Horowhenua StarLevin was once home to one of New Zealand’s best-kept soul act secrets – The Warren Sisters.
They performed for radio and TV and toured with The Platters in 1970, playing at major venues and town halls. The original Warren Sisters were Piri Henare, Diane Warren and Kathy Nahona.
The group had their roots in soul, motown and gospel, and would often perform packed shows at Levin War Memorial Hall, sing at talent quests, and play for whānau and friends nailing their harmonies.
Along with backing band The Reflections the group released 45-records in 1970 – a cover of the hit Never My Love and the hometown hit Lace Covered Windows – on a local music label called TALA Records run by the late Wally Clark.
The beauty of modern technology has meant those songs and recordings can now be widely shared.
The backing band included younger brother Jack Warren, and Pat Davison and Gary Stokoe.
The influence of the Warren Sisters continues with whānau that inherited a love for music.
Levin man Eugene Henare, the son of Piri, was one of a generation of whānau who grew up surrounded by music.
He says they were blessed for it. He remembers going to community events where his aunties and mother performed, along with father Arthur and Uncle Jack. One of those events was the opening of the Levin Shopping Mall in 1971.
Even now those songs are sung at whānau gatherings and everyone knows the words.
“They’re beautiful songs, with beautiful lyrics,” he says. “Lace Covered Windows is our family anthem.”
He says as kids they couldn’t help but want to learn to play, too. Band practice was often in the lounge, and they were encouraged at every turn to express themselves musically.
“Watching them play and perform certainly planted a seed within us all, whether we went on to play instruments or not,” he says.
Paul Williams is editor of the Horowhenua Star
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