The Keil Isles were a New Zealand-based Rock & Roll group which consisted of the Keil Brothers, Olaf, Herman, Rudolf, Klaus and their cousin Freddie Keil. They were all Samoans with German ancestry.
Band history
Their lead guitarist Olaf Keil was born in Apia, Western Samoa in 1934 and came to New Zealand when he was about 18 years of age. He began playing guitar in a band that his uncle had. His cousin Fredde would ask him to back him on rock & roll songs. Later on the other brothers became proficient and they formed the band in 1956. Freddie Keil left the band in the early 1960s after having a falling out with cousin Herma. He went on to form his own band.
In 1966 the group appeared in the 1966 musical comedy film
Don't Let It Get You
''Don't Let It Get You'' is a film made in New Zealand and Sydney, Australia in 1966. It is notable for the period it was made in as well as the popular musical acts that featured in it.
Sir Howard Morrison, Eddie Low, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and He ...
. After becoming very popular, selling records and having hits, the band went through numerous personnel changes, and by 1967 there were no members of the Keil family left in the band.
[Sergent.com.a]
Keil Isles
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During their popularity their version of The Twist sold more copies in New Zealand than the Chubby Checker version did.
Line Up
*Olaf Keil
Olaf Keil was the founder and lead guitarist of New Zealand rock and roll group The Keil Isles, playing on their pre-1963 recordings on the TANZA and Viking record labels. He was also a custom guitar and banjo builder for Fender. He is also the cr ...
(Lead Guitar)
*Herma Keil
Herma Keil along with brothers Olaf, Klaus, Rudolf and cousin Freddie Keil formed The Keil Isles in the 1950s which proved to be a popular hit making band. The band at one stage was billed as Herma Keil & The Keil Isles. He was their lead voca ...
(Rhythm Guitar)
*Rudolph Keil (Bass Guitar)
*Klaus Keil (Drums)
* Freddie Keil (Vocals)
* Eliza Keil (Vocals)
*Helga Keil (Vocals)
*Lou Miller (Bass) - Replaced Rudolf in 1959
*Bill Fairs (Saxophone)
* Heke Kewene (Piano)
*Norman Akers (Piano) - Replaced Heke Kewene
*Brian Henderson (Piano) - Replaced Norman Akers
*Johnny Walker (Lead Guitar) - Replaced Klaus Keil
*Warren McMillan (Bass) - Replaced Lou Miller
*Puni Solomon (Bass) - Replaced Warren McMillan
*George Barna (Saxophone) - Replaced Bill Fairs
*Red Williamson (Drums) - Replaced Klaus Keil
Others
*Brian Henderson (Piano)
*Roger Skinner (Guitar)
*Billy Kristian
Ray Columbus & the Invaders were a rock group from Christchurch, New Zealand that was active from 1964 to 1966, fronted by the lead vocalist, Ray Columbus, a musician, television host and manager. Part of the new surf music craze, they were th ...
(Bass)
*Jimmy Hill (Drums)
Occasional member
*Alphonso Keil
The Kavaliers were an early 1960s New Zealand rock and roll band that evolved out of a group called The Zodiacs and were fronted by Samoan born lead singer Freddie Keil. They released a string of singles in the 1960s. The band's name would be ...
(Rhythm guitar)
Releases
45 Rpm
* Apache / Good Night Irene - Viking VS 50
* In The Hall Of The Mountain King / Jalisco - Viking
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
VP 173 - (1965)
EP
* ''Twistin' And A' Rockin - Viking VEEP 8 - (1964)
LP
* ''Take Off With The Keil Isles'' - Viking VP 57 - (1961) (New Zealand)
* ''I Could Have Danced All Night'' - Viking VP 84 - (1962) (New Zealand)
* ''Herma And The Keil Isles'' - Viking VP 101 - (1963) (New Zealand)
* ''The Sound Of Herma & The Keil Isles'' - Viking VP.167 - (1965) (New Zealand)
* ''Keils A Go Go'' - Salem XP 5028 (New Zealand) (1966)
* ''Twenty Rock & Roll Hits'' - Regal SREG 30221 - (1980) (New Zealand)
* ''Rock From The Other Side Vol. 4'' - Down South Records DS.9214 - (1987) (Holland)
Compact Disc
* Keil Isles, The - Early Rock & Roll From New Zealand - Vol. 1 & 2 - Collector Records - CLCD 7753/A/B (Netherlands) [Discog]
Keil Isles, The - Early Rock & Roll From New Zealand - Vol. 1 & 2
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References
{{reflist
External links
AudioCulture profileMention in Billboard 24 Nov 1962Music A Driving Force In Life Of Guitar Builder From Samoa
Samoan people of German descent
Viking Records artists
New Zealand rock music groups