Benny Award
| Benny Award | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | A lifetime of excellence in variety entertainment |
| Date | 1969 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Website | http://www.vac.org.nz |
The Benny Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed to a New Zealand variety entertainer.[1][2][3][4][5][6] It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded o a variety performer who has achieved "A lifetime of excellence in their field of the performing arts".[7][8]
Nominations
Nominations for the Benny Award are accepted from VAC members and the recipient ultimately decided upon by past Benny recipients, making its presentation recognition of the highest degree by the New Zealand entertainment industry.[3][9][10]
Naming
The Benny Award was named after its first recipient, legendary New Zealand variety performer Edgar Benyon (1902-1978) in 1969.[11] The Benny statuette was designed and sculptured by magician Jon Zealando and features Greek muses Melpomene and Thalia - the traditional symbols of comedy and tragedy.[12]
Recipients of the Benny Award include many New Zealand household names and figureheads of entertainment.[3][13][14] The most recent award in 2016 Benny recipient was NZ icon Suzanne Prentice.
Full list of Benny Award recipients
- 2016 - Suzanne Prentice OBE
- 2015 - Johnny Devlin MNZM
- 2014 - Tina Cross ONZM
- 2013 - Larry Morris
- 2012 - Marian Burns
- 2011 - Shane Hales
- 2010 - Gary Daverne ONZM
- 2009 - Eddie Low MNZM
- 2008 - Suzanne Lynch MNZM
- 2007 - Ray Woolf MNZM QSM
- 2006 - Alan Watson QSM
- 2005 - Elaine Bracey
- 2004 - Eldred Stebbing MNZM
- 2003 - Jim Joll
- 2002 - Tom Sharplin
- 2001 - Gray Bartlett MBE
- 2000 - Doug Aston
- 1999 - Gerry Merito
- 1998 - Dame Malvina Major ONZ GNZM DBE
- 1997 - Paul Bennett
- 1996 - Keith Leggett
- 1995 - Guy Cater
- 1994 - Rena Owen
- 1993 - Mary Throll
- 1993 - Rob Guest OBE
- 1992 - Carl Doy ONZM
- 1991 - Debbie Dorday
- 1990 - Billy T. James MBE
- 1989 - Sylvia Rielly
- 1988 - Ricky May
- 1988 - Alma Woods MBE
- 1987 - Silvio De Pra [15]
- 1986 - Johnny Bond
- 1985 - Toni Savage BEM QSM [15]
- 1984 - John Maybury Snr
- 1983 - Russell Middlebrook
- 1982 - Don Linden
- 1981 - Marcus Craig
- 1980 - Peter Evans
- 1980 - Eddie Hegan
- 1979 - Chic Littlewood
- 1978 - George Tumahai
- 1977 - Max Cryer MBE
- 1976 - Rusty Greaves
- 1976 - Merv Smith QSM
- 1975 - Philip Warren QSO
- 1974 - Les Andrews QSM
- 1974 - Peter Newberry QSO
- 1974 - John Rowles OBE
- 1973 - Ray Columbus OBE
- 1972 - Lou Clauson QSM
- 1972 - Jon Zealando
- 1971 - Pat McMinn OBE
- 1970 - Oswald Cheesman MBE
- 1970 - Sir Howard Morrison OBE
- 1969 - Edgar Benyon
External links
- Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Website
- Biographical Information about all Benny Winners
- 2011 Benny Awards television coverage
- Max Cryer MBE presents the 2006 Benny to Alan Watson
- Max Cryer MBE presents the 2009 Benny to Eddie Low
- Max Cryer MBE presents 2010 Benny to Gary Daverne ONZM
References
- ↑ "Friends on tour with country music lineup, Taranaki Daily News Online".
- ↑ "Amplifer News Story : Gary Daverne Benny Award".
- 1 2 3 "Voxy News - Eddie Low Honoured with Benny Award".
- ↑ "Jim Joll Biography".
- ↑ "Shen Yun Performing Arts Website, Gary Daverne".
- ↑ "VAC Website".
- ↑ "Suzanne Lynch Benny Award Article, Stuff.co.nz".
- ↑ "Eddie Low Benny Award, NZ Music News".
- ↑ "Ray Columbus Biography".
- ↑ "Chic Littlewood Biography - NZOnScreen".
- ↑ "Edgar Benyon Biography, Encyclopedia of NZ Biography".
- ↑ "Benny Awards Page, VAC Website".
- ↑ "Auckland City Library Records - Benny Award".
- ↑ "New Zealand Music Commission, Columbus Biography".
- 1 2 Maisefield, Heather, Accordionists Honored at the 2012 Benny Awards, Auckland - New Zealand, Accordion Weekly News, Oct 2012