Ray Columbus - March Ramblings

Well it's been a very busy Summer, just like the '50's with a really Hot Christmas and New Year, December through January, then a wet and cooler February, for us anyway. Pre Christmas we had a quick trip to Sydney… highlight of which was meeting and dining in Darlinghurst with Aussie Pop legend Helen Reddy (who's about my age… say no more). Our mutual friend and Mother of our God daughter Savannah handled the PR for the launch in Australia of Helen's 'A Memoir' THE WOMAN I AM... which if you remember is a play on words for her biggest (and self penned hit) "I Am Woman". Besides the Bee Gees, Helen Reddy was really the first Major Australian Star in the USA. Her many hits "I Don't Know How To Love Him", "Delta Dawn" et al and her Summer replacement TV Network Series as fill-in for the Flip Wilson Show… was a big hit in the late sixties. Helen was from a Vaudeville Family living out of suitcases while travelling with her Mum and Dad from Melbourne, to Tasmania to Perth and Sydney; Max Reddy and Stella Lamond were their stage names... so Helen still uses the name she wan born with. She is the first Australian to win a Grammy Award, have her own Prime Time Variety Show on a Television Network and to have 3 No.1 singles in the same year. I was living in the San Francisco Bay Area when she first made it big in the US… and enjoyed her TV Show very much... It screen here too but not in Australia??? Strange that.

Her book is an interesting read, with the courage of a trouper she conquered more than she has ever been credited with in Australia… which is rare because they are usually so proud of their stars in Sport and Entertainment. Anyway for the record Helen Reddy gets her own back in her 'Memoir'… and well done too. I'm not sure if it's on sale in NZ still… Harper Collins is the Publisher. Go get it if you can!

The Canterbury Education and Community Trust staged their second ROCKONZ Hall Of Fame Awards at the end of February and where the inductees were from Christchurch last year... this year they decided to go Nationwide; Winners of the International Category in 2008 are: Johnny Devlin, Suzanne Lynch (nee Donaldson... the Chicks) and Tap Heperi (you may remember him from Happin Inn Days on TV1...he's now based in Europe carving out a successful career for himself. This year was a bigger Event than last year with the ROCKONZ Hall Of Fame Awards Ceremony Dinner and Charity auction at The Christchurch Casino Grand Cafe (hosted by new Mayor and former TV star Bob Parker).The next day the traditional classic car parade from
New Brighton to Cathedral Square with Stars on Board was a success even in pouring rain greeted by the Mayor and Rock 'N Roll dancers... who always brave any weather as did the enthusiastic crowd.

That night The Christchurch Casino ROCKONZ Concert Dance at the Town Hall to a non stop evening of Rock 'N Roll Music including the winners from the previous night plus regional winners (Southern Stars) and special Guest Shane Cortese and The Class Of 58. Johnny Devlin and The Tornadoes ('Still Rocking it out') Suzanne Lynch ('a pocket sized dynamite with a great voice). On The Sunday the ROCKONZ Jam Session at Baillie's Bar in the recently restored Warners Hotel(even the Royals stayed there in its heyday)featured many Christchurch Musicians and bands plus an 'impressive performance from Tap Heperi' he's apparently still in great voice too... this was his first show in the garden City in 30 years. So a great weekend was had by all. Well done ROCKONZ.

Dancing With The Stars doesn't have the same fun feeling that it did last year...does it? After two weeks it's missing something... Paul Holmes may not have won last year but his 'Star Quality' and sense of Fun made the first few shows last year riotous at times. Second show this time I was amazed that Tina Cross who seemed to be doing so well somehow ended up in the last two with Peter Urlich!! Go figure... Peter was gracious in defeat, beset with injury and I agree that Hayley Holt's exit with him would be sadly missed from the series… She's stunning in everyway and still as fit as a fiddle...what a loss. Stefano has the magic he brought to the show last year... and Temara is doing well, but will she make it like Suzanne in '07? Guess we'll have to wait and see... I fear that the remaining contestants are all rather similar… and the Judges very much the star feature this year. Talking about dancing... a series I've loved is "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE AUSTRALIA". It has it all… amazing standard of Dancing (and styles) and the Judges for a reality series are fabulous and consistent, Constructive even Nice… Great show!

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