Murray Cammick
Encyclopedia
Murray Cammick is a New Zealand
popular music
journalist and record label founder. He has been a significant figure in New Zealand popular music since the late 1970s.
, Cammick, a school teacher and collector of soul music
, launched Rip It Up
magazine with Alastair Dougal in July 1977 as a free magazine. Initially ignored by the local record industry, the magazine quickly found favour with local bands. It struggled to survive until CBS Records
came on board with a commitment to advertise in 1978.
With a staff of one for many years, Cammick operated as editor, publisher, photographer and layout artist as his readership grew. His support for early New Zealand indie labels such as Propeller Records
and Flying Nun Records
played a huge part in their success.
Extra, a short lived quarterly addition in 1980, did not survive. He launched Cha-Cha, a street style magazine edited by future Academy Awards
winner Ngila Dickson
, in 1983 and Shake, a pop magazine, in 1986.
Over the years Rip It Up, its magazines and its take-no-prisoners approach to journalism provided a crucial training ground for many New Zealand writers and journalists. Amongst those who received their grounding there are Louise Chunn, Russell Brown
, Chris Bourke
and Chad Taylor
. Tax problems forced Cammick to sell the group in 1994 to publisher Barry Colman (publisher of the National Business Review
) but he remained as editor until 1998.
In 1989 he launched the first of his record labels, Southside Records. The label released many of the earliest New Zealand hip hop
recordings, including albums by the Upper Hutt Posse
, Moana and the Moahunters
, MC OJ & Rhythm Slave and the earliest released work of the Fuemana family
(as Houseparty).
Wildside Records
, a rock music
label, was launched in 1991. Wildside's roster included Shihad
, Head Like A Hole
, Rumblefish, Second Child, Hallelujah Picassos
, Dead Flowers and, for a time, Bailter Space
. Cammick's financial commitment, drive and belief were crucial to the later success of Shihad. A third label, Felix, was for the more pop acts signed by Cammick.
His radio shows on Radio bFm (Land Of the Good Groove) from 1983 til 1993, and George FM
(Soulfinger), have had a large and dedicated following.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
journalist and record label founder. He has been a significant figure in New Zealand popular music since the late 1970s.
History
Born in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Cammick, a school teacher and collector of soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, launched Rip It Up
Rip It Up (magazine)
Rip It Up is a bi-monthly New Zealand music magazine. Started in June 1977 as a free monthly giveaway, it grew rapidly, with its monthly print run reaching 30,000 copies by the mid 1980s...
magazine with Alastair Dougal in July 1977 as a free magazine. Initially ignored by the local record industry, the magazine quickly found favour with local bands. It struggled to survive until CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
came on board with a commitment to advertise in 1978.
With a staff of one for many years, Cammick operated as editor, publisher, photographer and layout artist as his readership grew. His support for early New Zealand indie labels such as Propeller Records
Propeller Records
Propeller Records was an independent record label formed in Auckland, New Zealand, by Simon Grigg in 1980.-1980-81:In the years prior to 1980 the New Zealand contemporary recording industry was largely moribund. The major record labels were either not recording or were confining themselves largely...
and Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records
Flying Nun Records is an independent record label formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 by music-store proprietor Roger Shepherd.-History:The label was formed in the flurry of new punk rock-inspired labels forming in the early 1980s...
played a huge part in their success.
Extra, a short lived quarterly addition in 1980, did not survive. He launched Cha-Cha, a street style magazine edited by future Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
winner Ngila Dickson
Ngila Dickson
Ngila Dickson, ONZM is a New Zealand film costume designer.Her most notable work is in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - both of which were filmed in New Zealand, as well as her years of work on Xena: Warrior Princess.She and...
, in 1983 and Shake, a pop magazine, in 1986.
Over the years Rip It Up, its magazines and its take-no-prisoners approach to journalism provided a crucial training ground for many New Zealand writers and journalists. Amongst those who received their grounding there are Louise Chunn, Russell Brown
Russell Brown (New Zealand)
Russell Brown is a well-known New Zealand media commentator, and the owner of the Public Address community of blogs, and writes Hard News Hard News the blog is based on the Hard News radio slot spoken by Brown from 1991 to 2002 on bFM, an Auckland student radio station...
, Chris Bourke
Chris Bourke
Chris Bourke is an Australian politician, currently a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra. He is the first Indigenous Australian elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly. He filled the casual vacancy created by the...
and Chad Taylor
Chad Taylor (writer)
-Life:Chad Taylor was born and raised in Auckland. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Elam and worked as assistant editor on Rip It Up magazine. Taylor was the recipient of the Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship for literature in 2001 and was the University of Auckland Literary Fellow in...
. Tax problems forced Cammick to sell the group in 1994 to publisher Barry Colman (publisher of the National Business Review
National Business Review
The National Business Review is a weekly New Zealand newspaper aimed at the business sector. The paper is owned by Barry Colman who also publishes the Grocers Review and several other small trade publications....
) but he remained as editor until 1998.
In 1989 he launched the first of his record labels, Southside Records. The label released many of the earliest New Zealand hip hop
New Zealand hip hop
New Zealand hip hop derives from the wider hip hop cultural movement originating amongst African Americans in the United States. Like the parent movement, New Zealand hip hop consists of four parts: rapping, DJing, graffiti art and breakdancing. The first element of hip hop to reach New Zealand was...
recordings, including albums by the Upper Hutt Posse
Upper Hutt Posse
Upper Hutt Posse is a musical band in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The progenitors of Hiphop music in the South Pacific originally formed as a four piece reggae group in 1985, the Posse emerged at the forefront of the local response to emerging rap culture...
, Moana and the Moahunters
Moana and the Moahunters
Moana and the Moahunters , was a Māori hip-hop and roots group from New Zealand, led by singer Moana that actively promoted Māori culture, traditions and history through their music....
, MC OJ & Rhythm Slave and the earliest released work of the Fuemana family
Pauly Fuemana
Pauly Lawrence Fuemana was a New Zealand singer, songwriter and musician. Fuemana was the lead singer of the music duo, OMC , which was best known internationally for the 1995 hit, "How Bizarre"...
(as Houseparty).
Wildside Records
Wildside Records
Wildside Records is an independent New Zealand record label, owned and run by former Rip It Up magazine editor, Murray Cammick.-Current artists include:*Shihad*Slim*Graham Brazier...
, a rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
label, was launched in 1991. Wildside's roster included Shihad
Shihad
Shihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
, Head Like A Hole
HLAH
HLAH is a rock band from Wellington, New Zealand.-History:HLAH formed in Wellington, originally consisting of Nigel Regan, Mark Hamill, Nigel Beazley and Andrew Durno....
, Rumblefish, Second Child, Hallelujah Picassos
Hallelujah Picassos
Hallelujah Picassos were a reggae, rap, ska, thrash, jazz, pop crossover band from Auckland, New Zealand. They started life in 1988 as a garage punk band The Rattlesnakes...
, Dead Flowers and, for a time, Bailter Space
Bailter Space
Bailter Space is an atmospheric noise rock band that formed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1987 as Nelsh Bailter Space; they had previously recorded as The Gordons. Its members are Alister Parker , John Halvorsen , Brent McLachlan...
. Cammick's financial commitment, drive and belief were crucial to the later success of Shihad. A third label, Felix, was for the more pop acts signed by Cammick.
His radio shows on Radio bFm (Land Of the Good Groove) from 1983 til 1993, and George FM
George FM
George FM is an Auckland dance music radio station, owned and operated by MediaWorks from Ponsonby Road headquarters and relayed on Freeview and radio frequencies around New Zealand...
(Soulfinger), have had a large and dedicated following.