Bio

Ardijah were a Maori outfit formed in 1980 out of South Auckland. They specialised in soul and funk and were very successful on the Auckland club scene.

It was in the late eighties when they were at their most popular. They released their first single in 1986 Give Me Your Number on Pagan and this was followed in 1987 with Your Love Is Blind.

In 1987 their first self-titled album was released on WEA. From this came the singles That's The Way/Give Me Time and Time Makes A Wine/Jammin'.

A second album came out in late 1988 and it was called Take A Chance. From this came the single Watchin' U/Which Way Is Up. A final single was released in 1989, Take Me/Thru The Time Door.

Take A Chance held a Top 20 position on the sales charts for four months and achieved platinum status.

By 1990, Betty-Anne and Ryan had moved to Brisbane, Australia, where they formed a new line-up, adding Glen Muirhead on keyboards, Tim Gaze on guitar, John Carson on drums, Heba Ngati on percussion and Rick Robertson on saxophone.

In 1999 Warner Music NZ secured the group, and their album Time was released in November 1999. Betty-Ann went on to win 'Top Female Vocalist' at the 1999 NZ Music Awards.

Thanks to Sergent for the above information.

Band Members:
Ryan Monga (bass)
Betty-Ann Monga (vocals)
Tony Ngotautama (guitar, vocals)
Simon Lynch (synthesiser)
Barbara Griffen (keyboards)
Neville Schwabe (saxophone, flute, trumpet)

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