George Telek
Encyclopedia
George Mamua Telek, commonly known simply as Telek is a singer from Papua New Guinea
.
Born in 1959 in Raluana, East New Britain
Province, Telek is one of the few Papua New Guinean singers to gain international fame. Telek sang with various bands in Papua New Guinea early in his career - most notably with the group Painim Wok where he sang lead vocals. Telek met David Bridie
of the Australian band Not Drowning, Waving
, and they recorded the highly successful album Tabaran.
Telek recorded his first solo album, Telek outside Papua New Guinea in 1997. This album won an ARIA
award for Best World Music Album. He recorded his second international album Serious Tam in 2000 at Peter Gabriel
's Real World Studios
in England
. He followed that up with Amette, which was released in 2004. His most recent album Akave was released through the Wantok Music-label.
Telek sings in his native language, Kuanua, and in Tok Pisin
. Many of his songs are sung in three-part harmonies that are characteristic of the Tolai
region.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
Born in 1959 in Raluana, East New Britain
East New Britain
East New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea, on the north-eastern part of the island of New Britain and it also includes the Duke of York Islands. The capital of the province is Kokopo, not far from the old capital of Rabaul, which was largely destroyed in the 1994 volcanic eruption...
Province, Telek is one of the few Papua New Guinean singers to gain international fame. Telek sang with various bands in Papua New Guinea early in his career - most notably with the group Painim Wok where he sang lead vocals. Telek met David Bridie
David Bridie
David Bridie is a musician from Melbourne, Australia. Bridie first rose to prominence as a member of Not Drowning, Waving, which he started in the early 1980s with guitarist John Phillips. They released four albums on Australian independent labels to some level of critical acclaim and very limited...
of the Australian band Not Drowning, Waving
Not Drowning, Waving
Not Drowning, Waving were a musical group formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1983 by David Bridie and John Phillips...
, and they recorded the highly successful album Tabaran.
Telek recorded his first solo album, Telek outside Papua New Guinea in 1997. This album won an ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
award for Best World Music Album. He recorded his second international album Serious Tam in 2000 at Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's Real World Studios
Real World Studios
Real World Studios is a residential recording studio in Box, Wiltshire, England associated with the Real World Records Ltd. record label founded by rock musician Peter Gabriel...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He followed that up with Amette, which was released in 2004. His most recent album Akave was released through the Wantok Music-label.
Telek sings in his native language, Kuanua, and in Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin
Tok Pisin is a creole spoken throughout Papua New Guinea. It is an official language of Papua New Guinea and the most widely used language in that country...
. Many of his songs are sung in three-part harmonies that are characteristic of the Tolai
Tolai
The Tolai are the indigenous people of the Gazelle Peninsula and the Duke of York Islands of East New Britain in the New Guinea Islands region of Papua New Guinea...
region.