The Satellites
The Satellites are a rock'n'roll group formed in September 1957. The band was popular in the early 1960s, and were still periodically active in the 2000s. The original lineup of The Satellites was Ken Wadsworth (saxaphone), Dawn Wadsworth (piano), Ivor Fisher (vocals) and Irvine Young (drums; 1957-1960). Other members of the band at various times were Sonny Murray (bass; from 1960), Derek Cummings (lead guitar), Tony Edwards (guitar; from 1960), Morrie Holmes (drums; from 1960), Trevor Akoorie (lead guitar), June Paterson (vocals), Eric Urtley (trumpet), Pat Reinhart (guitar) and Curtis Edwards (1987).
The band played regularly at the Starlight Ballroom, having a contract to play three nights a week there for two years between 1960 and 1962, and released four singles between 1962 and 1963. One of the highlights for the band was a tour of New Zealand in 1967, as the backing band for Millie Small, Maria Dallas, David Whitfield and Eden Kane. The book "Stranded in Paradise" by John Dix states that The Satellites were a band who gained brief success with an instrumental hit inspired by The Shadows, who visited New Zealand in 1961. The band were still active in the 2000s, with a line-up of Ken Wadsworth (saxophone), Dawn Finch (piano), Trevor Akoorie (lead guitar), Johnny McIntosh (drums), Wayne Wright (bass) and Ivor Fisher (vocals).
Releases
- Breaking Up is Hard to do single, 1962
- Venus in Blue Jeans single, 1962
- Tell me, Tell me single, 1962
- Teenage Heaven single, 1963
- Wild One EP, 1960 (by Ivor Fisher with The Satellites and The Reataz)
- The Spider and the Fly single, 1960 (by The Reataz and The Satellites)
- Sugar Time Twist single, 1962 (by the Harrison Triplets and The Satellites)
- Ali Baba by "The Satellites" appears on the 1987 compilation Rock from the Other Side Vol.1
- You Haunt Me by "Ivor Fisher and The Satellites" appears on the 1987 compilation Rock from the Other Side Vol.1
- Be Bop a Lula by "Ivor Fisher and The Satellites" appears on the 1987 compilation Rock from the Other Side Vol.2
- Call On Cupid by "Paul Fisher and The Satellites" appears on the 2004 compilation The Very Best Of Kiwi Rock and Roll
- You Haunt Me and Bukeye by "Ivor Fisher and the Satellites" appears on the 2005 compilation Early Rock and Roll from New Zealand - vol 3 and 4
- Lookie, Lookie, Lookie and Call On Cupid by "Ivor Fisher with The Satellites" appears on the 2005 compilation Early Rock and Roll from New Zealand - vol 9 and 10
- Come Back my Love by "Ivor Fisher with The Satellites" appears on the 2005 compilation Early Rock and Roll from New Zealand - vol 13
- Daddy Cool and Fancy Nancy by "The Reataz with The Satellites" appears on the 2005 compilation Early Rock and Roll from New Zealand - vol 9 and 10
- Be-Bop-A-Lula and Rave On by "Ivor Fisher with The Reataz & The Satellites" appears on the 2005 compilation Early Rock and Roll from New Zealand - vol 9 and 10
- Buckeye appears on the 2005 compilations A Collection Of New Zealand Instrumentals - Vol. 2:Sea Of Clouds
Published Articles
- Re-entry as The Satellites celebrate 50th, Waikato Times, 15 September 2007
