Details

Latitude

-4.23013

Longitude

152.191

Start Date

1993-04-02

End Date

1993-04-02

Tape# 1: Musical Journey and Experiences of Roy Mangut. Side A & B: Roy was born 1st January 1956 and has a musical family history in Matupit Island after exposure to the Fijian Missionaries who introduced music with guitars. His father was part of the Senior Eagles stringband together with musicians Ephraim Tami playing with music tunes of 5-key and spanish key and mixed versions. Roy's exposure whilst still attending community school started learning the guitar and accompanying the team (stringband) on invitations to perform on social events at various locations of Gazelle Peninsula such as Tavui, Nodup, Matalau, Navunaram, Raburua, Kokopo. The Junior Eagles stringband was formed and from 1968 performed social events at different places and also various festivals in Rabaul and Kokopo towns such as Stringbands Competition, Tolai Warwagira, Battle of the Sounds. The stringband was a successful winning prizes in competitions. Due to movements of its members, the Eagles Mix Band was formed with combination of members of Senior Eagles and Junior Eagles . Roy was a composer and leader of the stringbands who did recordings of music cassettes and albums at NBC (Radio ENB) studios then Pacific Gold Studios (PGS). Junior Eagles had Eagles Mixed had fierce competition with other stringbands in Gazelle Peninsula such as Gordon Dry Boys, Pacific Teenagers, Yellow Top, Devil Boys, Jnr Devils etc Roy later join the electric bands starting with Kaigai band named after Japanese fishing company who they worked for and sponsored the band instruments for musicians to use. The band included other popular musicians like George Telek. Other bands include Volcanic Explosions, Winterwood etc. Other musicians like Matalau Nakikus who is a cousin brother of Roy has also used some of the compositions for electric band performances and recordings. Some example of songs include; "Iau ga ki tara vivi" (held in prison), "Vuvu na taur" (sea breeze blowing), "Iau ra biavi, u vana kan iau....tara waira na gunan" (poor me, you left me to a foriegn place). (Steven Gagau, February 2019)

Sources