Biography

In the '60s, few figures were bigger or more respected on the New Zealand rock scene than Ray Columbus. A strong singer and a dynamic frontman, Columbus was the first NZ artist to land a number one single in another country. Columbus was also one of the first Kiwi acts to make a dent in the American music scene, and went on to a long, successful television career. Raymond John Patrick Columbus was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand, and became a rock & roll fan after landing a job selling ice cream at a movie theater. The swagger and charisma of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock had a powerful impact on young Ray, and he formed his first band at age 14. In 1960, Columbus became the lead singer with a combo called the Downbeats. The group landed gigs at an American military base, where they picked up on U.S. rock and R&B hits of the day that were little known in the Antipodes. The Downbeats' sound toughened up as they gained a stronger R&B edge, and they evolved into Ray Columbus & the Invaders. By 1962, they had become the most talked about band in Christchurch, and landed their own show on NZ television, Club Columbus. A handful of gigs in Auckland led to a record deal with Zodiac Records, and Ray Columbus & the Invaders made their debut on vinyl in 1963. That year, they issued their first single, "Money Lover" b/w "So in Love," followed by the album Every Nite. The group's 1964 cover of the Beatles' "I Wanna Be Your Man" was a success, but it was with "She's a Mod" that Columbus and company found their signature sound. In 1964, "She's a Mod" became a major hit in Australia, going to number one on the singles charts, leading to extensive Aussie touring. (It was also released in the United States by Phillips, where it grazed the bottom of the singles charts.) In 1965, the Invaders joined the Rolling Stones and Roy Orbison on a massive tour of Australia and New Zealand, where the headliners were reportedly impressed by the opening act. After releasing the EP Now You Shake a few months later, Columbus & the Invaders hit the road again, this time with the Dave Clark Five. 1965 also saw the release of "Til We Kissed," a reworking of Arthur Alexander's "Where Have You Been," which became one of the biggest New Zealand hits of all time. In 1966, Columbus launched a solo career after the Invaders were denied visas to tour the United States. After a tour of New Zealand with Herman's Hermits, Columbus relocated to America (his wife's father was a U.S. citizen, paving the way for a green card). Settling in San Francisco, Columbus began working with a local band called the Art Collection, and was signed to a small label, Colstar Records. He cut an album with the Art Collection, San Francisco International Pop Festival (named for a Colstar event), as well as a single, "Kick Me" b/w "Snap Crackle Pop." However, Columbus had little success in America, and when he was offered the opportunity to host a pop music show in New Zealand, C'mon, he jumped at the chance. Columbus continued to record and tour in his homeland, releasing music on his own as well as writing and producing for other acts. In time, however, he became best known as a frequent performer on New Zealand television, hosting a number of music and variety shows. One of them, That's Country, crossed over to American audiences when it was picked up for U.S. broadcast on The Nashville Network. In 2007, a stroke paralyzed most of Columbus' right side, halting his performing career, and in 2014 he was reported to be near death. However, in 2016, he was still alive to celebrate the release of Now You Shake, a collection of his best recordings of the '60s. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi