But most of all, Dunedin writer and music industry identity Roy Colbert said last night, he fronted a fantastic band.
The Kiwi music legend died yesterday, aged 74, after battling poor health for more than a decade.
Mr Colbert said he went to see Herman's Hermits play on a bill with other bands at the Dunedin Town Hall in 1966 but arrived a little late.
''This enormous wall of sound was coming from the stage and I asked the people we were with 'who's that?'''
The band was Ray Columbus and the Invaders.
''I was stunned. How could a New Zealand band sound like The Rolling Stones? But they did - they were incredible.''
Before seeing Columbus and his band, he was more interested in listening to records than seeing live music, Mr Colbert said.
''It changed my whole attitude about live bands as well.''
Columbus developed into an excellent songwriter, he said.
He won the Silver Scroll in 1966 for I Need You, and again in 1973 along with Mike Harvey for Jangles, Spangles & Banners.
''He was just a trailblazer, really.''
Mr Colbert replaced Columbus on a QEII Arts Council panel that gave money to young bands from 1990.
''A couple of years later they said 'you were much quieter than Ray'.''
Columbus would discover artists and get behind them.
''They said when Ray felt strongly about a band his fists would go through the table.
''He would be quite adamant - he was very noisy. Having had his day, he was very, very passionate about the next wave of young bands. He just wanted to stay in the business, I guess.''
But the performance Columbus gave on stage would stick in his memory, Mr Colbert said.
''Since then I've seen 10 million bands, and Ray Columbus and the Invaders were still a really fantastic band.''
Columbus was the first New Zealander to have a No1 single overseas with She's a Mod, and even sported a signature dance move.
He died at his home north of Auckland after being in poor health since suffering a heart attack in 2004.
He also had two strokes, in 2008 and 2012 and revealed in mid-2013 that he was terminally ill.
Columbus received several major awards in his career, and opened for The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Roy Orbison, Shirley Bassey and The Hollies.
He also had a successful management and television career.
He leaves behind his wife Linda, two children and three grandchildren.
- Additional reporting NZME
