Tony Fuemana went from poor south Auckland kid to living the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, managing his frontman younger brother Pauly and his ironically-named Otara Millionaires Club.
But Tony found the high life matched the title of Pauly's international hit song - How Bizarre. "It was an eye-opening experience and we had some tough times .
.. I don't think people realised we were still living in Otara even with that success," he said.
"The industry is a machine and it churns people up and spits them out. It's tough." But what kept Tony's feet on the ground while others' heads were in the clouds was his faith in God.
"We didn't grow up in the church but I became a Christian when I was 19, because I knew I was put on this earth for a reason and the church gave me the basis for where I am at now," he said. Tony, 41, is set to spread the word through a new television show -Urban TV - focusing on Christian faith and life in New Zealand. The show, to screen from June on Triangle Television, will concentrate on the unsung believers.
"When Christians are mentioned, it's always famous All Blacks or celebrities," Tony said. "There's never a mention of the normal people who go about their lives and make a huge contribution to their churches. "The TV show will be about those everyday people who work hard and are dedicated to their faith.
"I want to get away from the extremes, like Destiny Church, which has created some negativity. "I hope it challenges people into thinking about faith and makes them look at a world outside their own." Tony says his upbringing in Otara has helped him keep in touch with the average Kiwi.
"I still remember the days when people jumped over our fence and stole our clothes off the line," he said. "They'd do it in broad daylight while we sat there in our kitchen watching them. We used to think, `Why would they want our clothes?
"' Tony, Pauly and their older brother Phil went on to set up the first independent Polynesian record label in the country, Urban Pasifika. Pauly has recently relaunched his career, teaming up with actress Lucy Lawless to release a song promoting race relations. Phil - who died in 2005 - was one of the pioneers of the New Zealand hip-hop movement.
Tony is also the founder and presenter of the Urban Ministry radio show on Pacific Island station 531PI.
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