Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Shades Of Blue! Anita Sarawak, Stylers, Silver Strings, Tidbits, Rediffusion Tan Swee Leong


(Image reads: The new Shades consist of Rich, who plays the lead guitar, sleepy Joe on rhythm, Vince on bass, Malcolm on drums and vocalist Raj. The boys are practising very hard for this morning show, and with their talent and co-operation, they will do their best to entertain you.)

In October 1968, a church in the east coast of Singapore organised a musical concert at the Odeon Katong cinema called, Morning Melodies. It was certainly not the usual service because the names of the stage performers on the programme were unique indeed. They were to appear that early Monday morning at nine, so it could have been a public holiday.

The entertainment included a guitar group called The Shades Of Blue (image), a Reverend Philip Chan (dubbed on the programme as 'The Singing Pastor'), the Heralds Choral Society of Singapore, four female vocalists who could have sung in Chinese, Malay or English. They were Hazel Lee, Judy Lee, Fong Yin and Murni Sarawak. There were also male vocalists Steven Ong and Chang Suen.

What was most surprising were the appearances of Las Vegas diva Miss Anita Sarawak, The Tidbits (early-teen school girls: Melina Wee, Serene Wee and Bernadette de Souza - Radio Television Singapore, 1968 Talentime winners and RCA recording artistes), The Stylers and The Strings (The Silver Strings momentary change of name). And the compere for the morning event was Rediffusion's Tan Swee Leong, debonair DJ and pop MC for many stage and musical shows.

The show was in aid of an "educational and scholarship fund", so you could have imagined the heat on stage that morning with these top performers giving off their best for a cause. Wow! It was an alumni of the best musical talents from the late 60s, gathered under the Odeon Katong roof.

Do you remember this gathering of 60s music stars? Were you in the organising committee? Were you a member of Shades Of Blue? It's been a long time but if you still remember Morning Melodies, please write in.

Information/Image: From Souvenir Programme. Thanks to Randy Lee of The Stylers.

Original article: Andy Lim.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the update. I've also noticed that you've made a video of an excerpt from The Stylers Band Channel, "I Love Boh Boh Cha Cha."

It happened more than 4 decades ago; some may have gone and others who're still around and were involved one way or another in The Morning Melodies will definitely remember that particular " Monday."

I believe they would'nt forget that "special day" and will be only too eager to make comments when they come upon your channel.

Regards
Randy
The Stylers.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes, as I have replied, hopefully they will write in. Would be interesting.
Thanks for your feedback.

Anonymous said...

TheStylersBand from You Tube has sent you a message:

Re: Sing60sMusic

Andy,

That is awesome. With all my gratitute to you.

You have a great weekend.

Regards,
Andy

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Andy.
You have a truly wonderful website and the You Tube videos of The Stylers will keep the memory alive.

Do keep on posting them. Randy has always been generous with his contribution.

Regards,
Andy Lim

Anonymous said...

Some singers are familiar.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

I am not familiar with them. Chinese pop singers I think.
Cheers.