The Keil Isles were a New Zealand-based Rock & Roll group which consisted of the Keil Brothers, Olaf, Herman, Rudolf, Klaus and their cousin Freddie Keil. They were all Samoans with German ancestry.

Band history

Their lead guitarist Olaf Keil was born in Apia, Western Samoa in 1934 and came to New Zealand when he was about 18 years of age. He began playing guitar in a band that his uncle had. His cousin Fredde would ask him to back him on rock & roll songs. Later on the other brothers became proficient and they formed the band in 1956. Freddie Keil left the band in the early 1960s after having a falling out with cousin Herma. He went on to form his own band. After becoming very popular, selling records and having hits, the band had gone through numerous personnel changes, and by 1967 there were no members of the Keil family left in the band.

During their popularity their version of The Twist

The Twist (song)

"The Twist" is a twelve bar blues song that gave birth to the Twistdance craze. The song was written and originally released in 1959 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as a B-side but his version was only a moderate 1960 hit, peaking at 28 on the Billboard Hot 100...

 sold more copies in New Zealand than the Chubby Checker version did.

Line Up

• Olaf Keil
  Olaf Keil
  Olaf Keil was the founder and lead guitarist of New Zealand rock & roll group The Keil Isles, playing on their pre 1963 recordings on the TANZA and Viking record labels. He was also a custom guitar and banjo builder for Fender. He is also the creator of the Keil Midi...
  
   (Lead Guitar)
• Herma Keil
  Herma Keil
  Herma Keil along with brothers Olaf, Klaus, Rudolf and cousin Freddie Keil formed The Keil Isles in the 1950s which proved to be a popular hit making band. The band at one stage was billed as Herma Keil & The Keil Isles. He was their lead vocalist for six years from 1960 until 1966. He along with...
  
   (Rhythm Guitar)
• Rudolph Keil (Bass Guitar)
• Klaus Keil (Drums)
• Freddie Keil
  Freddie Keil
  Freddie Keil was a musician most notable as a member of The Keil Isles in New Zealand in the 1950s and 1960s. The former dry cleaner was born in Western Samoa and was part German. He migrated to New Zealand...
  
   (Vocals)
• Eliza Keil
  Eliza Keil
  Samoan born Eliza Keil started out singing with her brothers in the popular New Zealand rock & roll group the Keil Isles and would later become a solo artist in her own right with a string of TV appearances and a part in a film.-Career:...
  
   (Vocals)
• Helga Keil (Vocals)
• Lou Miller (Bass) - Replaced Rudolf in 1959
• Bill Fairs (Saxophone)
• Heke Kewene (Piano)
• Norman Akers (Piano) - Replaced Heke Kewene
• Brian Henderson (Piano) - Replaced Norman Akers
• Johnny Walker (Lead Guitar) - Replaced Klaus Keil
• Warren McMillan (Bass) - Replaced Lou Miller
• Puni Solomon (Bass) - Replaced Warren McMillan
• George Barna (Saxophone) - Replaced Bill Fairs
• Red Williamson (Drums) - Replaced Klaus Keil

Others

• Brian Henderson (Piano)
• Roger Skinner (Guitar)
• Billy Kristian (Bass)
• Jimmy Hill (Drums)

45 Rpm

• Apache / Good Night Irene - Viking VS 50

• In The Hall Of The Mountain King / Jalisco - Viking
  Viking Records
  Viking Records was an independent and prominent record label that featured many New Zealand and Polynesian recording artists.-Background:In the 1960s, the company was the largest locally owned record label in the South Pacific with its New Zealand head office in Wellington and a branch in Sydney...
  
  VP 173 - (1965)

LP

• Take Off With The Keil Isles - Viking VP 57 - (1961) (New Zealand)
• I Could Have Danced All Night - Viking VP 84 - (1962) (New Zealand)
• Herma And The Keil Isles - Viking VP 101 - (1963) (New Zealand)
• The Sound Of Herma & The Keil Isles - Viking VP.167 - (1965) (New Zealand)
• Keils A Go Go - Salem XP 5028 (New Zealand) (1966)
• Twenty Rock & Roll Hits - Regal SREG 30221 - (1980) (New Zealand)
• Rock From The Other Side Vol.4 - Down South Records DS.9214 - (1987) (Holland)

Compact Disc

• Keil Isles, The - Early Rock & Roll From New Zealand - Vol. 1 & 2 - Collector Records - CLCD 7753/A/B (Netherlands)

External links

• http://www.kimhumphreys.com/browse.asp?page=358
• Mention in Billboard 24 Nov 1962
• Music A Driving Force In Life Of Guitar Builder From Samoa