Whatever Happened To....  The Quintikis.

(Excerpts from an email written by Quintikis member Keri Northover)

Those were the good ole days. We were a lot younger, a lot slimmer. etc etc. But boy, did we have so much fun those days. The group that left New Zealand 1970 was Weazel, Sam Mateparae ( now deceased), Kevin Rongonui (resides in El Paso, Texas), Phil Rivers (lives in El Paso also),Fred Whittaker (lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico) and of course, myself. We do keep in touch with each other every now and then. We live not too far from each other.

Well, the group remained together from 1970 till 1981. Travelled all over the United States. We were home-based out of Las Vegas, Nevada for a number of years and then New Mexico and El Paso, Texas became our permanent homes.

During the early part of the 70's we gigged in Canada until our visas were approved for the USA. From 1968 -1970 we toured the Orient and Vietnam, quite an experience. There used to be a nice nightclub in Thailand called The Bunny Club that we played at. Also Bob Hope and his troupe were there and a bunch of other famous entertainers. It was the plushest nightclub in those days. I'm talking the late 60's.

Today, Weazel and I are still in the music business on a regular basis. We play quite frequently, at the Inn of the Mtn. Gods, a world famous resort, now torn down and is in the process of being re-built and supposed to be completed by November 2004. It will be unbelievably plush and twice the size it was. Looking forward to working there. Likewise with Weazel. Kevin plays on the El Paso circuit , the plush country clubs and Steakhouses and Phil gigs weekends with his group also in El Paso. Fred Whittaker is still in the music business. He helps book big groups in Albuquerque with a very well-known booking agency and entertains locally.

Weazel does a single and I wish I had a video to send you. You would be so proud of him as I am. Who would have thought a bloody Maori could teach himself the fiddle opposite way to his guitar. Weazel is very popular with the Texans and he draws quite a crowd when he is in town. He resides in Lubbock, Texas, cowboy country. But as you well know, he is capable of playing anything. Kevin also does a single, his main instrument being the keyboards and is very popular in his own right. The El Pasoans love him.

I too am doing a single gig, but being that I am not quite as inclined as the boys on the instruments, I have a karaoke set up. I do all the lead vocals. The machine does the rest. There is a demand for this kind of set-up, especially in the smaller rooms. Large groups are very rare anymore unless concerts prevail for the likes of the Eagles, name groups like them Chicago etc.. The money is very good too in the single-kind of format. We have been in this area for so long that the local bars and showrooms are quite familiar with our entertainment that it is very hard for outside entertainment to come in and take over. Their first choice is either Weazel or me. A nice feeling needless to say. With the new hotel going up now is going to bring in big-name acts which will be nice for the area. Looking forward to that.

I am also in the Antique and collectible business. Been in it since 1994 and love it immensely. This relaxes me from the pressures of the music business sometimes, vice versa. The Country Club I am presently working, Weazel will be playing there the whole Summer through. I will be concentrating on my business those months which are best for my business then I will be back at the Club during the Winter months. Works out perfect for me too. Every now and then, I will join him with our show duets we use to do in the Group. The people who have seen us over the years, just love it.

Much aroha,

Keri Northover (Summers)

Editor's Note: Drummer Gary Wharlich (AKA Gary Wallace) also travelled to the US but returned to New Zealand in the early 90s. He taught drumming around Aucxkland for some time before retiring due to ill health.