One of the things I learnt this month is that New Zealand has a Music Hall of Fame.
This figurative hall of fame, dedicated to noteworthy musicians from New Zealand, was started in 2007.There are two inductions each year – one by APRA (the Australasian Performing Right Association) and the other is the winner of the Legacy Award at the New Zealand Music Awards (NZMA), picked by Recorded Music NZ. I was pleased to see that we’ve featured most of the winners already during the month. Here’s the list, with links to their post, or a bit about any that we’d missed. Quite a few of the songs today are more indigenous.
2007
• Jordan Luck – Featured here
• Johnny Devlin
According to Wikipedia Johnny Devlin, born in 1938:
was an influential early New Zealand-born Australian rock musician, known as "New Zealand's answer to Elvis Presley". His cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" in 1958 went to number one in the New Zealand charts with sales of more than 100,000, launching a long-term career. He spent much of his time in Australia from 1959 touring in support of The Everly Brothers and making appearances on Australian television shows such as Bandstand, Six O'Clock Rock and The Go!! Show. In 1964 he toured Australia and New Zealand as a support act for The Beatles.
Between 1958 and 1981, while using at least 14 different record labels, he released about 50 singles, more than ten EPs and three albums. After that, he continued to perform on the Aussie club circuit. Here he is with “Hey Little Angel”
2008
• Topp Twins – Featured here
• Straitjacket Fits – Featured here
2009
• Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns
• Ray Columbus & the Invaders – Featured here
Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns are masters of the traditional instruments of the Maori. Here’s one of their tracks, Raukatauri.
While interesting, it’s maybe not very appealing to most people. Possibly a bit more accessible is some of Hirini Melbourne’s solo work. Here he is with “Rongomai”:
2010
• The Fourmyula – Featured here
• Shihad - Featured here
2011
• Hello Sailor – Featured here
• Dragon – Featured here and here
2012
• Herbs – Featured here and here
• Toy Love – Featured here and here
2013
• Dave Dobbyn – Featured here in Th’ Dudes and here in DD Smash and Herbs and here in his solo career
• Shona Laing – Featured here
2014
• Douglas Lilburn
• Supergroove – Featured here
Douglas Lilburn (1915-2001) was an influential local composer. Here’s one of his works, “Aotearoa”. One of the few classical pieces that’s been featured this month!
2015
• Bill Sevesi
• The Exponents – Featured here
Bill Sevesi, was a musician and master of the steel guitar who helped popularise Hawaiian-style music in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Here’s his group’s version of Isa Lei:
2016
• Moana Maniapoto
• Bic Runga – Featured here
Moana Maniapoto is known for the groups Moana and the Moahunters, and Moana and The Tribe. I picked Tihore Mai by the Moahunters as we’ve done this in choir.
Or for something a bit more uptempo, here they are with Tahi:
2017
• The Clean - Featured here
• Sharon O'Neill – Featured here
Thanks for listening
Videos from Youtube. Top image is the official logo and appears everywhere. This copy came from Eventfinda.
