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Deane Waretini (born c. 1946) is a musician from New Zealand. He had a #1 chart hit in 1981 with the song "The Bridge", a Māori language song set to Nini Rosso's tune "Il Silenzio". He is also the son of a historically significant Maori baritone singer and recording artist. In later years, Waretini was featured in a New Zealand television production that was built around him.

Background

He was born Adrian Waretini in Rotorua in 1946, the youngest son of famed Maori singer Deane Waretini Snr. Waretini really only found out about his father's singing when he was aged about 12. It wasn't until years later that he knew about his father having recorded on to record. To him, his father just worked as a laborer and would sing lullabies. Music wasn't really a big thing in their home in Horohoro. By the time he was in his late teens he had moved from Rotorua to Christchurch and was working as a labourer. It was in 1967 that his father died. Young Waretini was 21 at this time. It wasn't until about two years after his father's death that he would actually get to hold one of his records in his bands.

Career

At age 14, and having learnt a few chords on the guitar, and apparently enough to impress the opposite sex, he tried out for a band. After being made to realise that he didn't own a guitar, the option left was singing. Having learnt a few songs from the radio, he joined a local group called the Tremloes. After 18 months of rehearsing, the band got their chance to play at a venue called the Ritz. With a capability to handle 600 patrons, the Ritz was nearly empty. On their debut there, the band were taken off stage. While the other members were upset over this action, Waretini apparently philosophical about the event, was happy just to have played there. After that, Waretini was finding work and doing gigs where the opportunity arose.

By 1967 he was the father of two children. A day short of his 21st birthday, he learnt that his father had died. He was in Christchurch at this time. After the funeral of his father, Waretini was taken under the wing of his cousin George Tait, a Te Arawa elder. Tait also became his manager. In 1970, Tait flew Waretini to Australia, and financed the trip himself from his war pension income. While Waretini was there, he came across Wi Wharekura who had previously been a musician with the Howard Morrison Quartet. After learning a few things about the business, Waretini came back and joined the roster of promoter Joe Brown. Waretini really began his professional career in the early 1970s. Around that time he appeared as a finalist in Studio One's New Faces Contest. Also around that time, he cut his first record "Troubles In My Life". The debut single was released on the Tony McCarthy Recordings label, a small label that previously had released a recording by Mahia Blackmore.

In June 1973, he entered a contest to pick the song for the 1974 Commonwealth Games. The song "Baby I'm Leaving" was a Mark Anthony composition. Other artists in the competition were The Rumour with "Quiet Song", an Anderson & Wise composition, and "Join Together", by Steve Allen. Allen's song was the winner. In an earlier heat, another singer with the same surname, Andy Waretini had entered with the song "Last Year's Summer".

"The Bridge"

The Bridge was originally self-released before CBS picked it up. After that it became the first no 1 song to be sung in Maori language. It stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks.

It was recorded in a garage in the Auckland suburb of Henderson. Waretini didn't have money to pay the musicians so he paid them in Kentucky Fried Chicken. Spending $96 to get a pile of the singles produced, he sent some to Radio 1ZB, then bombarded them with play requests. He managed to get it played at Auckland's Civic Theatre as part of their intermission music. He also recruited a news paper boy to sell copies to passing people for 50 cents each. This soon resulted in people going into record shops looking for it. Not long afterwards, CBS wanted to put it out. On 3 April 1981, the song pushed John Lennon's Woman from the number 1 spot. It also reached no 7 in Australia.

For his efforts he received $27,000 from CBS and surrendered the rights to the song.

Post "The Bridge"

In 1981, along with Ken Kincaid, the Lightwood family, and Rhonda, he appeared on the Mauri Hikitia album, which was in support of the Mt. Smart Stadium project. In 1984, he released the single "Te ariki, Oh Lord". An article about the single called "Deane needs a hit to bridge over his debts" appeared in the 22 February edition of the Auckland Star.

In 2012, Waretini was the subject of a seven-part television series called Now is the Hour, shown on Maori television. Also in 2012, his album Now is the Hour spent 2 weeks in the New Zealand charts and peaked at no 25.

Song For Anna

At some stage he recorded a song called "Song For Anna", which was a tribute to victims of domestic violence who have died as a result of the act.

Discography

Television

References

1. Steffen Hung (19 April 1981). "New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
2. "You must remember this". The New Zealand Herald. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
3. ^ NZ On Screen Deane Waretini
4. Perrott, Alan (11 September 2018). "Deane Waretini aka Adrian Waretini". audioculture.co.nz. AudioCulture. Retrieved 16 May 2023. Growing up in Horohoro, southwest of Rotorua, music had never been a feature of Adrian's home life, to the extent that he would only dare sing along to his radio once his parents were fast asleep.
5. ^ New Zealand Herald – Monday 30 March 2009 You must remember this, Deane Waretini – The Bridge – By Alan Perrott
6. New Zealand Folk Song Deane Waretini, Senior and Junior
7. ^ Te Ao Hou The Maori Magazine Number 72 Page 49 People and Places, New Dean Waretini
8. National Library of New Zealand Trouble in my life (sound recording) / Tony McCarthy; (performed by) Deane Waretini
9. Discogs Tony McCarthy Recordings
10. ^ The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 23940, Recorded 18/06/73 Studio One, Programme 6
11. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 24258 Recorded 1973. Studio One/Programme 2
12. Stuff 5 September 2012 Is this Daene Waretini's hour? – James Croot
13. New Zealand Herald, Monday 30 March 2009 You must remember this, Deane Waretini – The Bridge – By Alan Perrott
14. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Object: The Mauri Hikitia Album
15. National Library of New Zealand The Mauri Hikitia album (sound recording) / various artists.
16. Index item: Deane needs a hit to bridge over his debts, by Caroline Kidd from The Auckland Star, February 1984.
17. New Zealand Herald Saturday, 15 September 2012 Entertainment, Album review: Now Is The Hour – Deane Waretini – By Scott Kara
18. New Zealand Film and TV, 14 August 2012 By Comedy-doco ‘Deane Waretini: Now is the Hour’ to screen on Maori Television Archived 17 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine
19. Māori Television Deane Waretini: Now is the Hour
20. New Zealand Charts Deane Waretini – Now Is The Hour (Album)
21. NZrugbySupporter Song For Anna
22. Discogs Deane Waretini (2) – Trouble In My Life
23. Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → 51934, 45rpm – NTK Deane Waretini
24. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Catalogue → 20866, Melody Butterfly
25. 45cat Artist: Deane Waretini With The Rising Stars, Catalogue: INN 009
26. 45cat Artist: Deane Waretini With The Rising Stars, Catalogue: BA 222767
27. New Zealand Records Catalogue The Deane Waretini Single 'Growing Old' Archived 3 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
28. National Library of New Zealand Growing old (sound recording) / Brian Holiday; (performed by) Dean Waretini. All those nights / Sharon O'Neill; (performed by) Dean Waretini
29. New Zealand Records CBS Singles Discography Made in New Zealand Archived 3 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
30. 45cat Artist: Deane Waretini, Catalogue: BA 222 942
31. National Library of New Zealand Te Ariki (Oh Lord) (sound recording) / W. Kaa ... (et. al.); (performed by) Deane Waretini. Rock 'n' roll days / Lobo; (performed by) Deane Waretini
32. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Whitiāhua Me Ngā Taonga Kōrero Catalogue → 20497 Te Ariki
33. National Library of New Zealand Tarawera eruption 86
34. The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Whitiāhua Me Ngā Taonga Kōrero Tarawera eruption 86
35. Discogs Deane Waretini (2) – Waretini
36. WorldCat Waretini
37. Māori Television Deane Waretini: Now is the Hour, Series 1 Episode 1, ( Time =4:00)
38. Independent Music NZ Inc.IMNZ Album Charts, Top 20 IMNZ Albums – Week To 27 September 2012 Archived 6 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine
39. National Library of New Zealand The Mauri Hikitia album (sound recording) / various artists.
40. National Library of New Zealand Catalogue The Mauri Hikitia album
41. National Library of New Zealand Easy, arr. (and performed by) Ken Kincaid. Songs of home (Now is the hour) / trad.; (performed by) Ken Kincaid.
42. Discogs Various – 25 Years Of Kiwi Pop
43. Discogs Various – Rucks, Tries & Choruses
44. Discogs Various – Ten Guitars
45. Discogs Various – Waiata – Maori Showbands, Balladeers & Pop Stars
46. iTunes Pohutukawas & Pavlova (60 Years of Kiwi Christmas Songs) Various Artists
47. All Music Various Artists Nature's Best: 40 NZ Number Ones, 1970–2013
48. i Tunes Aotearoa: The Very Best of Our Music
49. Waiheke Radio 09/27/14--18:13: Navigator presents "Aotearoa Daylight Saving Time" Sunday September 28, 2014 6-9pm playlist
50. WorldCat Waiata. 2 : Māori showbands, balladeers & pop stars
51. Imdb Kiri Maori (2000)
52. Imdb Deane Waretini: Now Is the Hour (2012– ), Full Cast & Crew
53. Scottie Productions DEANE WARETINI — NOW IS THE HOUR

• New Zealand Māori male singers
• 20th-century New Zealand male singers
• Living people
• 1940s births
• Māori-language singers