In the 1980s the APRA Silver Scrolls slowly grew – very slowly – and by the end of the decade had expanded from Phil Warren’s The Crypt (later Keeley’s) nightclub, under Queen Street’s Civic Theatre, to the larger Johnny Tabla owned Roma, also under The Civic. And as the decade progressed a degree of frivolity crept into the nights. Photographs from the 1990s can be seen here.
1980
Little seems to have survived of the 1980 awards aside from one larger image and a few crowd shots on a proof sheet. The winner was Paul Schreuder for ‘You’ve Got Me Loving You’.
Pat Bell and Wayne Mason
The night ...
1981
There was no award ceremony in 1981. The Silver Scroll for 1981 was finally announced as part of the 2015 Silver Scroll award ceremony and went to The Swingers: Phil Judd, Wayne Stevens (AKA Bones Hillman) and Mark Hough (AKA Buster Stiggs) for 'Counting The Beat'. Other nominated songs were 'Tally Ho' (performed by The Clean), 'See Me Go' (The Screaming Meemees), 'One Step Ahead' (Split Enz), and 'There Is No Depression In New Zealand' (Blam Blam Blam).
1982
David Porter, Dennis O’Brien and Neil Hannan. David was a lyricist who wrote with Dennis.
Booking agent Mike Corless, Carole Tucker, DD Smash manager Roger King and Glyn Tucker
Dave Dobbyn and future wife Anneliesje, Roger King and Murray Cammick
Eldred Stebbing, Phil Warren and and Beverly Wakem, then of Radio New Zealand and now Chief Ombudsman
Snake Studios (screenprinters) Eleanor Whyle, Maggy and Harry Lyon and Mike Corless
Graham Brazier and Dave McArtney, both in the competition for their solo work
The finalists: Stephen Young, Graham Brazier, Dave McArtney, APRA’s Bernie Darby, David Porter and Dennis O’Brien
The 1982 Silver Scroll was won by Mother Goose’s Stephen Young for ‘I Can't Sing Very Well’
1983
Most of 1983's images are also missing however one image has survived.
Ray Columbus presenting Stephen Bell-Booth the 1983 APRA Silver Scroll for 'All I Want Is You.' APRA's Bernie Darby is centre, and TV personality Barry Holland, who was the night's MC, is on the right. - Stephen Bell-Booth collection
1984
In 1984 colour arrived at the Silver Scrolls, although they were still at Keeley’s.
Two Topp Twins, two Narcs and a cheery future APRA boss, Mike Chunn
A crowd shot with Eldred Stebbing at the front right
Mike Corless with The Narcs and CBS exec Gilbert Egdell (second from right)
Promoter Ian Magan, unknown, Radio Hauraki’s John McCready and Jill Magan
A table shot that includes Narcs manager Peter Fairhall, Coconut Rough’s Andrew McLennan, Roger King and Mike Corless
The crowd at Keeley’s. At the rear left is Ray Columbus with Ashley Heenan and The Topp Twins. Benny Levin is seated in front of them.
The 1984 APRA Silver Scroll finalists
The winner of the 1984 APRA Silver Scroll was Hammond Gamble with ‘Look What Midnight’s Done To Me’. Standing next to Hammond (second from right) is Wayne Gillespie, who was presented with a special APRA Award that night for his song ‘Away With You’, because the judges had great difficulty in deciding on a winner and wished to recognise his song also.
1985
Trevor Reekie, Malcolm Black and Steve Clarkson, drummer with The Narcs
In the centre of this group, in sunglasses, is Wiremu Kerekere, the legendary Maori songwriter and broadcaster.
Ray Columbus stepping out
The winners of the 1985 APRA Silver Scroll were Malcom Black and Nick Sampson for the Netherworld Dancing Toys hit, ‘For Today’
1986
Radio With Pictures host Karyn Hay and Ray Columbus
Phil Warren and Max Cryer
Peking Man’s table
The finalists await the announcement
Tony Waine wins the 1986 APRA Silver Scroll for ‘Abandoned By Love’. The finalists here include the members of Peking Man, Simon Alexander and Shona Laing.
1987
1987 continued the trend, noticable over the previous couple of years, for younger musicians and writers to increasingly join the old guard and more and more dominate the Silver Scrolls.
Dave Dobbyn and Dave McArtney
Promoter Manolo Echave and friend
Martin Phillipps of The Chills and his sister Rachel
Hugh Lynn with members of Red Adair
APRA’s Bernie Darby and Ray Columbus with Dave Dobbyn, whose ‘You Oughta Be In Love’ was the 1987 Silver Scroll winner
1988
APRA’s CEO Brett Cottle and Bernie Darby, the New Zealand Head of Operations
The Fan Club’s Paul Moss, CBS Records’ Paul Ellis and Phil Warren
Barry Saunders, Ryan Monga and Charlie Tumahai being interviewed
Murray McNabb, Edwina Thorne and Margaret & Eldred Stebbing
John Hanlon, Ray Columbus, Dave Dobbyn, Shona Laing (the winner with 'Soviet Snow'), Ryan Monga, Barry Saunders, Wayne Mason and Bernie D'Arby.
1989
1989 is another year where sadly no images seem to exist. The 1989 APRA Silver Scroll was awarded to Stephen Bell-Booth (his second Silver Scroll) for ‘Hand It Over’.