IN the late ’50s and early ’60s, the best live music and the musicians that played the latest hits of the swing era met and jammed every week in the crypt.
The cavernous hall situated under the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva was home, one night a week, to bebop, swing and jazz music courtesy of the best in the business.
Those keen to unwind after a long week, brought their sevusevu to the Catholic church and witnessed the brilliance of the Rabaka brothers — guitar virtuoso Tom Mawi, drummer Ben, bassist Marika and saxophonist Simione.
In later years, other music greats like George Williams, Rupeni Serevi, Meli Serevi, Anthony Lockington and many others would take centre stage there.
“This was way before there were any nightclubs in Suva,” shared Mawi.
“The Catholic priests had an idea to keep the youth occupied so they formed an association called the Loyola Club and we used to take part in sports events like basketball and volleyball during the day and run home to have a quick shower and return to play music in the evening.”
The alcohol-free events drew large crowds of people, as teenagers were accompanied by their parents to the Loyola Club social gathering.
“I can remember playing in the first band that was formed there along with my brother Ben and a guy called Emmet Patton played rhythm guitar.”
Patton was the son of one of the directors of the funeral parlour — Patton & Storck — that operated across the road from the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
“He was a really keen musician and a great rhythm player.
“We mostly did instrumentals but from time to time, singers like Meli Serevi would drop by to do a few numbers.”
In 1964, concerned about the interaction with women on the church premises, a group of young Catholic men decided to break away from the Loyola Club and with the assistance of a priest called Father Peter Ryan established the Bilolevu Club in Suva.
“We were concerned that the frequent meetings between young girls and boys could result in some affairs of the heart developing and we felt that it wasn’t appropriate to do that in the church property,” explained club veteran and musician Willie Wye.
A little room, adjacent to the crypt under the Sacred Heart Cathedral, became the clubhouse.
And over the years, the venue became a haven for incredible live music courtesy of the talents of people like Mawi, Ben Rabaka, Rupeni Davui, Anthony Lockington, William Wye, Joe Chang, Rupeni and Meli Serevi, George Williams, Lawrence Smith and many others.
The membership roll reads like the who’s who of local music.
Over time, even non-Catholics were granted leave to enter the inner sanctum of Suva’s best kept secret music scene.
Even snooker champion Viliame Umu developed his touch on the guitar from the elder statesmen that frequented the club.
Young men keen to learn from some of the country’s premier musicians earned their impromptu music lessons by mixing kava for the seasoned musicians.
It was here that dreams were created, lessons were learnt and a platform was provided for budding musicians and singers to strut their stuff.
Long before the advent of television and star search shows, the Bilolevu Club was one of few venues where an unknown could blossom and grow as his music knowledge and talent was developed under the watchful eye of those that had been there and done it all.
In September this year, more than 300 men — many travelling from abroad — will gather in the Capital City to celebrate 50 years of the club’s existence.
High on the agenda of the anniversary celebrations is the recognition of musicians and singers that were members of the club who have since departed.
“We’re going to put together a commemorative magazine where we will highlight the achievements of some of Fiji’s greatest musicians and singers that we are proud to say were members of our club,” Wye shared.
“It is unfortunate that many of them have passed on without recording anything or without being acknowledged for their contribution to Fiji at a time when the only entertainment available was live music.
“They gave their all to bring us joy and in the end, many did not even receive a thank you for their efforts.”
The Loyola and Bilolevu clubs were the breeding ground for some of the best music that has emerged on the local scene.
The heights that people like Mawi have reached are a testimony to the influences the musicians were exposed to.
“There were a lot of part-European and European musicians around at that time and we learnt a lot from them,” Mawi shared.
“One of Fiji’s most amazing guitarists, George Williams went on to form a band called Stardust.
“This group became one of Suva’s top bands because of George’s guitar style and the backing of his band — my brother Ben played drums and Hans Vollmer played rhythm guitar.”
In later years, Williams together with another guitarist of note — Sunny Whiteside — formed an instrumental duet called Sunny and George.
In the late 70s and early 80s, their music was one of the most requested on Radio Fiji.
Whiteside grew up in Suva, heavily influenced by the swing and jazz music made popular by a Suva-based band in the late 50s and 60s known as The Silhouettes.
Formed by Bob Thurley, the owner of South Seas Recording — the country’s first independent commercial recording company — the band featured Laurie Whiteside on bass guitar, Ben Davenport on saxophone and a few expatriates on drums and other brass instruments.
Appreciators of good quality live music and especially those who want to take a walk down memory lane will be in for a feast when musicians and members of the Bilolevu Club gather in Suva in September.
Seasoned veterans, many who were pioneers of the local music scene, will perform alongside youngsters in what is expected to be a musical extravaganza like no other.
The Loyola and then Fr Peter Ryan’s Bilolevu Club have contributed a lot to Fiji’s rich musical tapestry and history.
And while some of the old names have passed on to play music in the heavenly abodes, those who remain have memories and musical moments from a bygone era that are best shared around a bowl or two.
