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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.

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. He moved to New Zealand in the early 1960s to work as a concreter, a job his brother had arranged for him.

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

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.

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.

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. According to his daughter Annie, he gave up music to raise his family.

Later years

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

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.

Discography

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

• Viking Records artists
• Music of the Cook Islands
• Cook Islands musicians