and African Americans. They were signed by the giant MCA Records and were negotiated away by the gung ho believers at Dreforce records in early June, 1995.

Despite their low-key, island approach offstage, R&B cross-over superstar Natalie Cole is drawn by the Boyz glowing personalities and hot dance moves on stage. Natalie pops up at concerts with unbridled enthusiasm and has such per sonal regard for them that she takes time to give the Boyz pre-concert pep talks.

But it was no overnight success story for these island boys’ dream come true; just lots of hard work and a little help from an angel, Samoan Keith Peters.

Keith Peters, 31, passed away from a long standing heart ailment just a few months ago. Yet to this day, every time the Boyz groove into their soulful Since you went away, their arms are extended in a heavenly direction and tears trickle from the comers of their eyes in remembrance of Keith.

American Samoa’s Charlie Hisatake, lead dancer and a vocalist with Boyz, said of Keith, “Without Keith we wouldn’t be where we are today. Keith was the push that got us on track for our Hula Bowl national TV performances, he disciplined us to work on our harmonies, he was our sound man, he was in charge of the diplo

macy of security, he was our brother. His word and heart were of gold. When he told us' or somebody something, he always backed up his words with action. In the next month, we will release our first album. In the next months our first music video should be finished. Keith has left the Boyz of Paradise as an upward-bound, liv ing legacy. We intend to honour him with our dedication and our message of kind ness and love to our audience. He is always in our hearts.”

The Boyz struggled hard to keep togeth er in the early days, hosting showcase per formances, trying to get a big-time agent and an eventual record deal. They had almost drifted apart when a magic night clicked as music agent/manager Logan Westbrook happened by for a listen. Logan perceived a uniqueness that drives audi ences to this day. He had a multi-ethnic group who danced like elite athletes and almost everybody could relate to them, their tunes, and their engaging stage per sonalities.

MCA’s African American music division

recognised these strengths, signed them to

a recording contract but, after initial grooming, didn’t seem to be able to plug the Boyz into their usual development for mula. With the approval of MCA but, more directly, on the initiative of Keith Peters, the Boyz hooked up with Western Samoan, Hawaii-based Reg Schwenke of the Polynesian Cultural Centre.

Schwenke, a senior vice-president of communications and at that time also mar keting, arranged by referral for 40 million plus sports fans world-wide to watch the Boyz at half-time of the gridiron Hula Bowl. Later in the week, an overflow

crowd of 5000 screaming Polynesian young people packed the PCC main arena.

Honolulu’s cutting edge, Kiki FM radio, invited the Boyz back to Hawaii a month later as their prime promotion team for the high profile, Brown Bags to Stardom high school musical talent competition.

The Boyz of Paradise were featured with performers immature Richard Grieco (of the new action movie Bolt and TV series Marker ) and steamy Aliyah for what some have called one of the best Waikiki Shell concerts ever.

The Boyz of Paradise most recent and last MCA concert was a fund-raiser for the American Samoa National Olympic Committee in Tafuna, American Samoa. It was definitely a labour of love for the Boyz’ Samoan brothers, Jack and Charlie Hisatake, to come home and help their people. The Hisatake brothers described being recognised by their family at a wel coming ceremony as “humbling and a time for tears of joy”.

Hawaiian Eric Cortez, Filipino mixed heritage Jeff de la Cruz and singer Ricky Bascones were in awe of Samoan proto col. Jeff said, “I grew up with Samoans in California. Its one thing to hear about

Through the smoke and

these cultural ways or watch them in a National Geographic TV special but to see and be a part of these ancient living tradi tions is spell-binding.”

The hands-on manager for the Boyz of Paradise is Gordon Richardson, an experi enced, polished road manager of many international campaigns. Gordon said to PIM, “Its amazing what we have accom plished in Hawaii and the South Pacific and certain US mainland cities in our short development mode. Now we have a new record company, a definite release of our album, we have heard Radio New Zealand international is playing our promo CD to the Pacific and the world and we expect to film a music video next month.

“We are in a planning mode for the next few weeks before we explode across the US mainland and the world markets. In a sense, it’s like starting all over again but we’re proud to have such strong support and a positive start in Polynesia.”

Richardson continued, “Without a doubt, Keith Peters is our Guardian Angel. He was the bridge that connected us with a lot of good people and his spirit keeps us focused.”

Western Samoan Sielu Avea is one of the world’s most high-profile fire-knife dancers, performing in Hawaii in front of 15,000 tourists a week. Ironically, it was Sielu’s comedic response to the Oklahoma bombing tragedy that showed the humanity of the man and his Samoan culture. Avea, a Savaiian chief, gathered his group’s performers and a few friends to use the power of his popular Honolulu Comedy Club engagement to raise over $2300 in a special three-hour show.

“Its part of Samoan culture to help those in need,” he explained. “A Samoan would give almost every mate rial thing he has to help another person truly in need. Our donation is being funnelled through the Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross. It was only a few years ago that the Red Cross and the US government was in my home land, Western Samoa, helping us with the emergencies we suffered during Cyclone Ofa and Cyclone Val.” ■

stage lights, Boyz whip the fervour