Hugo Spemann

German-Samoan Hugo Spemann came to New Zealand in the early 1950s. Around the late 1950s, early 1960s he and his brother Rudy Spemann were members of Will Jess And His Jesters. He sang and played on recordings by The Samoan Surf Riders that were released on the Viking label. These were, "Aloha Samoa" in 1962 and "Let Me Hear You Whisper" in 1964. He was also a member of Rudy & The Crystals in the early 1960s. Around or just after the mid-1960s, he formed Hugo Spemann & The Ensigns, which played at dances in the Orange Hall in Auckland and the sailing clubs on Auckland's North Shore. Around 1970, the an album "Samoan Favorites" was released on Bill Sevesi's Armar label. It was credited to Bill Sevesi & His Islanders with the Hugo Spemann Singers. Most of the songs were well-known oldies such as "Sivasiva Mai", "Samoa Silasila" and "Minoi Minoi". According to Horst Stunzner who was a member of the second line up of The Samoan Surf Riders, Hugo Spemann was a brilliant ukulele player. He died in 2005.