Ray Columbus – November’s Ramblings

Congrats to RAY WOOLF on being awarded the 2007 BENNY from VAC. Well deserved.

It's said that to receive an Award from one's peers is the highest Honour of all and does Ray deserve it? You bet he does . From his first hit single "Fortune Teller" in 1962 (shortly after moving to New Zealand from England) to his acting role in Peter Jackson's "KING KONG" 44 years later; Ray is a professional Entertainer in every sense of the word.

He sings, he swings, he croons and he rocks with the best of them.

He's also a very good actor in numerous musical theatre productions…most recently in "The King & I" in Wellington, right now he's on tour with the Rodger Fox Big Band.  I can tell you quietly that he's soon to be 63 years of age (on 13th November) doesn't look anywhere near it…in fact he had to shave his head for the lead role in "The King & I"…because he still got so much unlike some of us who started thinning out a bit many years ago.

Now the VAC for those who may wonder is the "Variety Artists Club of NZ inc"…a wonderfully loyal bunch of Entertainers, whether they be Singers, Dancers, Magicians, Comics, Poets, impressionists, musicians even hypnotists whatever…or combinations of any two or three of the above..no matter they are all Variety Artists in the traditional Vaudeville sense.

The BENNY comes from The Great Benyon…a terrific circus act and vaudevillian.

He passed on a while ago:- joined this year by fabulous Magician Peter Evans (Peter & Margo) and most recently (Sept) by Elaine Bracey…longtime VAC stalwart..and committee member (like Peter).

The BENNY is not only presented to Entertainers, indeed, this most prestigious Award is given for services to Entertainment…so past winners include the late Phil Warren who- although attracted to playing drums on an impromptu urge at one of his many nightclubs(after an Ouzo or two)…was not really an entertainer per se BUT Woolfie and I and Peter & Margo and scores of others over the years owed a debt of gratitude to him for providing venues like the Bali Hai, The Oriental, The Monaco, Monmartre, Mojos and The Ace Of Clubs, for us to perform in.

Phil started a record label (Prestige) because he loved music. He became a Promoter because he loved seeing stars like Jerry Lee Lewis in concert and Johnny Cash and James Brown..so he toured them in NZ so that others could enjoy them.

When I returned to Auckland in 1968 (after two years in the USA. )… for "C'mon '68"….. Phil was instrumental in getting me to return (along with TV producer Kevan Moore)…then soon after he asked me to join with him in Managing the careers of The Chicks, Shane, Tommy Ferguson, Vaughan Lawrence and others..to lift the standard of the Entertainment Industry in NZ.

He owned Fullers Bureau at the time..and was the top agent in the country.  So he thoroughly deserved his BENNY.

Ray Woolf has done so much to deserve his too!..he's been at the top in ShowBiz for over 40 years, he's a great guy and a unique talent.

I remember 10 years ago when I was contracted as Entertainment Consultant to Sky City for the opening of NZ's first Casino.

The first meeting was a riot…endowed by very young(mostly female) executives with diplomas and degrees coming out of their ears…as always I asked for a brief…a wishlist if you like…for me to work with. I should preface this by letting you know that the entertainment was to be in the (still unfinished) main gambling room while the punters were playing at the tables.

So I was aghast when informed that NEIL DIAMOND was to be first choice….I said "Neil Diamond doesn't play Vegas' …(so)…'why would he play in a gaming room in Auckland?'..'He's a Concert Star…main Arenas???..'…for my expert advice I was rebuked by these ignorant execs and told to do my job..and check it out!

So I called my good friend Hal David (who wrote the lyrics to all those classic Bacharach tunes) "Do You Know The Way To San Jose",

"Anyone Who Had a Heart", "Wishin' & Hopin'", "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", "Alfie" and dozens more.

Hal is Jewish like Neil..who I knew was between Managers at the time; so Hal kindly put me in touch with the Superstar's Attorney in Beverley Hills,California.

I Briefed the Man re my client and their request..he replied "Ray, Neil doesn't play Vegas…or any casino in the World for that matter?.."so I told him I already knew that..apologised for wasting his time..but I was ordered too…yada,yada,and hoped that if I had occasion to call again it would be for something worth discussing.

Next on the list was TONY BENNET!!! ..'.hello!..'….I said Tony doesn't play gambling rooms….this time they accepted my advice!

So while on a winning streak I suggested RAY WOOLF….they said..'he's too old!!!!' I laughed and said 'he's twenty years younger than Tony!!!"…anyway Ray didn't get the gig ..but he did make it into a new lounge (for years) in the extended venue

months later…and did great.

I also suggested our own John Rowles…who had played Vegas..and they turned him down.(Go Figure)!

They settled eventually for Dave Dobbyn and Margaret Urlich…(their own suggestion)…I warned of volume problems…but did as asked…neither of them got past their first songs…when the floor boss (from Harrahs in the States..who had the contract for a short while) pulled the plug…literally…no power no sound,no show!…the reason …?? "the gamblers and the dealers..CAN"T HEAR THE CALLS!"….at the debrief days later..it was agreed that I was blameless…and they now all knew why NEIL DIAMOND DOESN'T PLAY VEGAS (or any other Casino).

A VAC footnote..Rock 'N Roller Tom Sharplin is currently the President and my dear friend ( and ventriloquist for those who have good memories)MAX CRYER, presented THE BENNY to RAY WOOLF.

Results of the EECP freebee asap.

I have completed my 35 sessions..and the results are amazing. Linda has almost completed hers…her ME(Chronic Fatique) has improved out of sight. Since a car accident in Palm Springs almost five years ago..and the maxiofacial surgery Linda had..she has only had a limited smile..and the EECP after 10 sessions caused bloodflow to get through the scar tissue and now her full smile is back. Another unexpected benefit for me is that my vocal range has lifted back almost to where it was before I had surgery on my vocal chords 30 years ago to remove a pre-cancerous nodule. After six weeks of silence I had to learn to sing all over again from the great Dorothy Hopkins…my voice was like an old jalopy trying to turn over and I lost between a quartertone and a semitone at the top of my range(countered by some deeper, richer notes at the bottom end).

Well the blood flow from EECP has somehow lifted my top notes back to their original place…only in rehearsals so far..the true test will be at The WILD THINGS gig at the old Foundry (now Monte Cristo Room) in Auckland on November 17th next.

I share the Bill with The UNDERDOGS (first gig in 40 years),The Breakaways, Chants R&B, The Pleazers, Peter Nelson & The Castaways, The Coming Generations and Gene Pierson. Onstage with me are legends/ex-Invaders Dave Russell and Billy Kristian( and The Situations).

We're playing some songs I wrote back in the mid/late sixties..and they are at the top of my range so it'll be the true test.

If that news isn't exciting enough…it's pretty obvious that over the years My hair has receded from the moptop…I put it down to …..'it shook out during forty years of the 'Mod's Nod!'..yeah right!….refusing to accept that it was 'male pattern baldness'!

Well since my EECP treatment started..new hair has started growing…even in my monk's pate! watch that space..no! watch THIS space. Later!