The Loxene Golden Disc was an annual New Zealand music award. It ran from 1965 to 1972. It was superseded by the Recording Arts Talent Awards (RATA).

Background

The awards launched in 1965 and is the forerunner of the New Zealand Music Awards. It was created by the advertising agency of British multi-national company

Reckitt & Colman Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, trading as Reckitt, is a British multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Slough, England. It is a producer of health, hygiene and nutrition products. The company was formed in March 1999 by the merge ...

, with support from the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC), the New Zealand Federation of Phonographic Industries and the

Australasian Performing Right Association APRA AMCOS consists of Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS), both copyright management organisations or copyright collectives which jointly represent over 100,000 songwr ...

(APRA), with the awards named after Reckitt & Colman's anti-dandruff shampoo, Loxene. 10 finalist songs (later 12) were selected annually by a panel, with the winner decided by a public vote. While initially only one prize was given, other awards were added, including categories for record cover, recording artist of the year, and a producer award. From 1969, two awards were given - one to a solo artist, the other to a group however there was still one supreme award. In 1965 and 1966 compilation LPs with tracks by annual finalists were released by

Viking Records Viking Records was an independent record label that featured many New Zealand and Polynesian recording artists. Background The company was founded in 1957. In the 1960s, the company was the largest locally owned record label in the South Paci ...

, with the 1970, 1971 and 1972 LPs released by HMV on behalf of the industry.

Broadcasts

The television broadcast of the 1972 show won the 1973

Feltex Award New Zealand film and television awards have gone by many different names and have been organised by different industry groups. As of 2017, New Zealand has relaunched a standalone New Zealand Television Awards after a five-year hiatus. The film awar ...

for Best Light Entertainment.

Last awards

The final Loxene Golden Disc awards were presented in 1972. In 1973 the New Zealand Federation of Phonographic Industry (later named the

Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Recorded Music NZ (formerly the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ)) is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell recorded music in New Zealand. Membership of Recorded Mus ...

) created its own awards, the Recording Arts Talent Awards (RATA).

1965

The first Golden Discs ceremony was broadcast on radio, live from the White Heron Lodge in Wellington on 25 November 1965. An earlier television programme featured the 10 finalists performing their songs live in studio. * Ray Columbus and the Invaders – "Till We Kissed" ** Dinah Lee – "I’ll Forgive You Then Forget You" ** Herma Keil – "Teardrops" ** The Yeomen – "Love Is A Very Funny Thing" ** Tony and the Initials – "Leah" ** The Chicks – "Hucklebuck" ** Tommy Adderley – "Like Dreamers Do' ** Paul Walden – "No Moa!" **

Bruno Lawrence David Charles Lawrence (12 February 194110 June 1995) known as Bruno Lawrence was an English-born musician and actor, who was active in the industry in New Zealand and Australia. Initially notable as a musician and founder of 1970s ensemble Bl ...

– "Bruno Do That Thing" ** The Minors – "You’re Not There"

1966

The 1966 award was again held at the White Heron Lodge in Wellington, on 9 November 1966. The event was broadcast live on radio. The night before, the finalist performed on an hour-long television special. *

Maria Dallas Maria Dallas (born Marina Devcich, 1946) was discovered at a talent contest in small town of Morrinsville, New Zealand. Her first single "Tumblin' Down", written by Jay Epae, released in 1966 and made it to #11 in the charts. It also won her a ...

– "Tumblin’ Down" **

Jay Epae Jay Epae (7 March 1933 – 25 July 1994), born Nicholas Epae, was a Māori pop singer from Manaia, Taranaki, New Zealand. He moved to the United States in 1957. His albums were released on the American Mercury label until 1962, when he switched to ...

– "Hold On Tight" **

Howard Morrison Sir Howard Leslie Morrison (18 August 1935 – 24 September 2009) was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009, he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers. Early life Of Māori (Te Arawa), Irish ...

– "Don’t Let It Get You" ** Ray Columbus – "I Need You" ** The Gremlins – "The Coming Generation" ** The La De Das – "How is the Air Up There" ** The Yeomen – "Love is a Very Funny Thing" ** John Hore – "My Heart Skipped A Beat" ** Gwyne Owen – "In My Room" **

Ken Lemon Kenneth Arthur Lemon (born 1939) is a New Zealand country musician who was active from the 1960s to the 1980s. His single "Living in a House Full of Love" was a finalist for the 1966 Loxene Golden Disc. He toured and released an album with Maria ...

– "Living In A House Full Of Love"

1967

The awards were held for the final time at the White Heron Lodge on 4 November 1967. A television programme previewing the 10 finalists screened two days before the ceremony. Instead of the studio performances of previous years, the show used video clips of the artists performing their songs. *

Mr. Lee Grant Bogdan Kominowski (born 22 April 1945) is a New Zealand former pop star and actor. He is also known by his stage name, Mr. Lee Grant. He has had a successful singing and acting career, having starred in stage shows such as ''Jesus Christ Supers ...

– "Thanks to You" ** Herma Keil – "C’mon" ** The Gremlins – "Blast Off 1970" ** The La De Das – 'Rosalie' **

Sandy Edmonds Sandy Edmonds (born Rosalie L. Edmondson, 8 November 1948 – 19 December 2022) was a British-born pop singer and model, who achieved widespread popularity in New Zealand in the 1960s. At the height of her popularity she was New Zealand's mo ...

– "Daylight Saving Time" ** Larry’s Rebels – "Let’s Think of Something" **

The Avengers Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes ** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...

– 'Everyone’s Gonna Wonder" ** The Underdogs – "Sittin’ in the Rain" **

– "Handy Man" ** Ray Woolf and

– "Crystal Ball"

1968

In 1968 the awards ceremony moved to Auckland, with the Golden Disc presented at the Intercontinental Hot on 7 November 1968. The awards also included a Cover of The Year award, but there is no record of who won this. The award were broadcast live on television and simulcast on NZBC radio stations. * Allison Durbin – "I Have Loved Me a Man" ** The Shevelles – "Beat the Clock" ** Larry’s Rebels – "Halloween" ** Ray Columbus – "Happy in a Sad Kind of Way" **

The Hi-Revving Tongues The Hi-Revving Tongues were a New Zealand rock band from Auckland, led by vocalist/songwriter Chris Parfitt. The group was founded in 1967 by Parfitt, Mike Balcombe, bassist John Walmsley, organist Bruce Coleman, and drummer Rob Noad. The group re ...

– "Tropic of Capricorn" **

– 'Love Hate Revenge" **

The Simple Image The Simple Image was a New Zealand rock band that was popular in the 1960s. They achieved four top ten hits including a chart topper with the song, "Spinning, Spinning, Spinning". The original members were Barry Leef on guitar and lead vocals, R ...

– "Spinning Spinning Spinning" **

The Fourmyula ''The Fourmyula'' were a New Zealand rock group formed in 1967 in Upper Hutt. They achieved considerable local success in the late 1960s, with ten of their fourteen singles reaching the New Zealand Top 20. Career (1967–1971) The group init ...

– "Alice is There" ** The Chicks – " River Deep-Mountain High" **

– "Why or Where or When"

1969

The awards were again held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Auckland, on 15 October 1969. Three news awards were introduction - secondary awards for the best group and best solo artist, as well as an award for the best producer. * Golden Disc Award:

– "

Rain and Tears "Rain and Tears" is a song by the Greek band Aphrodite's Child. The song was included on the band's 1968 debut studio album '' End of the World'', and was released as a single in July 1968 on Mercury. It became a major hit across Europe, reaching ...

" * Solo Award: Shane – "Saint Paul" * Group Award: "The Hi-Revving Tongues – "

" * Producer Award: Wayne Senior

Top 10 finalists

– "

" * Shane – "Saint Paul" * Larry Morris – "The Hunt" * The Rebels – "My Son John" * Dedikation – "Wait For Me Mary-Anne' * Mike Durney – "Why Can’t I Cry' *

– "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind" * The Chicks – 'Miss You Baby" * Hamilton County Bluegrass Band – "Barefoot Nellie" *