David Aupapa

Meet David Aupapa from Cohuna, Australia.

Hi there people. My name is David Aupapa and I live in Cohuna, a little country town about 3hrs drive north of Melbourne, Australia. I am however a New Zealander by birth with a strong Rarotongan/Tahitian heritage and now live in Australia by choice. My heritage is based around harmonious music, where as a child, going to church and listening to my mum & dad, aunties, uncles, my sisters splitting vocal harmonies was everyday stuff.

My introduction to the soundz of America was way back in high school when their music was playing on the radio alot. I recall 'Woman tonight' was always playing on the jukebox at the local snooker rooms in my home town of Hastings, NZ, where me and my mates who like myself, were all amateur musicians who played by ear. We would hang out there after school, during school & weekends sometimes. As we lived in a wine growing area of NZ, we would frequent a bar called 'Vidals' where local musos would perform and alot of America, Cat Stevens, CSN, Neil Young was played etc... We would often travel in our beat up, unregistered, coat hanger for an aerial, ole cars with nothing but a crate of beer & change of clothes and 3-4 guitars in the boot, head to the local beaches at night, girlfriends & friends in tow, light a bonfire and sit around playing songs like 'Horse, Daisy Jane, Muskrat love, Tin Man, Ventura Highway, Amber Cascades, Sarah, Sister Golden Hair, Another try, Wind Wave, Today's the day, These brown eyes, Survival etc... The more America songs the better, so as you can see, we were more than fans as we were disciples - disciplined in getting each note & harmony in place on our acoustic guitars - there we were, 3 guitars, 4 vocal harmonies, all clumsily played by these America wannabes!

1984 and America played in Wellington, NZ and I was the only one who could make the trip to see them, and my claim to fame was to meet Gerry just as they were boarding their bus before heading back to their Hotel. I was blown away by his grace & dignity and was simply lost for words. I felt foolish & embarrassed and in awe!. One of the boys married in the early 90s and naturally the guitars came out and the same guys who sat on those Hawkes bay beaches got up and sang Muskrat love & Tin man with the new bride adding extra harmony. We are all in our forties now and when we get together we pull out the guitars for what we affectionately call 'choir practice and it's all America songs. We communicate by e-mail & phone and a guaranteed subject is always our love of the music of America. We went on to play different gigs at local pubs etc.. more so for the love and joy of Americas music, rather than reward by payment. We were all Polynesians singing America songs, we must have looked a sight in our jeans & Chinese collared shirts! - The brown boys.

Even now I am involved in a duo called emanon where we play most of America songs but its not quite the same as it is playing with the 'brothers' as it is alot more an emotional & personal connection with Americas music playing with my mates from home. The only way I can describe Americas music is 'Soothing'... It brings joy & sheer pleasure to me both playing it & listening to it. I have all albums, DVDs etc. Friends are often treated to America songs when I'm at a BBQ as I have my guitar with me most times. Their music is tasteful and it always reminds me of growing up as a teenager when the world was alot different then.

I wrote an original song called 'Map of my heart' with all those major 7th chords and sent it to Gerry some 3 months ago out of respect for America and all the countless hours of joy they have given my life. It was my way of simply saying, Thank you - for enriching my life with your craft, art & laying bare your soul in your songs. I hope he received it. I spent alot of time on it and was proud to present it as a gift to America. People often comment that they can hear an America influence in my own songs and I'm proud of that.. I learnt from the best and had the best music teachers in Gerry, Dewey & Dan that anyone could hope for.. So to you Gerry, Dewey - you have reached down into my soul and touched it and I am more the better for it.. To the fans out there... I understand your joy & love of this great musical wonder of the world, The music of America!

Arohanui from this kiwi in the great island of Australia.. Feel free to drop me a line anytime - Don't be shy & if you're in my part of the world, I'd love to sing & jam with you........ Take care of yourselves.....

Feel free to send your comments or questions to David.