Juno Awards of 1970
Encyclopedia
The Gold Leaf Awards of 1970, which were the first Juno Award
s, were founded by RPM Magazine
to honour Canadian music industry achievements. The magazine had honoured musicians in the previous six years using a reader survey until this formal ceremony.
These awards were presented at St. Lawrence Hall
in Toronto
on 23 February 1970. 250 people attended this inaugural awards ceremony, twice the number who were invited. Winners received walnut wood trophies that resembled metronome
s. George Wilson of CFRB radio
was master of ceremonies for these awards and for the subsequent Juno Awards ceremonies until 1974.
Best Country Male Artist
Winner: Tommy Hunter
Best Country Female Artist
Winner: Dianne Leigh
Best Country Group or Duo
Winner: The Mercey Brothers
, The Poppy Family
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
s, were founded by RPM Magazine
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
to honour Canadian music industry achievements. The magazine had honoured musicians in the previous six years using a reader survey until this formal ceremony.
These awards were presented at St. Lawrence Hall
St. Lawrence Hall
St. Lawrence Hall is a meeting hall in Toronto, Canada next to the St. Lawrence Market. It was built, alongside the new city hall, in 1850 after an 1849 fire destroyed much of the market. The Renaissance Revival style building was designed by William Thomas. It was created to be Toronto's public...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
on 23 February 1970. 250 people attended this inaugural awards ceremony, twice the number who were invited. Winners received walnut wood trophies that resembled metronome
Metronome
A metronome is any device that produces regular, metrical ticks — settable in beats per minute. These ticks represent a fixed, regular aural pulse; some metronomes also include synchronized visual motion...
s. George Wilson of CFRB radio
CFRB (AM)
CFRB, Newstalk 1010, is an AM radio clear-channel station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, broadcasting on 1010 kHz, with a shortwave radio simulcast by CFRX-SW on 6.070 MHz. The station broadcasts a mix of talk and news throughout the day from its transmitter located in the community of...
was master of ceremonies for these awards and for the subsequent Juno Awards ceremonies until 1974.
Best Country Male ArtistJuno Award for Country Recording of the YearThe Juno Award for "Country Recording of the Year" has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best country music artist in Canada...
Winner: Tommy HunterTommy Hunter
Thomas James "Tommy" Hunter, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian country music performer, known as "Canada's Country Gentleman".-Career:...
Best Country Female ArtistJuno Award for Country Recording of the YearThe Juno Award for "Country Recording of the Year" has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best country music artist in Canada...
Winner: Dianne LeighDianne Leigh
Dianne Leigh is a Canadian country music performer. She was the first recipient of the Gold Leaf Award in 1970....
Best Country Group or DuoJuno Award for Country Recording of the YearThe Juno Award for "Country Recording of the Year" has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best country music artist in Canada...
Winner: The Mercey BrothersMercey Brothers
The Mercey Brothers was a Canadian country music group active from 1957 to 1989.-Before they were famous:The Mercey family grew up to music in their household at an early age. Brothers Larry, Ray, and Lloyd Mercey formed a country-infused musical group in 1966...
Best Produced Middle-of-the-Road Album
Winner: Which Way You Goin' Billy?Which Way You Goin' Billy?
Which Way You Goin' Billy?, released in 1969, was the first album from Vancouver, British Columbia band The Poppy Family. They scored their biggest hit with title track "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" which went to #1 in Canada and #2 on the Billboard charts in the U.S...
, The Poppy Family
The Poppy Family
The Poppy Family was a late 1960s and early 1970s Canadian pop music group, based in Vancouver, British Columbia.-Career:Seventeen year old Susan Pesklevits met Terry Jacks in the middle 1960s while she was a regular performer on a national teen TV show called Music Hop as well as many other...