Will Crummer
{{short description|Cook Islands singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
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| origin = Cook Islands
| genre = Polynesian music
| years_active = 1960s, 2000s–present
| label = Viking Records, Ode
| associated_acts = Will Crummer and the Sea Stars, Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans, Pepe and the Rarotongans, Annie Crummer
| website =
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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.Cook Islands News, Sunday 11 January 2015 - [http://www.cookislandsnews.com/features/item/49884-will-crummer-croons-away-the-years/49884-will-crummer-croons-away-the-years Will Crummer croons away the years Written by Matariki Wilson] He moved to New Zealand in the early 1960s to work as a concreter, a job his brother had arranged for him.New Zealand Herald, Monday 4 April 2011 - [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10717066 Annie Crummer: Songs of my father]
Crummer became well known in Auckland during the 1960s when the Polynesian music scene was popular.Cook Islands News, Sunday 11 January 2015 - [http://www.cookislandsnews.com/features/item/49884-will-crummer-croons-away-the-years/49884-will-crummer-croons-away-the-years Will Crummer croons away the years Written by Matariki Wilson] The band he became known for fronting was Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans,Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM., Volume 67, Pacific Publications, 1997 [https://books.google.com/books?id=XY50AAAAMAAJ&q=%22Will+Crummer%22 Page 51 by Alma Raganivatu] performing at venues such as The Orange Ballroom and The Reefcomber.Cook Islands News, Sunday 11 January 2015 - [http://www.cookislandsnews.com/features/item/49884-will-crummer-croons-away-the-years/49884-will-crummer-croons-away-the-years Will Crummer croons away the years Written by Matariki Wilson]
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.BMG; Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Volume 66 [https://books.google.com/books?id=OzVLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Will+Crummer%22 Page 136]The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision [http://new.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?record_id=235720 Catalogue → 51825 Action Rarotonga!]
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.Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM., Volume 67, Pacific Publications, 1997 [https://books.google.com/books?id=XY50AAAAMAAJ&q=%22Will+Crummer%22 Page 51 by Alma Raganivatu] According to his daughter Annie, he gave up music to raise his family.New Zealand Herald, Tuesday 18 February 2014 - [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11204231 Sarah Stuart 's Opinion, Twelve Questions: Annie Crummer]
Later years
In 2011, Ode Records released his album Shoebox Lovesongs.Elsewhere.co.nz, 28 March 2011 - [http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/4023/will-crummer-shoebox-lovesongs-ode/ Will Crummer: Shoebox Lovesongs (Ode) - Graham Reid] Produced by Nick Bollinger and Arthur Baysting, it features his old friend Dinky Ngatipa and a string arrangement by Don McGlashan.New Zealand Listener, 2 April 2011 - [http://www.listener.co.nz/culture/music/the-pasifika-social-club/ The Pasifika Social club By Chris Bourke In Music] Daughter Annie and The Yandall Sisters also feature on the album.Elsewhere.co.nz, 28 March 2011 [http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/4023/will-crummer-shoebox-lovesongs-ode/ Will Crummer: Shoebox Lovesongs (Ode) - Graham Reid]
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.New Zealand Herald, Monday 26 January 2015 - [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11391770 Auckland Anniversary Weekend: Music, food and fun - what's on today? By Tom Carnegie]
Discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Single |
| scope="col" | Act
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | A) Loma avec l'orchestre Hotel Tahiti B) Will Crummer and the Seastars | "Pua'a Choux" | Tahiti Records 190 | | |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ EP |
| scope="col" | Act
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | Will Crummer and the Sea Stars
| Romantic Rarotonga | Viking VE 114 | | Discogs [https://www.discogs.com/Will-Crummer-And-The-Sea-Stars-Romantic-Rarotonga/release/4404936 Will Crummer And The Sea Stars* – Romantic Rarotonga]OPAC-Notice [http://mediatheque.adck.nc/mediath/notice.cfm?numnot=37326 Notice n° 37326] |
| scope="row" | Will Crummer and the Seastars
| Rarotonga | Viking VE 118 | 1962 | The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision [http://new.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?record_id=175914 Catalogue → 21041, Apai atu koe iaku e ine]New Zealand Herald, Monday 4 April 2011 - [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10717066 Annie Crummer: Songs of my father] |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ LP |
| scope="col" | Act
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | Will Crummer and the Seastars
| Cook Islands Magic | Viking VP 94 | |
| scope="row" | Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans
| Love songs of Polynesia | Viking VP 110 | 1963 | LPThe age, Thursday, 8 September 1966 [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/121984313/ Page 24]WorldCat [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/151584051 Love songs of Polynesia]WorthPoint [http://w.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lot-records-vintage-polynesia-nz-108894080 Lot of 4 Records Vintage Polynesia NZ Eddie Lund] |
| scope="row" | Eddie Lund and His Tahitians and Will Crummer and the "Seastars"*
| Tahiti Meets Manihiki | Tahiti Records EL 1015 | |
| scope="row" | Will Crummer and the Royal Rarotongans Pepe and the Rarotongans | Action Rarotonga | VikingWorldCat [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/156646152 Action Rarotonga!] VP 251 | | LP |
| scope="row" | Will Crummer
| Shoebox Love Songs | Ode CDMANU5113 | 2011 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Various artist compilations |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | Music of the South Seas! A Visit to Tahiti, New Zealand, Rarotonga
| World Records ST889 | | Will Crummer and The Royal Rarotongans songs: "Sinsano", |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crummer, Will}}
Category:Viking Records artists