SONNY DAY & THE ALLSTARS. SAVING UP

Sonny Day's "Saving Up" shot in 1984 by Big Bang Creation Co. (John McWilliam & Roger Guise). Filmed on Vulcan Lane in Auckland. Annie Crummer is one of the back vocalists.

Sonny Day (real name: Hone Wikaira) hailed from the Hokianga but his whanau shifted to West Auckland when Sonny was in his teens. In 1959 he formed the Sharks (renamed the Sundowners the following year), who built their reputation at the Maori Community Centre in Freeman's Bay. In 1962 Sonny Day & the Sundowners replaced the Keil Isles's residency at Auckland's top teen nightspot, the Jive Centre. The band recorded a dozen singles before disbanding in 1964 when Sonny accepted a residency at a New Caledonian resort, later accepting a similar position in Tahiti. He returned to New Zealand in 1967, fronting the Dallas Four and later the Mojomen, Breeze, Crow and others.

Sonny recorded little during his career but in 1985, while fronting the All-Stars, he released a soulful version of Clarence Clemon's 'Saving Up', a Top Ten hit. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Sonny, strapping on a guitar, concentrated more on traditional blues than his former soul music trademark (he was often billed a 'NZ's King of Soul'), always featuring top-notch musos.

In the late 1990s ill health forced Sonny's retirement. Battling emphysema, live performances became very rare. He died on August 9th 2007.
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