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Raymond John Columbus was won over by Rock'n'Roll while selling ice creams at Christchurch's Avon Theatre where he began working at the age of nine. The job allowed him to absorb the very latest images and sounds seen on screen — Elvis and James Dean, and from the age of 14 he began putting bands together. Around 1960 he became the lead vocalist job for local danceband The Downbeats. As the group's line-up changed, their sound edged closer and closer towards the dreaded Rock'n'Roll, partly thanks to the influence of American Operation Deep Freeze Servicemen who were frequently in the audience. Columbus debuted on Christchurch Television in 1961, performing solo on early light entertainment showcase Time Out for Talent. American producer John Nash suggested Columbus might host a new show, but he thought the band needed to change its name. The following February the newly-reconstituted Ray Columbus and The Invaders began fronting four episodes of Club Columbus, which was syndicated throughout the country. At that time, Ray Columbus was 19 years-of-age. Keen to move into behind the scenes work, he was advised by Christchurch station head Peter Nesbit to stay on screen in the meantime — because "the camera likes you". Whether as host or performer, Columbus would be a staple part of local music and variety shows for at least the next two decades, including the popular C'mon, which went live to air, Sing, Happen Inn and That's Country. The Invaders also cameoed in John O'Shea's moody 1964 feature Runaway. After catching the Invaders in concert, Howard Morrison encouraged the group to go to Auckland. Eighteen months later the band had taken Auckland by storm, and topped charts on both sides of the Tasman. Their success was partly thanks to the showmanship of Columbus, matching zoot suits, and pink Fender guitars, not to mention their embrace of the American rhythm and blues sound, shortly to conquer the planet thanks to The Beatles.
Columbus proposed a stint in Australia and on arrival he and Zodiac Records boss Eldred Stebbing began contacting television, radio and magazines. The Invaders appeared on Australian shows Bandstand and Sing Sing Sing. When they returned home in February 1964, their fourth single, a cover of Lennon and McCartney track I Wanna Be Your Man had entered the Australian Top 40, the first time a New Zealand recording charted overseas. Their sixth single She's a Mod did even better, and a Kiwi band finally topped the Australian charts. Initially, the song (a remake of a track by Brit band The Senators), made little noise in New Zealand. Columbus perfected his own mod's nod, and audiences went wild. A lip-synched performance, originally shot for Bandstand, helped the contagion spread and Columbus persuaded the director to let him keep the dance in. In 1965 Ray and The Invaders toured New Zealand alongside Roy Orbison and The Rolling Stones. According to Invaders bass guitarist Billy Kristian, Orbison called The Invaders the loudest band in the world. A wall-of-sound version of Till We Kissed was their biggest hit, winning the first Loxene Golden Disc Award in 1965, but by year's end The Invaders were no more. |
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