[5] At age 14, and having learnt a few chords on the guitar, and apparently enough to impress the opposite sex, he tried out for a band.
While the other members were upset over this action, Waretini apparently philosophical about the event, was happy just to have played there.
After the funeral of his father, Waretini was taken under the wing of his cousin George Tait, a Te Arawa elder.
In 1970, Tait flew Waretini to Australia, and financed the trip himself from his war pension income.
After learning a few things about the business, Waretini came back and joined the roster of promoter Joe Brown.
Other artists in the competition were The Rumour with "Quiet Song", an Anderson & Wise composition, and "Join Together", by Steve Allen.
[10] In an earlier heat, another singer with the same surname, Andy Waretini had entered with the song "Last Year's Summer".
Waretini didn't have money to pay the musicians so he paid them in Kentucky Fried Chicken.
He also recruited a news paper boy to sell copies to passing people for 50 cents each.
[13] In 1981, along with Ken Kincaid, the Lightwood family, and Rhonda, he appeared on the Mauri Hikitia album,[14] which was in support of the Mt.
An article about the single called "Deane needs a hit to bridge over his debts" appeared in the 22 February edition of the Auckland Star.