Viking Records
| Viking Records | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Polynesian music, Ethnic Music, Pop Music, Rock and Roll, Country |
| Country of origin | New Zealand |
| Location | New Zealand |
Viking Records was an independent and prominent record label [1] that featured many New Zealand and Polynesian recording artists.[2]
Background
In the 1960s, the company was the largest locally owned record label in the South Pacific with its New Zealand head office in Wellington and a branch in Sydney. The label recorded an extensive range of Pacific music from New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga and Samoa.[2] This record label was the largest supplier of Pacific Island and Maori music in New Zealand. Other labels to come close in output were Salem Records and Hibiscus Records.
Its headquarters was based in Wellington New Zealand and owned by Ron Dalton, Murdoch Riley. A third partner Jim Staples operated the Sydney Australia branch.[3]
History
In 1962 in an effort to branch out, Ron Dalton and Murdoch Riley were in New York conferring with Walter Hofer to distribute American Independent records in Australia and New Zealand. Dalton was intending to go to Chicago to confer with Leonard Chess. At that time Viking's extensive catalogue was largely made up of recordings Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand but they were looking to make a big move into the pop music genre as well.[3]
In 1965 and 1966, Viking Records released the winning albums for the Loxene Golden Disc awards, the forerunner of the prestigious New Zealand Music Awards.[4] The 1965 award was won by Ray Columbus & the Invaders for the song Till We Kissed. Maria Dallas won in 1966 for the song Tumblin' down.[4]
Viking records also had the distinction of releasing a record by The Mauriora Maori Entertainers which happened to be the very first Maori record released in Stereo.[5]
Recording artists
Among its most famous were Tongan steel guitarists Bill Sevesi and Bill Wolfgramm, Pepe and the Rarotongans and Tahitian-based Eddie Lund who was a pianist from Oregon. Other famous artists were Peter Posa,[6] Maria Dallas, The Beau-Marks and Dianah Lee. [7] Some of its records were also issued in Australia.[8]
Selected LP releases
- Noel McKay - In Person - Viking VP 48
- Dinah Lee - Introducing Dinah Lee - Viking VP 140 (1964)
Selected Maori and Pacific Island LP releases
Fiji
- Meet Me in Fiji - Authentic Fijian music recorded at the Fiji Mocambo Hotel - Viking VP 165
Maori
- Ratana Senior Concert Party - Ratana Presents - Viking VP 256 [9]
Reviews
Samoa
- Samoa: Illustrated booklet and recordings (2 LP) - Viking VSP 19/20
- The Samoan Surfriders with Bill Sevesi & his islanders - Aloha Samoa - Viking VP 54 [10]
- The Samoan Surfriders - My Samoan Maiden - Viking VE 164
Tahiti
- Ensemble Tahitien Tahiti - Dance to the Tamoure Tahiti - Viking VP 319 [10]
External Links
References
- ↑ http://www.digital1.natlib.govt.nz The history of recording in New Zealand 8. Independent Recording Labels
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Aussies seek American audiences for records. Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). 7 July 1962. p. 18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Billboard Magazine 7 July 1962, Page 18 Ascending Down Under
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Loxene Golden Disc Awards". NZ History Online. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ↑ National Library of New Zealand No. 62 (March 1968), RECORDS reviewed by Alan Armstrong
- ↑ Mark Bell (2003). "Peter Posa: Picking through the Past". New Zealand Musician 10 (6). Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ↑ Rate Your Music Viking Record Company Ltd
- ↑ Global Dog Productions 45 Discography for Viking Records - OZ
- ↑ teaohou.natlib.govt.nz No. 69 (1971)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Tiki Central Show us your record collection!