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Ray Columbus, OBE (born 4 November 1942, Christchurch, New Zealand – died 29 November 2016, Auckland, New Zealand) was a New Zealand singer, songwriter, television host, music manager and entertainer, with a career spanning six decades. He was the lead singer of Ray Columbus & The Invaders, known for their hit single She's a Mod released in 1964.

After the Invaders, he launched a solo career in NZ and, for 18 months, in the US. From 1968 onwards he was heavily involved in artist management, working for Phil Warren until 1972, then on his own. He discovered the NZ band Zed in the late 1990s, featuring the son of one of his 60's clients, Suzanne Lynch. For many years, he was also the writers' representative on the board of the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA).

ALBUMS


Ray Columbus
Now You Shake
2016, CD, Comp, RPM Records (2), Frenzy Music
Ray Columbus
The Solo Years
2004, CD, Comp, Copy Prot., RM, EMI, EMI, ,
Vocal/Beat/Garage Rock/Pop Rock
Double J & Twice The T With Ray Columbus
She's A Mod / Mod Rap
1989
Columbus*
Till We Kissed
1986, 7", Single, Pagan Records (2), ,
Ballad
Ray Columbus
Summer Sadness
1979, 7", Laser (6)
Ray Columbus
Bird Dog
1976, 7", RCA
Ray Columbus
Ray Columbus His 14 Greatest Hits
1974
Ray Columbus
Computer Dater
1973, 7", Family, ,
Vocal
Ray Columbus
Missing You
1973, 7", Single, Family
Ray Columbus
Singing The Blues
1973, 7", Single, Family,
Ray Columbus
Where Is The "Y" In Love?
1972, 7", Single, RCA Victor
Ray Columbus
Jangles, Spangles & Banners
1972, LP, Family
Ray Columbus And Jillian Richards
Tell Me You Do
1972, 7", Single, Family
Ray Columbus
Good Friend Of Mary's
1972, 7", Single, RCA Victor,
Ray Columbus
Come-A-Back-A-Rocker Tracker
1972, 7", Single, RCA Victor
Ray Columbus
People Are People
1971, 7", Single, RCA Victor,
Ray Columbus
Los Angeles (Is Where I Want To Stay)
1970, 7", Mono, Polydor,
Ray Columbus
Wendy, Where Are You?
1970, 7", Single, Mono, Polydor
Ray Columbus
Hold Me
1970
Ray Columbus
Hit Tracks
1969, LP, Album, Polydor, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock
Ray Columbus
Happy In A Sad Kind Of Way
1969, 7", Single, Mono, Polydor,
Ray Columbus
Travelling Singing Man
1969, 7", Polydor, ,
Pop Rock
Ray Columbus
(That's What I've Got) For Loving You Baby
1968, 7", Single, Impact (3), ,
Pop Rock
Ray Columbus
Till We Kissed / Tonight Is The Time
1968, 7", Single, Promo, Styrene, Colstar
Ray Columbus
There's No Room In The 'In' Crowd
1967, 7", Single, Impact (3),
Ray Columbus
I Need You
1967
Ray Columbus
The Ray Columbus Album
1966, LP, Album, Mono, Impact (3), Impact (3), ,
Beat
Ray Columbus
We Want A Beat
1966
Ray Columbus
Happy In A Sad Kind of Way
7", Single, Mono, International Polydor Production
Ray Columbus
I Would Rather Blow A Bagpipe Mrs. Leare / In Memory Of Today
7", Single, Colstar, ,
Vocal
Powder
Ka-Pow! An Explosive Collection 1967-68
2014, CD, Comp, Big Beat Records, ,
Garage Rock/Power Pop/Mod
The Rumour
The Rumour Collection
2009, CD, Comp, Ode Records
Various
A Day In My Mind's Mind (Volume 2) (Fantasies, Polka Dots & Flowers)
2008, CD, Comp, EMI
Ray Columbus & The Invaders
Greatest Numbers
2000, CD, Comp, Ascension Records (5), Zodiac
Powder
Biff! Bang! Powder
1996
Ray Columbus & The Art Collection
Kick Me
1993, 7", EP, Distortions Records, ,
Garage Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Mod
Patsy Riggir
Oh Lord How I Love You
1986, 7", Single, Epic
Patsy Riggir
Close To Thee
1986
Patsy Riggir
You Remind Me Of A Love Song
1985
Ritchie Pickett & The Inlaws
In The Arms Of Mary
1984, 7", Single, RCA Victor
Ritchie Pickett And The Inlaws*
Yes We'll Leave The Lights On
1984, 7", Single, RCA
Patsy Riggir
Laying It On The Line
1984, 7", Single, Epic
Patsy Riggir
You'll Never Take The Country Out Of Me
1984
Michael-Roy Croft
Holding Things Together
1984
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
She's A Mod
1981
Ray Columbus And The Stargazers
Happy Birthday Rock 'N' Roll
1976, LP, Album, RCA Victor
Face* Featuring Mark Williams
Hangin' Around
1972, 7", Single, Zodiac, ,
Pop Rock
The Chicks
Say A Prayer For Michael
1969, 7", Single, Polydor
The Challenge
The Crunch
1969
Shane*
Leaving On A Jet Plane
1968, 7", Single, Festival Records
Various
San Francisco International Pop Festival (Volume 1)
1968, LP, Colstar, Colstar, ,
Psychedelic Rock/Bubblegum
The Chicks
C'Mon Chicks
1968
Ray Columbus And The Art Collection*
Kick Me (I Think I'm Dreaming)
1967
Shane*
We've Got All Night
1986, 7", Single, Ode Records
Patsy Riggir
Patsy Riggir Country
1993
Ray Columbus & The Invaders
Anthology
1985, ,
Beat/Rock & Roll/Mod
Ray Columbus & The Invaders
Till We Kissed
1981, 7", EP, Epic
Ray Columbus & The Invaders
Now You Shake!
1965, 7", EP, Zodiac, Zodiac, ,
Garage Rock/Pop Rock/Beat
Ray Columbus & The Invaders
Original Numbers
1965, LP, Album, Mono, Zodiac, Zodiac, ,
Beat/Pop Rock
Ray Columbus & The Invaders
She's A Mod!
1965, 7", EP, Zodiac, Zodiac, Zodiac

APPEARANCES +


Ritchie Pickett & The Inlaws
Gone For Water
1984
Various
Keep Lookin' (80 More Mod, Soul & Freakbeat Nuggets)
2022, Box Set, 3x CD, ,
Mod/Beat/Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
How Is The Air Up There? (80 Mod, Soul, RnB & Freakbeat Nuggets From Down Under)
2018, 3xCD, Comp, RPM Records (2), Frenzy Music, ,
Mod/Beat/Soul/Rhythm & Blues
The Dirtbombs / Soledad Brothers
Kick Me / Human Race Blues
2016, 7", Ltd, Num, W/Lbl, Cass Records
Various
A Day In My Mind's Mind (The Kiwi Psychedelic Scene)
2014, 2xLP, RSD, Comp, Real Groovy Records, Frenzy Music, ,
Psychedelic Rock/Garage Rock
The Dirtbombs
Kick Me
2010, 7", Ltd, Gra, Cass Records
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
The Definitive Collection
2009, 2xCD, Comp, RM, Zodiac, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock/Beat
The Variety Artists Of New Zealand Incorporated
For Kidney Kids Incorporated Charity CD 2009
2009, CD, Comp, The Variety Artists Club Of New Zealand Inc.
Various
A Day In My Mind's Mind - Volume 3 (Spinning Spinning Spinning)
2008, CD, Comp, EMI, ,
Garage Rock/Psychedelic Rock
Various
A Day In My Mind's Mind
2005, CD, Comp, EMI, ,
Garage Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Pop Rock
Various
Christchurchthemusic
2005, 2xCD, Comp, EMI, ,
New Wave/Post-Punk/Soul/Pub Rock/Acid Rock/Hard Rock/Punk/Lo-Fi/Rhythm & Blues/Grunge/Funk Metal/Country/Folk/Psychedelic Rock/Rock & Roll/Alternative Rock
Various
Get A Haircut (31 Of The Best New Zealand Rock'n'Rollers Ever!)
2004, CD, Comp, Zerox, ,
Rock & Roll/Punk/Beat/Hard Rock/Garage Rock
Zed
Silencer
2001
Various
How Was The Air Up There
2001, CD, ,
Garage Rock/Pop Rock/Beat/Psychedelic Rock
Zed
Glorafilia
1999
Various
Wild Things Vol. 2 (16 Monaural Blasts Of Wyld Kiwi Garage Pop 1966 - 1968)
1995, ,
Beat/Garage Rock
Various
Wild Things - Wyld Kiwi Garage 1966-1969
1992
Steve McDonald
Spinfield
1989, ,
New Age/Ambient
Various
Ugly Things #2
1983, Vinyl, ,
Garage Rock/Beat
Various
Loxene Golden Disc Award 1971
1971, Vinyl, ,
Pop Rock/Ballad/Vocal
Various
1970 Loxene Golden Disc Award - Top Twelve
1970, ,
Pop Rock/Vocal/Ballad
The Troubled Mind
I'm Good For You
1969, 7", Single, Festival Records
Max Cryer & The Children
Max-A-Million
1969, LP, Album, Philips
Tommy Fergusson*
9 Miles From Nowhere
1968, 7", Single, Festival Records
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
Till We Kissed (The Greatest Hits Of)
1966
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
Till We Kissed
1965, Vinyl, ,
Beat/Ballad
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
Where Have You Been
1965
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
C'mon & Swim
1965
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
All Through Pride
1965
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
Yo Yo
1964
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
Money Lover
1963, 7", Single, Zodiac, ,
Rock & Roll/Beat
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
Every Nite
1963, LP, Album, Mono, Zodiac, Zodiac, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock/Instrumental
Ray Columbus And The Invaders*
I Saw Her Standing There
1963, 7", Zodiac, ,
Garage Rock/Rock & Roll/Beat
Various
The Rockin' Zodiac Recordings - Early Rock & Roll And Boppin' Hillbilly From New Zealand - Vol. 7 & 8
2xCD, Comp, Collector Records (2), Collector Records (2), ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Various
20 Town & Country Greats Vol.1
LP, Comp, K-Tel, ,
Country
Various
Ugly Things - The CD
Various
20 Solid Gold Kiwi Hits Volume Two 1964-1971
2024, CD, Comp, Mono, Frenzy Music
Various
The Great New Zealand Song Book
2020, CD, Comp, Music World, ,
Vocal/Rock & Roll/Beat/Country/Ballad
Various
The Kiwi Music Scene 1969
2019, 2xCD, Comp, Frenzy Music,
Various
The Kiwi Music Scene 1968
2018, 2xCD, Album, Comp, Frenzy Music,
Various
The Kiwi Pop Music Scene 1967
2017, 2xCD, Comp, Frenzy Music
Various
The Kiwi Music Scene 1966
2016, CD, Comp, Frenzy Music
Various
C'mon
2016, CD, Album, Comp, Frenzy Music
Various
Keep Lookin': 80 More Mod, Soul & Freakbeat Nuggets
2014, 3x CD, ,
Mod/Beat/Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
That's Country Encore
2011, DVD, PAL, Sony Music
Various
That's Country
2010, DVD, PAL, Sony Music, ,
Country
Various
Band Together Concert For Canterbury 2010
2010, CD, Comp, Sony Music,
Various
Top Of The Dial Volume 2
2009, CD, Comp, EMI, ,
Beat/Pop Rock/Garage Rock
Various
Simply The Best - Sixties
2008, 2xCD, Comp, Warner Music New Zealand, Rhino Records (2), ,
Pop Rock/Rhythm & Blues/Vocal/Beat/Soul/Emo/Easy Listening/Surf/Sunshine Pop/Psychedelic Rock
Various
Kiwi Gold Disc III
2003, Box, Comp, Promo + 7xCD, Comp, Promo, NZ On Air,
Various
Kiwi Classics Volume 3
1999, CD, Comp, EMI, ,
Pop Rock/Vocal
Various
The Very Best Of The Guys
1999, CD, Comp, EMI, ,
Ballad/Pop Rock
Various
Solid Gold FM: 20 Solid Gold Hits (Volume 1)
1999, CD, Comp, EMI
Various
Party Pack (90 Party Favourites From The 60s 70s 80s & 90s)
1999, 5x CD, Box Set, ,
Beat/Contemporary R&B/Country Rock/Disco/Doo Wop/Europop/Folk Rock/Glam/House/Instrumental/Jazz-Funk/Mod/New Wave/Pop Rap/Cantopop/Psychedelic Rock/Rock & Roll/Rockabilly/Soft Rock/Soul/Soul-Jazz/Surf/Symphonic Rock/Synth-pop/Twist
Various
Kiwi Gold Disc II
1998, Box, Comp, Promo + 12xCD, Comp, Promo, NZ On Air,
Various
New Zealand Our Land Our Music Volume Two
1997, 2xCD, Comp, EMI, ,
Country/Waiata/Novelty
Various
Chicken (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1996, CD, Album, Comp, Icon Soundtracks
Various
Kiwi Gold Disc
1996, Box, Comp, Promo + 10xCD, NZ On Air,
Various
Wintersun Nostalgia 1996
1996, CD, Album, Comp, Num, Not On Label
Various
Kiwi Rock (Volume Two)
1995, 2x CD, ,
New Wave/Reggae-Pop/Pop Rock
Various
25 Years Of Kiwi Pop
1990, 2xCD, Comp, Mono, EMI, EMI, ,
Pop Rock/Beat
Various
20 Studio One Hits Volume 2
1974, LP, Comp, Music For Leisure, ,
Pop Rock/Ballad/Vocal
Various
Stars Of Happen Inn
1973, LP, Comp, Karussell
Various
Hits & Stars Of '70
1970, 2xLP, Comp, Philips
Various
Hip Hit Hurrah!
1968, LP, Comp, Mono, Teenmail, ,
Beat/Pop Rock
Various
The Greatest Show on Record
1968, 2x Vinyl, ,
Ballad/Beat/Vocal
Various
Everybodys Greatest Hits
2xLP, Comp, Philips, ,
Folk/Rock & Roll/Vocal/Easy Listening
Various
Rock Around The World - Volume Four
CDr, Comp, Blakey Records
various
Rockin' & Rollin'
Cass, Comp, Dino Music
Various
Upside Down Coloured Dreams From The Underworld Volume 10
2023, CD, Comp, RM, Unofficial, Particles (2), ,
Beat/Pop Rock/Psychedelic Rock
Various
Diggin' Up Down Under!
2010
Various
Early Rock & Roll From New Zealand - Vol. 13/14
2xCD, Comp, Unofficial, Collector Records (2)