Come A Waltzing (Daphne Walker)
Daphne Walker with Bill Sevesi and his Islanders Daphne was born on 15 September 1930, on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. During the depression, her father found work in Auckland and moved his family there. In 1949 she won a talent quest at the Manchester Unity Hall in Auckland's Victoria Street and was soon recruited to perform a series of 15 minute, live broadcasts on 1YA radio with Bill Wolfgramme on steel guitar and Johnny Bradfield on guitar. She recorded more than 30 sides for Tanza. Two songs in particular have been lasting favourites, both written by Sam Freedman: 'When My Wahine Does the Poi' and `Haere Mai'. 'Haere Mai' originally sold over 40,000 copies, while 'Wahine'-- on the same 78 as 'Aroha'-- was New Zealand's first double-sided local hit, holding the first and third spots on the 1YD Hit Parade in the same week in 1955. It was also Tanza's best selling recording. Others also became perennials: 'Aroha and 'An Okey Dokey Hut ('Neath the Co-Co-Coconut Palms)'. Walker shifted to Viking Records in 1960. Her last release came in 1966, with the album Coconut Grove. Besides Wolfgramm and Sevesi, she also sung with lap steel player Trevor Edmondson and singers George Tumahai and Lyn Peyroux.
Daphne Walker with Bill Sevesi and his Islanders Daphne was born on 15 September 1930, on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. During the depression, her father found work in Auckland and moved his family there. In 1949 she won a talent quest at the Manchester Unity Hall in Auckland's Victoria Street and was soon recruited to perform a series of 15 minute, live broadcasts on 1YA radio with Bill Wolfgramme on steel guitar and Johnny Bradfield on guitar. She recorded more than 30 sides for Tanza. Two songs in particular have been lasting favourites, both written by Sam Freedman: 'When My Wahine Does the Poi' and `Haere Mai'. 'Haere Mai' originally sold over 40,000 copies, while 'Wahine'-- on the same 78 as 'Aroha'-- was New Zealand's first double-sided local hit, holding the first and third spots on the 1YD Hit Parade in the same week in 1955. It was also Tanza's best selling recording. Others also became perennials: 'Aroha and 'An Okey Dokey Hut ('Neath the Co-Co-Coconut Palms)'. Walker shifted to Viking Records in 1960. Her last release came in 1966, with the album Coconut Grove. Besides Wolfgramm and Sevesi, she also sung with lap steel player Trevor Edmondson and singers George Tumahai and Lyn Peyroux.