Jerome Grey

Fa'anana Jerome Grey (born 23 March 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and composer.

Jerome Grey
Tinifu Loa Grey and Jerome Faʻanana Grey (right) sing for the 2020 United States Census
Tinifu Loa Grey and Jerome Faʻanana Grey (right) sing for the 2020 United States Census
Background information
Born (1947-03-23) March 23, 1947
Apia, Western Samoa (now called Samoa)
OriginAnaheim, California, US
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • publisher
Spouse(s)Emily

Career

Jerome Grey is a Samoan musician based in California. His song "We Are Samoa" was popular and became an unofficial anthem for the country.

Among the musicians he has worked with are Seminary Uesele and Harry Sinapi, collectively known as the Samoan Three.

He released recordings on New Zealand-based Hibiscus Records. His first single was "Olaga O Samoa". The Samoa Three, the group he started in 1971 was a popular trio who played contemporary, oldies and ballads including covers of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis. They were best known for their versatility in cultural songs, from Spanish to Latin, Hawaiian, Tahitian and Fijian. He raised the house with his rendition of the Hava Nagila.

Grey's passion was country music. He loved the humour and the story-telling about everyday life. He enjoyed covering Johnny Cash, George Strait, Kenny Rogers and Glen Campbell.

With two children and his wife he returned to Samoa to help with his father in-law's restaurant, Soli's. While there he recorded many island songs. With Aleki Fuimaono and Harry Miller as The Ava Band, the Ava LP was released in 1979 on Bluewater Records, produced by Frank Day and executive producer Tom Moffatt. The LP We Are Samoa followed in 1980, recorded in Hawaii and in Hollywood at Conway Records.

In January 2007 Grey suffered a mild stroke while working at Mai Tai in Long Beach, California. After four months he was back to work, slowly improving.[1]

In August 2021 he was named as "Polynesia’s Artist of the Decade" by the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma, Washington.[2] In July 2022 the Pacific Music Awards announced that he would receive their 2022 lifetime achievement award.[3]

Family

His eldest son Tinifu Loa Grey is a singer, composer and musician.[4] Youngest son Taumata is a songwriter and lead guitarist for Common Kings. His daughter, Sisa Grey, is an actress.[5] Anamativa works for the health industry and is an event planner for charities. Julie works for an insurance company, but shares the family joy and extraordinary gift of music.

Discography

45 RPM EP
  • Jerome Grey at the Intercontinental, Songs of Samoa – Hisbiscus Records HE.6

Albums
  • We Are Samoa – Jerome Grey Productions / Reminisce Music Publishing (1980)[6]
  • Footprints (compact disc)
  • Coconut Woman – Jerome Grey Productions / Reminisce Music Publishing (1989)

The Ava Band
  • Ava – Bluewater Records SLP 633 (1979)
  • We Are Samoa – Bluewater Records SLP 733 (1980)

References
  1. wsamoa.ws Jerome Grey Trio Slated to Release Their Debut Album
  2. Ueni Peauala Pauulu (August 23, 2021). "Samoan musician Jerome Grey recognised". Samoa Observer. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  3. Fuimaono Lumepa Hald (July 26, 2022). "Fa'anana Jerome Grey to get Lifetime Award". Samoa Observer. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  4. Tini Grey Website About Tini Grey Archived September 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Ramos, Dino-Ray (April 24, 2019). "Sisa Grey Claws Into 'Legends Of Tomorrow'; Ebony Obsidian Enters Chambers Of 'Wu-Tang: An American Saga'". Deadline. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  6. Island Beats Jerome Grey We Are Samoa
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