Musician rocked by top singer accolade

Former Dargaville singer Mark Williams is "absolutely blown away" by an announcement  he is to be inducted into the New Zealand's prestigious Music Hall of Fame.
"Being recognised in this way has come as a bit of a shock," he said yesterday.
 Williams is to be inducted into the ROCKONZ Hall of Fame in Christchurch by the city's mayor, Bob Parker, tomorrow evening  as New Zealand's top singer 1975/76 with 10 top hits and four gold albums.
His most-recognised song - the 1990 Show No Mercy is still used as a motivational anthem at sporting events around the
 Tasman.
The 56-year-old, now living in Sydney, began his singing career in Dargaville at 16, when he formed the band Face in 1970. He then went solo before crossing the Tasman in 1977.
The award has come as a "double whammy" -  Williams is front man for the iconic New Zealand-Australian 70s band Dragon, which is also being inducted on the same night.
Since former frontman Mark Hunter has died his brother, Todd, who is still with the band, will be accepting the award for Dragon.
Original members Todd Hunter, Robert Taylor & Kerry Jacovson will be joined by new members  Williams, who joined the band in 2005, Pete Drummond and Bruce Reid to perform all of their hit songs as part of the week-long ROCKONZ festival on Saturday night.
While the awards generally "mark the end of your career",  Williams is promising fans that Dragon isn't bowing out yet.
He is co-writing songs with Wellington songwriter Bruce Maginis.
"I am very proud and grateful - when you have been doing it as long as I have you forget that you make any kind of impact," he said.
The awards are recognition of those considered to be top performers of their fields. The inaugural event was held in 2007 as part of the 50-year celebration of New Zealand's music industry.
Performers are nominated by the public and must meet criteria to receive an award.
 Williams is the second Northlander to gain the prestigious award.
Last year Far North musician Billy Kristian, 66, hit his high note with his induction along with vocalist Ray Columbus and lead guitarist Dave Russell, as the three surviving members of the country's top 1960s pop band Ray Columbus and the Invaders.
Mr Kristian also performed with many other top New Zealand bands, including Max Merritt and the Meteors.
Max Merritt and the Meteors, Johnny Devlin, Dinah Lee, Tap Hepari, Frankie Stevens and Suzanne Lynch have been among past recipients.
This year's other winners are Eddie Low, "a voice in a million" holder of the 2009 Benny Award and winner of the Country Music Legend Award.
Toni Williams will accept the International Star Award on behalf of the family of New Zealand icon Sir Howard Morrison.
Graham Wardrop will receive the New Zealand Star Award.
 Williams said he was looking forward to coming back to New Zealand in a couple of weeks to perform at  Hastings Opera Theatre.
"I'm told the building and the acoustics are amazing".
 Plans were still afoot for Dragon to play a Northland concert sometime later in the year.