Niuean Maori ‘How Bizzare’ hit singer dies at age 40
Pauly Fuemana from the Otara Millionaires Club (OMC) was the artist behind New Zealand's best selling record, taking the number one spot in countries around the world. BLOG: Share your memories of Pauly Fuemana’s number one hit ‘How Bizzare’ and send your tributes to the Fuemana family.
After months of suffering from illness, the singer died at North Shore Hospital on Sunday morning, surrounded by family and friends.
TV3 reported Fuemana's loved ones saying he had died from "wear and tear of a lifestyle that was hard, but a lifestyle that was rich".
Fuemana’s long-time family friend Herman Loto Sakarria spoke to the media of the singer’s passing.
"It (his death) will be a huge shock to the music industry," he told TVNZ
Stuff.co.nz quoted Kirk Harding, of hip-hop label MTC, as a man that would never be forgotten.
"Pauly put South Auckland on the global stage."
Born to a Nuiean father and Maori mother, Fuemana found refuge in music growing up in the rough suburb of Otara, forming OMC in 1993.
Married with five children, the singer was known to have gone from ‘rags to riches and back to rags’ after declaring bankruptcy in 2006.
Fuemana’s natural generosity and new found rock'n'roll lifestyle saw his millions slip through his fingers.
"I bought my brother Phil a Range Rover and my sister a BMW ... because they were at the bottom of their glass, they were struggling," he said in a 2006 interview. "I said, `Here, have some money."'
"He went from nothing to having all this fame dumped on him and he was meant to cope with it all himself," says Fuemana’s brother, Tony.
Hailed as the Ghetto Superstar, brother Tony told TVNZ that despite his financial challenges, Pauly faced his challenges head on and fought through it all.
“Even when he was in hospital he fought right to the end”
