Name Rangi Wananga | ||
Died December 15, 1970, Wellington, New Zealand | ||
Rangi Ruru Wananga Karaitiana (4 March 1909 – 15 December 1970) was a New Zealand musician and songwriter. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitane iwi. He was born in Dannevirke, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand on 4 March 1909.
He served with 28th New Zealand (Maori) Battalion during World War II, and led the battalion's concert party. After the war he assembled a quintet, and in October 1948 recorded a version of his song ‘Blue smoke’ with singer Pixie Williams to a Hawaiian-style backing - the first record wholly produced in New Zealand from composition to pressing, and provided the début for the TANZA record label. It topped the New Zealand radio hit parades for six weeks, and It went on to be covered by a number of overseas artists, including Dean Martin in 1951.