Charlie Tumahai

Charles Turu Tumahai (Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand 14 January 1949 - 21 December 1995) was a New Zealand singer, bass player and songwriter who was a member of several noted rock groups in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. He is best known internationally as the bassist and vocalist in Bill Nelson's Be-Bop Deluxe. He began his music career in New Zealand before moving to Australia in the late 1960s. He was a member of several notable Australian bands including Chain, Healing Force, Friends and Mississippi (which later evolved into Little River Band). Tumahai travelled to the UK with Mississippi in 1974 and remained there when Mississippi broke up. Later that year he joined Be-Bop Deluxe, with whom he played and recorded until 1978. He...