Rudy Spemann

Samoan musician (1934 - 2021)
Multi-instrumentalist: Rudy Spemann was born in Western Samoa in 1934. He was of German and Samoan ancestry. The first-born in his family, he was four years older than his brother Hugo Spemann. Along with their sister Mina, they learnt to play various instruments. In May, 1952, the family moved to New Zealand.
Later in New Zealand, with their friend Malu Natapu, they formed an act called The Black and White Trio. At some stage brother Hugo approached Bill Sevesi and asked to join the band. Coming back after learning piano, Sevesi hired Hugo and told him to bring his friend Malu Natapu Later, Rudy, Hugo and Malu were members of Will Jess And His Jesters, a band led by Sevesi who backed a few artists such as The Deuces, Dougie Jeffs, Ronnie Sundin and Vince Callaher on their recordings. They backed Sundin on his 1960 album "Ronnie" which was released on Viking. The Spemann brothers were pictured on the cover of the album with most of the backing band.

Hugo and Rudy also backed Vince Callaher on a recording "(The World Of) Suzy Wong" bw "Six Little Candles" which was released on Octagon (2) in 1960. The song was an attempt to cash in on the success of the film "The World of Suzie Wong" which starred Nancy Kwan and William Holden. The single was credited to Vince Callaher With Rudy's Reindeer Rhythm. During the earlier part of the 1960s, they had formed Rudy & The Crystals, a backing band that backed artists such as Mike Buckler, The Sheratons and Ken Lemon on singles that were released on the Octagon label. In the beginning the band had three guitarists but were a guitar short so Rudy built his own.

Along with Hugo and friend Malu, he was a member of the first line up of The Samoan Surf Riders who recorded the album "Aloha Samoa" with Bill Sevesi & His Islanders, released on Viking in 1962. An EP "Goin' Samoan" was also released that time. About two years later, a second version of The Samoan Surf Riders came together to record an album. Present on the recording were Rudy, Hugo, Horst Stunzner who they knew as kids in Samoa, and Eddy Eves. They recorded the "Let me Hear You Whisper" album which was released on both the Viking and Octogon labels in 1964. According to Horst Stunzner in a 2018 interview with Graham Reid of Elsewhere.co.nz, the Spemann's father Wilhelm played a big part in the album as he had composed six of the twelve songs. He had a tremendous knowledge of Samoan songs. An EP "My Samoan Maiden" which featured this line up was released on Viking around 1964.

By the mid 1960s, Rudy had left music and started a printing business. However, he would be recording again as one of the singers "Samoan Favorites" album which was released on Bill Sevesi's Armar label around 1970. 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" etc..

In 2015, Rudy Spemann appeared in an article about his band Rudy and the Crystals. It was by Glen Moffatt for Audio Culture.

Rudy died on 18 February 2021 at age 87.