During the 1960s Ray Columbus ranked among the most prominent and admired figures on New Zealand’s rock landscape. As a commanding vocalist and magnetic stage presence he became the first New Zealand performer to top the charts abroad and one of the earliest Kiwi acts to register impact on American audiences, later enjoying an extended and prosperous run in television.
Born Raymond John Patrick Columbus in Christchurch he developed an early passion for rock & roll while working as an ice-cream vendor inside a local cinema. The commanding presence of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock left a deep impression and at fourteen he assembled his initial group. By 1960 he had joined the Downbeats as lead singer the ensemble securing engagements at an American military installation that introduced them to Stateside rock and R&B numbers scarcely known across the Antipodes. Their style hardened with a pronounced R&B orientation prompting the transition to Ray Columbus & the Invaders. By 1962 the band had emerged as Christchurch’s most discussed act securing its own television program Club Columbus. Performances in Auckland yielded a contract with Zodiac Records and Ray Columbus & the Invaders issued their first recordings in 1963 beginning with the single “Money Lover” b/w “So in Love” and the album Every Nite. A 1964 cover of the Beatles’ “I Wanna Be Your Man” performed solidly yet “She’s a Mod” crystallized their signature approach. The track rose to number one on Australian charts prompting extensive touring there and appeared on the Phillips label in the United States where it registered modest chart activity.
In 1965 the Invaders supported the Rolling Stones and Roy Orbison across a major Australian and New Zealand trek the headliners reportedly struck by the support act. Following the EP Now You Shake the group shared bills once more this time with the Dave Clark Five. That same year “Til We Kissed” a reinterpretation of Arthur Alexander’s “Where Have You Been” became one of New Zealand’s all-time biggest sellers. Visa complications prevented the Invaders from touring the United States prompting Columbus to launch a solo path in 1966. After a New Zealand run alongside Herman’s Hermits he relocated to America aided by his wife’s father’s citizenship status. Establishing himself in San Francisco he collaborated with the Art Collection and signed to Colstar Records releasing the album San Francisco International Pop Festival drawn from a label-sponsored event together with the single “Kick Me” b/w “Snap Crackle Pop.” Commercial traction proved elusive however and when invited to host the New Zealand pop program C’mon he accepted.
Columbus maintained recording and touring commitments at home issuing his own material while also writing and producing for fellow artists. Over time he grew best known for frequent television appearances hosting multiple music and variety programs. One series That’s Country reached American viewers via broadcast on The Nashville Network. A 2007 stroke left most of his right side paralyzed ending his stage work and by 2014 reports indicated he was near death. Nevertheless in 2016 he lived to mark the appearance of Now You Shake a compilation surveying his finest 1960s recordings.
