R.I.P. Ray Columbus (Ray Columbus & the Invaders)

Read More Do Or Die Opening up the show was Nashville’s Jonny P (not to be confused with Chicago’s Johnny P of Do Or Die). The soul singer promised that he’ll have a full band when he comes back “in the fall”. …

Thanks to reader Phil B who told us that Ray Columbus has died today (29 Nov 2016). The New Zealand singer is best known for Ray Columbus & the Invaders’s ‘She’s A Mod’ (a cover of The Senator).

The short-lived band (1964 to 1966) was part of the new surf music craze and was the first New Zealand band to land a #1 in another country (Australia) with that cover song. After the band broke up, Columbus moved to the US and founded a California psychedelic band, Newcastle Five, which he renamed as The Art Collection.

After leaving America in 1968, he returned to New Zealand and ended up in television, hosting various television pop shows including Ray Columbus presents New Faces and That's Country.

Columbus died at his Snells Beach, North Auckland residence after a “a long illness”, according to a family friend.

Also, Chicago’s Johnny P of Do Or Die has... died. We previously mentioned him because of a similar Nashville artist called Jonny P (note: no “h”). The singer’s death was confirmed by Johnny’s eldest daughter earlier this week (November 27th).

Below are more deaths for the month of November - for the full death list: Musicians who died in 2016.

November (45)

[29 Nov 2016] Ray Columbus (Ray Columbus & the Invaders), 74

[28 Nov 2016] Mark Taimanov, 90, concert pianist and USSR chess champion

[28 Nov 2016] Carlton Kitto, 74, jazz guitarist

[27 Nov 2016] Johnny P (Do Or Die), 44, coma

[27 Nov 2016] Tony Martell, 90, music industry senior executive

[25 Nov 2016] Colonel Abrams, 67

[24 Nov 2016] Shirley Bunnie Foy (Jazz), 80

[24 Nov 2016] Pauline Oliveros ( San Francisco Tape Music Center), 84

[23 Nov 2016] Fred Stobaugh, 99

[22 Nov 2016] Tayssir Akla, 77

[22 Nov 2016] M. Balamuralikrishna, 86

[22 Nov 2016] Craig Gill (Inspiral Carpets), 44

[21 Nov 2016] Jean-Claude Risset, 78

[20 Nov 2016] Hod O'Brien, 80

[19 Nov 2016] Ida Levin, 53, leukemia

[18 Nov 2016] Sharon Jones (Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings), 60, pancreatic cancer

[18 Nov 2016] Hugh McDonald (Redgum), 62, prostate cancer

[17 Nov 2016] Joanna Reyes, 36, car accident

[16 Nov 2016] Mentor Williams, 70

[15 Nov 2016] Mose Allison, 89

[15 Nov 2016] Cliff Barrows (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association), 93

[15 Nov 2016] Holly Dunn, 59, ovarian cancer

[15 Nov 2016] Jules Eskin (Boston Symphony Orchestra), 85

[15 Nov 2016] Milt Okun, 92

[14 Nov 2016] David Mancuso (The Loft), 72

[14 Nov 2016] Colin Demge, 33, murdered

[13 Nov 2016] Leon Russell, 74

[13 Nov 2016] Mohammad Ebrahim Sharifzadeh, 100

[12 Nov 2016] Jacques Werup, 71, cancer

[12 Nov 2016] Will Sims, 28, murdered in hate crime

[12 Nov 2016] Peter Nthwane, 64, murdered

[11 Nov 2016] Victor Bailey (Lady Gaga), 56

[11 Nov 2016] Lily, 64, lung cancer

[11 Nov 2016] A. Nayyar, 66

[09 Nov 2016] Al Caiola, 96

[07 Nov 2016] Leonard Cohen, 82, falling

[07 Nov 2016] Biser Kirov, 74

[06 Nov 2016] Zoltán Kocsis, 64

[05 Nov 2016] Laurent Pardo, 55

[04 Nov 2016] Eddie Harsch (The Black Crowes), 59

[03 Nov 2016] Kay Starr, 94, Alzheimer's disease

[02 Nov 2016] Bob Cranshaw (Blue Note Records), 83, cancer

[01 Nov 2016] Jean-Michel Damian, 69

[01 Nov 2016] Bap Kennedy, 54, pancreatic and bowel cancer

[01 Nov 2016] Pocho La Pantera, 65, kidney cancer

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