Ray Columbus – Grown Up Stars At Their Best

We have been blessed with some great senior stars recently.

I didn't see Cliff and The Shadows this time..all the reports were fantastic as always..and Cliff still looks like the Peter Pan of Pop(it was always his title before MJ).

Tom Jones at the Villa Maria 'on The Green' show was great. Missed the Ladykillers.. by the time we parked and walked to the spot in front of the stage. But those around us said Suzanne Lynch & Friends were as great as ever. I think they would have be better on directly before Tom not Hello Sailor.. they could get the fans rocking earlier… I guess it was a stage gear problem!

I'd already seen tom 53 times – the first 52 on tour of Australia and New Zealand in January/February 1966… the bill was Hermans Hermits, Tom Jones and Ray Columbus then. The Mops tops stole the show even though Tom was far superior as a singer and Entertainer…but the teen fans spoke. Tom said he wouldn't come back Down Under again. So it took him 16 years… and he triumphed… everywhere.. after his Auckland show we caught up over his fave tipple Dom… that went into the wee hours.

So now 30 years further on I was keen to see him for the 54the time.He didn't disappoint! Seventy now…and still with that great 'blessing' as he calls his Welsh voice. He's still got the chops as we say..arrived in a Limo..that waited for him to finish.. he's a lot trimmer, California tanned in a cool dress jeans tight shirt- opened and a short jacket. He didn't cheat at all.. went for all the notes.. his very good vocal backup singers never took over from him in any songs. .mind joy almost every chorus.. the raucus crowd drowned him out…e specially on "Delilah".. he had a ball sang nonstop for an hour then took a breather in his limo.. new shirt (and Dom?)..w hile the show went into Glastonbury mode….a DJ kinda light and sound show without a DJ..c ool Tom…. always ahead of the pack.

He was back onstage for another 15/20 minutes and encores..and off in the Limo back to ???

Now that was outdoors on a great day/night. Soon after we saw Boz Scaggs/Michael McDonald an passed on the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band when we heard the volume they were playing at to under 3000 people! Michael was ver good.. voice falsetto slightly hoarse (after Aust. Tour) but a hot band.. and the crowd was so discerning.. he went well. When Boz came on with his own hotter band. It was great all the hits "Lido" "Harbour Lights" etal.He still in great voice and feel too… and I'd forgtten what a fine guitarist he is..often taking solos in the melodic style he has;Cool..we loved it. The San Francisco based star soon 66 (in June) still has the chops too in his own way just as satisfying as Tom's show for different reasons… that's the great thing about Rock/Pop/Country..R and B, Soul..the songs bring back the memories..and for this old Rocker I was impressed….Thank you Leesa Tilley NZ Manager for Andrew McManus Promotions.

Well it's happened folloing up on my last prediction; Doctor Murray has been charged with MJ's death… it'll be interesting to see how it shapes… someone had to be held responsible the family have been crying out for it.. probably the only way they can catch media inerest today (except Janet).