Leroy Taamu Te'o
Compiled by
Seti Matua Samoalives News
Alliance Bureau.
Radio personalities are a
dime a dozen, or so they say. There are DJ’s who make you laugh, and then there
are those whose calm, soothing tone massage frazzled minds while the music mends
audiences of broken hearts. Radio, in fact is inundated with personalities. Some
of the most eminent stars of radio have gone on to establish careers in other
forms of media including Dick Clark, Don Imus, Rick Dees and shock-jock Howard
Stern. Each radio DJ carries an on-air personality that either grows on us or
revolts us. In a day and age when a good portion of our time is spent in our
cars, commuting to and from work, school or play, the radio DJ unknowingly
becomes our friend. Their antics and often bizarre behavior frustrate us at
times, but more often than naught they bring a smile to our face and divert our
thoughts from our troubles, surreptitiously living through them as they take us
to the dizzying heights of their experiences, enjoy their light-hearted humor
and outright fun.
From a Samoan perspective, radio personalities were often measured by the
standards established by radio pioneers like the legendary Pat Mamaia and the
soulful John Solofa of the government owned Radio 2AP. In addition, who can
forget the soulful ballads, toe tapping rhythm and blues and chart topping hits
pumped out each Friday and Saturday night on KVZK-FM to our hearts content? It
is by these benchmarks of Samoan radio history that Leroy Ta’amu Te’o has
instilled a desire in his own heart to succeed, and with that desire, a hope to
exceed the current expectations of Samoan talent in the industry.
“In this business, there are few Polynesians, particularly Samoans,” Te’o
candidly declares. “So I’m quick to let people know who I am and where I come
from so that our Samoan people are well represented.”
Te’o is extremely proud of his Samoan heritage. Each morning, the jolly man with
the larger than life voice can be heard on KISN-FM’s (97.1) Rockett Radio
morning show in Salt Lake City. Te’o, who goes by the moniker “Big Budah”, has a
commanding presence that accentuates the antics of the morning shows star
Rockett. There is warmth in his scruffy, staccato baritone that exudes his
friendly demeanor and downplays the huge stature that his nickname suggests. He
may have been better suited with an alias like “Big Bear”. In real life, as is
the case in his professional life, Te’os presence looms large.
The eldest of Vaafusuaga Lisona Ieti Te’o and Lisi Ama’s six
children, Leroy was weaned on entertainment. He spent most of his childhood
years performing in talent shows with his siblings and often sang in church
groups or at family functions. “I got a rush from entertaining people and most
of all making them laugh,” says Te’o who is not shy to speak his mind or stand
out in public. “I give my mom and dad a lot of credit for my comical
personality. They really instilled and nurtured that in me.”
Te’o admits that his personality sometimes affected his grades. “In high school,
I also got good grades, but my report cards often had comments from the teachers
that said, ‘likes to talk’, ‘likes to socialize’, and ‘talks too much’. I just
loved to perform and make people smile. That’s kind of what got me into the
media profession.”
Though born and raised in California, Te’o spent his teenage years in Samoa,
attending high school at Church College of Western Samoa (CCWS) in Pesega and
Church College of Savaii at Vaiola. He met many of his mentors in the
entertainment industry while living in Samoa, including Vaitu’u Kaio,
Ioane & Saline Tuipala, Fiu Efaraima and the people of Tapueleele
who were a huge influence while he was attending school in Vaiola. “Helen
Atoa really gave me a boost when she allowed me and my friends to tinker and
experiment with the technical equipment in the Pesega library which at the time
was probably the closest to industry standard in the islands. All of these
people had a hand in fostering the entertainment bug in me although nothing I
did back then reflected my current profession.”
Upon his return to the United States, Te’o attended Sacramento State University
and enrolled in a few media classes, bolstered by the support of people who told
him that he was a natural for the microphone. “People encouraged me to pursue
the profession because I have a natural radio voice.” Throw in his cheerful
demeanor and his “go for it” attitude and Big Budah breaks down any barrier to
achieve his success. He later interned at KSFM (102.5) in Sacramento, California
as a promotions coordinator and landed his first gig as a sidekick on the
stations “The Bad Boy Broadcast” show alongside regular DJ, “CK”. The shows
popularity soon moved from mediocrity to the morning drive time and a larger
following.
In spite of the fact that he regularly rubs elbows with some of Utah’s most
famous citizens, Te’o expounds on how his Samoan roots have kept him grounded.
So much so that he often reverts to speaking Samoan in normal conversation. He
clearly holds the lessons his parents taught as the basis for his success. “Oute
faafetai i le alofa o nai o’u matua. Sa le fiu gofie i la’ua i le tele o taimi.
E tiga lava le mativa, ae sa la naunau ia maua e le fanau toniga aoga, o tusi
aoga faapea fo’i le vaega tupe e fesoasoani ai i tausaga ta’itasi a’o matou
feagai ai ma aoaoga.”
Leroy Te’o has become a bit of a pioneer in his own right. Along with his
credentials, KISN-FM’s “Rockett Radio” program enjoys huge success thanks in
large part to the camaraderie between the trio of Rockett, Big Budah and the
enchanting Erica Hansen. Portions of the show are aired live on, daily on Utah’s
WBTV television station.
Te’o recently finished shooting a feature length film called “The R.M.” the
sequel to last year’s side busting hit, “The Singles Ward” in which Te’o plays a
Tongan Foreign Exchange student. He hopes to add to his already lengthy resume
with a few more acting roles under his belt. So remember the name Leroy Te’o, it
may just pop up in a theater near you.
PERSONAL DETAILS:
Name: Leroy Ta’amu Te’o a.k.a. Big Budah
Born: June 9, 1970 in San Francisco, CA.
Parents: Vaafusuaga Lisona Ieti Te’o and Lisi Ama
Siblings: Lani Timena Broederlow, Lynnette Taofo Faumuina, Ludmilla
Teuvaioleti, Luteru Tiitiiatalaga Te’o, Loren Tuliafiafiosinalevaifoafigota Te’o
Spouse: Jennifer Ann Burton of Stockton, CA.
Children: Kingslee Toaosamoa, Jordyn Lisi, Jaelyn Fusimalefiafia, Kilani
Timena
Education: AA Communications; Certificate, Broadcasting School of Arts
Unauthorized reprints of this article without the authors and Samoalives
prior written consent and permission is subject to legal action.