Terry Dean and The Nitebeats

Andrew Schmidt

6 Jun 2013

Terry Dean was the smooth Samoan-American vocalist behind four finger-snapping, hip-shaking 1960s beat singles on Auckland’s Mascot label.

Born Terry Fidow in Samoa, he moved to New Zealand at age 8, growing up in Ponsonby, where he spent time with the King Cobras gang. Fidow spent his fiery early 1960s years as a jobbing vocalist in Auckland (including a period fronting Freddie Keil's band) and in the mid-1960s, fronting The Nitebeats.

He stepped out first in front of Auckland’s rockin’ rollin’ Rebeltones before moving to Wellington for a residency at Club Cabana then home again to the Shiralee in Customs Street West, central Auckland. It was there that he heard and joined The Nitebeats – Billy Peters (guitar), Allan Hodgson (drums), Peter Cox (bass), Ray Peters (guitar) and Gary Hollis (piano). They were a young instrumental act with the swing of the Bill Black Combo and Fats Domino, chopping out the instrumental rock of the day.

The Nitebeats played spots at Auckland venues ... and around the upper half of the North Island at beaches, small towns and dances

The Nitebeats played spots at Auckland venues – the Civic Wintergarden, the Treble Clef Night Spot in Hobson Street, the Jive Centre at the Hobson Street Trades Hall and the Ellen Melville Hall in High Street – and around the upper half of the North Island at beaches, small towns and dances.

The band’s fluid line-up evolved to include Alex Behrens (drums), Peter Jones (rhythm guitar), Buddy Wilson (rhythm guitar), Gary Hollis (piano) and the experienced Errol Timbers (lead guitar). In 1964 they featured at the Beatle Inn (in Little Queen Street), the Shiralee and the Orange Ballroom (Newton Rd, off Symonds Street), with one-nighters in the provinces.

Their finest recordings were the Terry Dean penned ‘I’ll Keep Walking’, ‘If I Can’, and ‘Do The Dance’, prime pieces of infectious dance music, recorded at Viking Studios.

Terry Dean was also making a name for himself on television shows, including In The Groove (with The Nitebeats performing all their singles) and On The Beat Side, where Dean did a convincing Elvis impersonation of ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ in the show’s nostalgia spot.

After an abortive stint in Sydney, Terry Dean and The Nitebeats called it a day in 1965, with Dean/Fidow eventually heading back to Samoa, after a spell in Sydney as a solo act then a period with Bill Wolfgramm back in New Zealand.

Terry Fidow passed away in 2005.

Errol Timbers recording in the Mascot Studios, Pacific Building (now demolished) on the corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets, Auckland

Terry Dean and The Nitebeats, 1964 -Errol Timbers, Dave Ball, Warren McMillan, Allan Hodgson, Tony Rawnsley (roadie, and later in The Underdogs)

The Nitebeats with Cathy Howe at the Treble Clef, Auckland 1964 - Leo Sleeman, Alex Behrens, Cathy Howe

Always On My Mind

I'll Keep Walkin

This Little Girl Of Mine

Terry Dean and The Nitebeats at Auckland's Treble Clef nightclub, circa 1964

Because She Loves You

If I Can

I'll Follow Her

Terry Dean and The Nitebeats at the Treble Clef, Auckland, 1964 - Leo Sleeman, Errol Timbers, Terry Dean, Alex Behrens, Peter Jones

Andrew Quayle, Alex Behrens, Leo Sleeman, Peter Jones, Terry Dean and Errol Timbers in 1964

The debut single, backed with Your Mamma's Outta Town, released on Bruce Barton's Mascot label in 1964

Dave Ball

Alex Behrens - drums

Terry Dean - vocals

Gary Hollis - piano

Peter Jones - rhythm guitar

Billy Peters - guitar

Andrew Quaile

Leo Sleeman - bass

Errol Timbers - lead guitar

Buddy Wilson - rhythm guitar

Allan Hodgson - drums

Peter Cox - bass

Johnny Willetts - guitar

Errol Timbers became a potter in the 1970s before moving to Brisbane in 1989 where he still lives and plays. Over the years he's played in several successful club bands both in Australasia and further abroad.

In Sydney Terry Dean was offered, signed, then walked away from a singing contract in the NSW clubs and one that promised Hawaii - the gig instead went to a young John Rowles. He was homesick.

Terry Dean was briefly managed by future pirate radio legend Derek Lowe.

Terry Dean and The Nitebeats

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Terry Dean and The Nitebeats