Eldred (88) was a pioneer of the local recording industry. He helped build the careers of many of New Zealand's top entertainers initially from his home basement studio in Herne Bay, then under the Zodiac Record label. He built the careers of Howard Morrison in the late 50s, Ray Columbus and the Invaders in the 60s, and Th' Dudes, Patsy Riggir and Gray Bartlett in the 70s, International hit 'She's A Mod' was relased under his Zodiac Records label after he signed The Invaders in 1963. He received a lifetime achievement award at the New Zealand Music Awards in 2002 and in 2004 was made a member of the NZ Order of Merit.