Teka was from Ruatahuna in the Ureweras, and had a musical childhood. His mother played mouth organ and clarinet and his father was a saxophonist with a bush band. After learning guitar and saxophone at woolshed dances with teenage bands, Teka moved to Sydney and began a six-year stand with the Maori Volcanics showband on the Japan and Pacific circuit. The 'Prince' title was adopted when Teka joined the Maori Troubadours.

In the 1970s Teka performed solo in Sydney and Southeast Asian clubs, his extravagant stage wardrobe including rhinestone jackets and embroidered skirts cut for his one hundred and forty kilogram frame.

For more information check out the muzic.net.nz Profile for Prince Tui Teka

Prince Tui Teka first debuted in the Official New Zealand Top 40 Albums on 9 June 2002 with the album The Greatest. There are three entries by Prince Tui Teka in the charts with one reaching Number One.