Hundreds of mourners have farewelled legendary New Zealand entertainer Ray Columbus at St Patrick's Cathedral in central Auckland.
The 74-year-old died at his home north of Auckland on Tuesday after battling ill health for several years.
Ray's body was in a red casket, an ode to the red suit he famously wore.
Max Cryer, Billy Karataina, Ant Healy, Jackie Crossman and Jeff Atwell all spoke and an acoustic version of 'She's a Mod' was performed.
Entertainer Ray Woolf said Columbus was an extraordinary man.
"He was the first one to do it in New Zealand and make a huge success of it with the hit records and the touring. But Ray wasn't just a great performer and band leader and musician, he had the business side of it down, which very, very few of us had.
"Ray was on the case from day one, he really understood the business and used it for himself and his band and also used it later on to help other people."
In a career spanning four decades, Columbus won every major award in NZ show business including Entertainer of the Year, The Benny Award, two APRA Silver Scrolls, Top Entertainer on TV and Promoter/Manager of the Year. In 2009 he and his Invaders band members were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
Whether it was performing or presenting, Columbus loved the limelight and New Zealand loved him right back.
"I'm a vaudevillian basically, a modern day vaudevillian," said Columbus.
"And TV gave me a chance to exploit that. Thank you TV."
Columbus had been suffering from poor health ever since a heart attack in 2004.
Ray left behind two children, three grandchildren and his loving wife Linda.
Newshub.
