This week on Backtracks, we catch up with Pakelo Morris, better known as Paks, a former founding member of the band Rootstrata.
Paks plays keyboard and guitar and continues to jam occasionally in the Burning West.
The former Marist Brothers Primary School student said music became his “beacon of hope” after dropping out in Class 8.
Born to Joseph Ifo Morris, a Samoan, and mother Likuone from Tonga, Paks was born on September 19, 1963.
“My parents settled in Raiwaqa, and I grew up just a few footsteps away from the musically-talented Rabaka family,” he said.
“I used to hang out with the drummer, the late Mateo Rabaka’s sons, Pita and Ben.”
Back then, their icons were who they heard on the radio.
“My father taught me to play three chords on a guitar, but it was the keyboards that I became interested in.”
He was a member of the St Pius X Parish congregation and eventually worked as a caretaker there. He recalls the piano lady, Ms Anarieta.
Paks said the parish had a grand piano which she played beautifully.
“There was something about that piano that caught my attention. She was always on time for church service, and whenever she came for rehearsal, I used to watch her fingers closely.
“One day, she began to teach me how to play.
“Like most musicians in Raiwaqa, we’re self-taught or as I always say, ‘we like to choro chords’.
“Around this time, we formed a band with the Rabaka brothers called Purple Haze, performing at corporate events. The 1980s brought a new fashion of clothing and music; the funk and disco era collided with Motown classics, and fusion had a significant influence during that period.
“Our first band instruments were donated with the help of parish priests Kevin Bar and Tom Rouse, who advocated for unemployed youths. They managed to get support from an NGO called CEPAC.”
Paks said live music was very popular back then, and they used to gig at the Bankers Club in the 1980s, situated just across the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva.
When former Marist Rock guitarist Ioane Burese joined them, the band began to evolve.
Their drummer, Ben Rabaka, introduced Alfereti Fesaitu, and the rest is history.
Toward the end of his journey in Fiji, Paks spent a lot of time with the late George Brooks Veikoso — better known as Poji or “Fiji”.
“He loved lovo food, and my late sister ran the Isa Lei Restaurant in Nadi, specialising in authentic traditional meals.
“Poji wanted to play with former members of Rootstrata. He wanted the old boys to perform at this year’s Homecoming event. One time, over lovo, we had a conversation about the good old days and his past life.”
Paks said Poji was ‘R’ (Raiwaqa) to the bone.
“He held dearly to his memories of Raiwaqa during a difficult time in his life when there were many obstacles within the struggle. He really wanted to jam with the boys again, just one more time. We were still having that discussion when he died.
“The last time we all met was at his 55th birthday at Wailoaloa,” Paks recalled. “I had arranged with Poji, who agreed to sort out our travel expenses to The Beach Club.
“Ben Rabaka was living in Ba, so I told him to catch a taxi, pick Ioane up at Matawalu Village, Ba, and come to pick me up in Nadi — destination: The Beach Club.
“Upon arrival at the party, the taxi meter stopped at $55, but high security at the private function did not allow us in without an invitation. We panicked a little, but luckily, someone from the party recognised me and invited us in.
“I ran straight to Poji—’Hey, our taxi’s outside’!”
Paks said that after sorting out the taxi, an emotional Poji was surprised to see them.
“He hadn’t seen Ioane and Ben in years, and we managed to make it to his birthday celebration on short notice.”
Looking to the future, Paks said music was more widespread than before, thanks to technology, and he’s proud that music was still very much alive in Raiwaqa.
“My music journey is still ongoing, jamming here and there where I can. I’ve met and seen a lot of places, and I thank God I can share this story.”
