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Musician Che Ness, better known as Che Fu, is to receive the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award at next week’s Vodafone Pacific Music Awards.
Ness, who has Maori and Niuean whakapapa, is being acknowledged for his significant contribution to the Pacific music industry, including paving the way for many of today’s New Zealand Pasifika, soul, hip hop and reggae performers.
The son of kiwi reggae pioneer Tigilau Ness was a founding member of the Low-Down Dirty Blues Band, which became the chart topping Supergroove.
His first solo single in 1997, Chains with DJ DLT also went to number one.
He won an APRA Silver Scroll Award in 2002 for Misty Frequencies, and his next album The Navigator won five Tuis including Album of the Year.
In 2009 he received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.
Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says Che Fu has the mana and status befitting the 10th anniversary of the awards.
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