{{Short description|Māori pop singer (1933–1994)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jay Epae | image = Jay Epae headshot.jpg | alt = | caption = Promotional image of Epae published in Gisborne Photo News in 1967 | image_size = | birth_name = Nicholas Epae | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|03|07|df=yes}} | birth_place = Manaia, Taranaki, New Zealand | death_date = {{Death date and age|1994|07|25|1933|03|07|df=yes}} | origin = New Zealand | instrument = | death_place = Wellington, New Zealand | genre = Pop | occupation = | years_active = 1960–1967 | label = American Mercury<br/>American Capitol<br/>Viking | associated_acts = | website = <!-- {{Url|www.example.com}} --> }}
'''Jay Epae''' (born '''Nicholas Epae'''; 7 March 1933 – 25 July 1994) was a Māori pop singer from New Zealand. Epae's 1960 single ''Putti Putti'' was a hit in Sweden and Finland after the Swedish pirate radio station Radio Nord picked it up, remaining on the Swedish charts for 44 weeks. In 1961, he became first New Zealander to have an international number 1 record in both countries.
Following his breakthrough in 1961, Epae began touring. His albums were released on the American Mercury label, and he signed to American Capitol in 1962. In 1966, Epae signed to New Zealand's Viking Records and wrote a hit single for Maria Dallas called ''Tumblin' Down'', which won her the Loxene Golden Disc award.
Epae died on 25 July 1994 at the age of 61 after a period of ill health.
== Early life == Nicholas Epae was born on 7 March 1933 in Manaia, Taranaki, New Zealand.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Gillanders |first=Grant |date=11 July 2025 |title=Jay Epae’s epic career, 1: from Manaia to Sweden - Article |url=https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/jay-epae/articles/jay-epae-s-epic-career-1-from-manaia-to-sweden |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250908043224/https://www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/jay-epae-s-epic-career-1-from-manaia-to-sweden |archive-date=8 September 2025 |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=AudioCulture |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Sergent">{{cite web |last=Sergent |first=Bruce |title=Jay Epae |url=http://www.sergent.com.au/music/jayepae.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404071659/https://www.sergent.com.au/music/jayepae.html |archive-date=4 April 2025 |accessdate=21 July 2010 |website=sergent.com.au}}</ref> He was the third child of eight children, including the youngest Hector who would later become a member of The Māori Volcanics.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Nick |first=Bollinger |date=7 September 2025 |title=Jay Epae, Aotearoa's secret Scandinavian star |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360815926/jay-epae-aotearoas-secret-scandinavian-star |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907045517/https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360815926/jay-epae-aotearoas-secret-scandinavian-star |archive-date=7 September 2025 |access-date=7 September 2025 |work=Radio New Zealand |via=Stuff}}</ref> His father, Tuni, served in the Pioneer Māori Battalion and was a farm hand, but was also a singer and performer.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> His mother, Manakore, died suddenly a short time after the birth of Hector in 1942.<ref name=":2" />
Epae attended Normanby Public School but was considered a troublemaker and left aged 10.<ref name=":2" /> He excelled at boxing and pursued a short-lived career which ended when he won a fight but broke his wrist.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Instead, he worked with one of his brothers on a farm owned by his uncle.<ref name=":2" />
Around the age of 20 in 1953, Epae left Taranaki and moved to Sydney, Australia where he began his singing career in nightclubs.<ref name=":0" /> He moved to the United States in 1957.<ref name="Sergent" />
== Discography == === Albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" style="width:17em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:17em;"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Hold on tight! It's Jay Epae'' | * Released: 1966 * Label: Viking (VP212) * Format: LP |- |}
==Awards and nominations== ===Aotearoa Music Awards=== {{awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 1966 || "I Need You" || Single of the Year || {{nom}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-history/|title=Aotearoa Music Awards|website=aotearoamusicawards.nz|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025201023/https://aotearoamusicawards.nz/award-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- {{end}}
== Personal life == Epae was married to Leona Laviscount, a New York-born singer and dancer and member of the Harlem Blackbirds who he met in Sydney in the mid-1950s.<ref name=":0" /> Their marriage came to an end around 1966, when Epae returned to New Zealand before heading to Australia to live in Brisbane the following year.<ref name=":0" />
In his later life, Epae suffered from substance abuse issues, namely alcohol.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Gillanders |first=Grant |date=11 June 2025 |title=Jay Epae’s epic career, 2: from |url=https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/jay-epae/articles/jay-epae-s-epic-career-2-from-tumblin-down-to-wellington |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250806061241/https://audioculture.co.nz/articles/jay-epae-s-epic-career-2-from-tumblin-down-to-wellington |archive-date=6 August 2025 |access-date=7 September 2025 |website=AudioCulture |language=en}}</ref> In 1994, Epae began experiencing ill-health. His family reconnected with him after a tip-off from his landlady who was concerned for his well-being.<ref name=":1" /> Epae returned to New Zealand and stayed with family in Wellington.<ref name=":0" /> Months later on 25 July 1994, Epae was found dead on a Wellington street.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Epae, Jay}} Category:1933 births Category:1994 deaths Category:New Zealand pop singers Category:20th-century New Zealand male singers