Pepe and the Rarotongans were a popularCook Island music group fronted by a female singer, Pepe. They were active in the 1950s and 1960s. As recording artists, they had albums released on theViking andSalem labels.

The main force of the group was Pepe, formerly known as Pepe Taimata Pekamu Maoate, and Sonny Terei, also known as Sonny Tutai O Poko Maru Tamariki Nootu Teatuairo Terei. Sonny was born on 27 August 1933 inNgatangiia,Rarotonga. He left the Cook Islands for New Zealand in 1947, to train as an electrical linesman. Pepe and Sonny were married on 29 May 1955.^[1]

As an act, Sonny did the arrangements for their music. Pepe became known for being the first Cook Islands singer to be recorded by Viking Records.^[2]Along withWill Crummer, they achieved a level of fame and had a short succession of hits from the late 1950s to the 1960s.^[3][4] As mentioned in Glenda Tuaine'sCelebrate Cook Islands Tarekareka! article inEscape Magazine, like Crummer,Jon Jonassen and Jake Numanga, they are considered pioneers.^[5] Sonny has also been an influence on Cook Islands musicians such as Mann Short and John Lindsay.^[6]

Guitarist for the group,Nat Mara, was a recording artist in his own right. In addition to his albumPeeping At Papeete and EPsLa Tahitienne andA Taste Of Tahiti which were released on Viking,^[7][8] he had an albumWelcome to Tahiti which was released on theOlympic label.^[9]

The beginning of the Viking connection can be possibly traced to an event in the late 1950s. Sonny, a musician, was to back a female singer in anAuckland recording studio. The singer never turned up and the producer asked Sonny's wife Pepe if she could take part in the session.^[10]

By 1964, they had at least two albums issued on Viking, they wereRarotonga Calling andPassion Flower, details of which appeared in thePacific Islands Monthly magazine.^[11] The line up at the time of theirRarotonga Calling release consisted of Pepe, Sonny Terei, Nat Mara, Charles Carlson and Mark Anton.^[12] In 1965, their EPSongs Of The Cook Islands was released on the Salem label. All compositions were by Sonny Terei. The four songs were "Te Marama Te Au Etu", "Momotu Te Inangaro", "Tatara Apa", and "E Oa".^[13]In 1968, their albumMemories of Rarotonga was released on Salem. The album of Rarotongan songs featured a painting byKase Jackson, a well-known artist.^[14] In 1973,Siren Songs Of The South Seas, credited to Pepe & Her Rarotongans, was released on the Olympic Records label.^[15]

In 1977, the Rarotongan Hotel had just opened and Sonny and Pepe were invited by Cook Islands Premier,Albert Henry, to return there to provide entertainment for the hotel.^{[citation needed]}

In the early 1980s, Sonny was teaching music and assisting the choir at the TitikavekaCook Islands Christian Church, after having approached by the Rev Teariki Vaerua. Quite likely, as a result of his input, for four years in a row the church won the Celebrations choir competition. In 1984, on a fundraising trip, and under the leadership of Bishop Pere (then known as Rev Tutai), Sonny and Pepe toured New Zealand with the Titikaveka CICC choir. Sonny remained a dedicated Christian for the rest of his life.^[16]

Sonny died on 25 November 2009. Pepe died at 6.40pm on Sunday, 8 June 2014 at age 81.^[17]

In 2011, one of Pepe, and Sonny's compositions, "Tama Ine" appeared onWill Crummer'sShoebox Love Songs compilation, released on theOde label.^[18]

• Mark Anton ... steel guitar or keyboards?
• Charles Carlson ... guitar
• Nat Mara ... guitar
• Pepe Taimata Pekamu Maoate ... vocal
• Sonny Terei ... guitar^[19]

• Viking Records artists
• Music of the Cook Islands
• Cook Islands musicians

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