At nine years old, Roland sang in public for the first time at their church Christmas program. After that there was no stopping the youngster - he sang at every given opportunity with the church choir during services.
As with all great vocalists Roland's entry into the music world began with gospel music but, as Fiji and New Zealand are now aware, will not end there.
For sure, Roland Williams was born to sing. But not everyone, least of all the band he made his secular debut with, knew this.
Chance brought me in touch with Roland at his debut stage appearance at Sukuna Park in March 2007 with local band One2Eight. The fifth form student was brought in as a 'substitute' when One2Eight's lead singer at the time, William Vatubua, had to travel to Australia for study.
Pleasantries were exchanged on stage as we all held our breath, waiting for the moment of truth. No-one on-stage at Sukuna Park had heard the youngster sing before. After a brief discussion with the strangely cool, calm and collected Roland- a song was chosen.
The band did not have a keyboard player so I tentatively began strumming the introduction to Maroon 5's Sunday Morning - Roland's song of choice.
The then 16-year-old boldly stepped up to the microphone and as his voice poured out onto the onlookers at Sukuna Park that afternoon Roland Williams stamped his mark on the local music scene. He had arrived and everyone present at that performance were witnesses to his extraordinary talent.
He had no need of a microphone or an audience of thousands. He had no need for music accompaniment. Roland's rich tenor-baritone voice just captivates - regardless of the song. Such is the amazing vocal ability of this now 18-year-old.
His biggest fan, and quite possibly biggest musical influence, his mother, Glenda, stood amongst the throngs watching her son perform with a secular band for the first time.
"I was thrilled beyond words. Watching him sing I felt that he was where he belonged- I've always believed that he had great ability and stage presence," she emotionally said.
During the usual grog session after the concert at Sukuna Park, a decision was reached by consensus and Roland Williams became a permanent fixture with One2Eight.
There was no denying the then Marist Brothers High School student his place in the band.
"His powerful performance at Sukuna Park left us with no choice- we simply had to take him on and that was the beginning of his journey," stated One2Eight band leader, Nesbitt Hazelman.
Watching Roland grow as an artist is an experience hard to forget. While he displays unusual maturity and exudes confidence in his on-stage persona, the child in him was forever lurking in the background. Band practice was usually at my former residence in Vesi Street and more often than not Roland would be the first one there to help with the set-up. This is a task that is bestowed on novices as the first step on the road to becoming a musician.
However, as soon as the instruments were set-up Roland would disappear into my stepson's bedroom and therein would begin a vigorous battle of Rugby 2007 on Playstation.
His return to the practice circle would be heralded by strong words from band members reminding him to 'get his priorities right'. Roland's reply to this would be flawless deliveries of whatever song he was asked to sing.
With each performance, Roland became more and more assertive - an attribute that is a must-have requirement for anyone fronting a musical act. His penchant for old-school Mowtown hits of yesteryear and classic music timepieces made Roland stand out from the crowd. This can be traced back to the music that Roland listened to as he grew up - a direct influence of his mother.
"I had a wide collection of CDs which I listened to constantly, namely, some gospel greats, R&B, Country, Rock and Pop. I was never too much of a reggae fan but loved
Bob Marley and Herbs - all of this pretty much rubbed off on Roland who enjoyed and
appreciated this kind of music too and to our surprise knew most if not all of them as he grew up," said Glenda.
She also believes that Roland was destined for showbiz and the entertainment industry from very early on. "Roland loved to let people know he could dance and sing and would do a good job of it when given the chance - he was four years old at kindergarten, when he first got to show off his skills," she reminisced.
Every performer needs a familiar face in the crowd. Someone who will be there night after night, good gig or bad, crowd cheering or silenced by awe.
For Roland this role was always filled by Glenda and his sister Elma. The duo faithfully followed Roland and One2Eight as the group gained popularity right up until his last gig early this year before he left our shores for New Zealand for further studies on a rugby contract. An artist to the core, Roland acted on a whim and decided to enter a national singing contest despite reassuring his mother on many occasions that he would not be pursuing music while studying in Aotearoa.
Glenda, a single parent kept track of her son's performance via telephone calls and the internet as he successfully went through the rounds and finally emerged winner of Homai Te Pakipaki on Friday 2nd October this year.
The youngster was facing an uphill financial battle when he walked away with the $10,000 prize money and his family believes it was a Godsend and could not have come at a better time.
"He called me after they announced him winner and said 'mum, you don't have to worry about me anymore," Glenda emotionally shared.
Along with the financial windfall have also come offers for Roland to perform with some of New Zealand's premier artists and at major sporting and corporate events around New Zealand. The boy from Tamavua has taken it all in his stride and says 'it's no big deal'.
Roland is due back in Fiji in December if all goes as planned and no doubt will be gracing the stage with One2Eight at a soon to be announced venue.
Stay tuned.
