RAY WOOLF began performing on stage at thirteen years of age in London, It was the beginning of the rock revolution and Ray was in three rock bands before arriving in NZ in 1962.
He sang at the Oriental ballroom and was spotted and signed by Eldred Stebbing to Zodiac Records and in late 1962, toured the country with Engiish Pop sensation HELEN SHAPIRO.
Ray performed on all the early TV Pop shows e.g. IN THE GROOVE, PLAY IT BY EAR, C,MON. ON THE BEAT SIDE & was resident on HAPPEN INN. He continued to work in TV on PLAYSCHOOL and a year on NZ's first TV soap A GOING CONCERN. 1977 saw a year of TWO ON ONE with Val Lamond and 1978 with Davina Whitehouse. In 1979 it became THE RAY WOOLF SHOW and ran for further four years.
More acting roles on T.V. have included MARLIN BAY ( 3 seasons ), HERCULES, XENA, ST. LEGAL, THE STRIP, INTERAGATORS, ORANGE ROUGHIES, ONE OF THEM, NOTHING TRIVIAL and more.
Musical Theatre has also been a big part of Ray's career. Starting with the Auckland Theatre company in 1980 starring in HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON then in 1981 THE MUSIC MAN for Hamilton Operatic. A SLICE OF SATURDAY NIGHT, THE NEW ROCKY HORROR SHOW ( Eddie & Doctor Scott), BLOOD BROTHERS, GOLF, THE KING & I, over a hundred performances as Captain Von Trapp in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, WEST SIDE STORY & most recently ANYTHING GOES at the civic Auckland.
FILM Credits include, LUCY, BACK RIVER RD, LETTERS ABOUT THE WEATHER, MAIDEN VOYAGE, SUPER FIRE, KING KONG, INSATIABLE MOON, SIEGE.
Ray has been awarded ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR 1975, MOST PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINER, PEGASUS AWARD 1981,BENNY AWARD 2007. M.N.Z.M 2008.
RAY still continues to perform around the country as an M.C. ACTOR, and presents shows with the MIKE WALKER TRIO or THE ROGER FOX BIG BAND.
Both RAY & Wife CHRISSY support DIABETES AUCKLAND & N.Z. and STARJAM for special needs children. Ray is also an ambassador for BLUE SEPTEMBER which is a campaign to raise awareness of Prostate cancer - check out the videos of Ray performing with the Mike Walker Trio as part of this campaign on the Video / Sound tab above.
Recently PME have organised several events where Ray Woolf and (ex The Chicks ) Suzanne Lynch perform together with a 3 hour show Ray and Suzie highlighting both their skills as swing and pop performers.
Ideal for: Ray is a class entertainer, an ideal special featured guest at a corporate event, ball or conference where the highest standard is required. He is best used as a show but is happy if guests wish to dance to his mix of swing and rock and roll music
One of our greatest entertainers, Ray sings the great swing hits made famous by acts such as Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin and more recently Michael Bublé, but expect some good old rock and roll when Ray gets back to his roots
RAY IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A CELEBRITY MC
These videos are of Ray Woolf with the Mike Walker Trio performing on TV1 Good Morning show 02.09.13 in support of the Blue September Prostate Cancer awareness campaign for which Ray is an ambassador
Sample repertoire:
A Foggy Day
All of Me
Another Saturday Night / Cupid
As Time Goes By
BAD BAD Leroy Brown
Birth of The Blues
Blue Skies
Can't Buy Me Love
Ce'st Si Bon
Crazy Little Thing called Love
Dancing in the Dark
Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout me
Fly Me To The Moon
Georgia
Get Me To The Church
Going Up Country
Goody Goody
Green Door
Hello Dolly
Hey Baby
Honky Tonk Woman
How Sweet it Is
I Saw her Standing there
I'm a Wanderer
I'm a Believer
It Doesn't Matter Anymore
Johnie Be Good
Just a gigilo
Kansas City
Lady is a Tramp
Mack the Knife
Makin Whoopie
Mess of Blues
Midnight Hour
Mustang Sally
My Girl
New York New York
Ob La Di
Rock and Roll Medleys
Route 66
Satin Doll
Save The Last Dance
Smile
Stand By Me
Street Where You Live
Sunny Side of the Street
Sway with Me
Sweet Caroline
S'Wonderful
That's Life
The Very Thought of You
What a Wonderful World
Where or When
You Made Me Feel So Young
Hi Robyn
It was a fantastic show by all the boys!!
Judging by the feedback I am getting everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
Regards
Ash
North Harbour Rotary
Hi Robyn & Pete
Our special day was a huge success and Ray Woolf is an excellent performer as was Mike
Walker Trio. The feedback has been amazing, there definitely will be a lot of interest to hire these professional fantastic entertainers. I am one very happy 50 year old married woman
We will also in the future be back in touch.
Kind thoughts
Gaye Harding
Hi Robyn,
Thank you for your email. Our New Years eve event was a success and Ray Woolf was fantastic. I have heard only good things about his performance. I was unable to catch up with him prior to his leaving us the next morning. But, I am hoping Ray and his wife were ok, with how the night went? I have heard great feedback about his performances and people were surprised and greeted Ray’s performances with adulation and warmth.
I will be processing all invoices and wrap ups this week. I will be in touch very soon.
Thank you for your work to help us make this event a success.
Talk with you soon
Jep Savali
Sky City Casino
Hi Pete
Just wanted to extend my thanks to Ray and the band for a great performance once again – we’ve had a lot of good feedback on how much people liked it. Hope you enjoyed the event as well and all had a safe journey back.
Best regards
Katrina Lange
CEO
Marlborough 4 Fun (Havelock Mussell Festival)
Fantastic….lots of positive compliments since,
Thanks,
Thank you for the follow up. We have had wonderful feedback from guests who enjoyed Ray very much. He can still touch hearts and had people tapping. A great evening. Great entertainment very professional performers. Thank you very much.
Alveretta
SKYCITY HAMILTON
Peter, Many thanks, it was a great performance by the musicians and Ray. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and are looking forward to booking you again. I have not heard one negative comment, everyone just lingered after and seemed really relaxed. Many thanks to you all.
Susan
East Coast Bays RSA
Hi Pete
Ray was fantastic. Everyone really enjoyed his performance and He was great to work with.
Thank you, I will certainly be in touch if I require any further acts.
Cheers, Kerry Davis
Hi Robyn
I have already emailed Pete re the Ray Woolf concert I put
on..
Just for the record it was a fantastic night with Ray still The Best In
NZ!!!
Not forgetting the Trio who are always terrific!
Regards
Ash Price
Hi Pete
Just wanted to thank you guys so much for a fantastic
concert...everyone is just raving about it!!
Regards
Ash Price
North Harbour Rotary
Hi Pete,
We were very pleased with the entertainment and your professional organization.
It all worked very well.
Many thanks
Paul Shanahan
Marketing Manager
Hopper Developments Limited
Ray Woolf Larry Morris, Jane Horder, Mike Walker Trio
Thank you and yes everything went great - we had so many compliments. Will keep your services in mind for our next function.
Kind Regards
Jeanette Venter
Penberthy Insurance Ltd
(Ray as MC)
Ray Woolf was a real class act and put on a great show. Bob Heinz was also brilliant on guitar.
Rob Moles Playhouse Theatre Nelson
Hi Kelly,
Thank Pete, the boys and Ray very much . A great night . I can tell you I slept very well Sunday night .
I have Pete's card so who knows for the future.
Thanks again
Regards
Graeme Munro
Russell RSA 50th Anniversay
Ray with Mike walker Trio
It rocked. Ray, His Wife and the boys? Came around for breakfast before heading home, turns out my wife was taught Piano by Mike Walker, and we had a fun chat with them all.
The show was awesome, Ray still has an amazing voice, and the musos did a great job.
Eddie our one man band did a great job of warming up the crowd and the dance floor was busy from the first dance, not bad for a doo where the majority of the guests were tetollal.
I would be happy to endorse them all for any show.
Colin Hayward
Hi Kellie
The entertainment was really great. Probably because it was a Monday night a lot of people left after the auction. This was really disappointing and I felt sorry for Ray and his band. However those of us who stayed a while longer really enjoyed his music and I would like you to pass that on. Thanks for all your assistance. It was a successful evening.
Kind regards
Moira Henderson
NZ National Party
Pete.
Fantastic show, the locals will talk about this one for quite some time.
Your whole Trio, Ray and Suzanne showed us that good music comes from the heart and sole!
There is actually no other way of explaining it, other than how you projected your enjoyment onto us, you all played from the heart.
Thank you, we look forward to more next year and putting something together for outdoor concert.
Cheers
David
Mercury Bay Club (Ray Woolf and Suzanne lynch with Mike Walker Trio)
Pete, the conference was the best ever and the 470 Rotary decision maker participants were impressed and especially your contribution to our music entertainment was superb, thanks for the efforts.It was great!
Please pass on to June Hayes, Prima band, Ray Woolf , Tom Sharplin, Larry Morris and supporting acts and band members our congrats for their superb contribution.
June Hayes , Ray Woolf and Prima , Tom Sharplin were hits with the audience, especially Prima.
You personally contributed much to the success of this conference entertainment ratings thanks!
D9910 Conference
Richard Gee
Hi Pete,
Thanks to all of you for providing such a good night of entertainment, and in particular to Ray who is a total entertainment professional. His performance was just exquisite and enjoyed by all.
I hope you all had an enjoyable evening to.
Regards
June Clewett Gulf harbour Country Club
Woolf brings Crowd to it's feet.
After intermission on to stage came the man whose name is synonymous with NZ entertainment.
Launching immediately into a snappy version of "you made me feel so young" Woolf and his trio of top musicians, Mike Walker on Piano, Billy Kristian on Bass & Steve Garden on drums, instantly had us under his spell with that charismatic bright & friendly stage presence which is as much a trademark of his performance as his style of singing.
An energetic "I'm getting married in the Morning" and a swaggering "Just a Gigolo" gave Woolf the perfect opportunity to emphasize his theatrical cheeky faced humour.
The Cabaret style jazz arrangements applied to many of the classic songs were skillfully executed by Woolf & his band who were obviously enjoying the occasion.
Woof was later joined by Brian Smith (on tenor sax) & Martin Winch (on guitar) as the band whipped up some boogie woogie on "Route 66", "Kansas City" & an exuberant "Mack The Knife".
As a flip side to the rockier numbers Woolf's slow and reflective version of the quieter songs displayed his ability to lift an audience up then suddenly bring us down.
As the evening closed Woolf graciously obliged the demand for 3 encores and was rewarded with a standing ovation.
Ray Woolf live in concert Nelson School of music
(Ricky Dasler NZPA)