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Black bats, black cats or fiery pumpkins, the image below, taken from a souvenir magazine, shows The Vampires.
Whether they were part of a Halloween group to scare others was questionable but from the vinyl recorded and publicity given, the girls were very popular and had appeared in a number of variety shows and private functions in the sexy sixties in Singapore.
The description and position of each member in the magazine image is clear. From Dinner and Dance Magazine - 2nd October 1965, standing (left to right): Connie Fong is 18 and is a student at the Nanyang Academy of Arts. She plays the rhythm guitar and decided to opt for music some six months ago.
Rebecca Fong (with moon-glasses) is 18 and the lead guitarist and leader of the group. She is a student of the Sacred Heart School and took up music a year ago.
Front row (left to right): shows Gladys Ang, 17 years and is a student of Geylang Methodist School. She studied music nine months ago. Cynthia Fong is in the center and attends Fairfield Methodist School. She took up the drums a year ago. Montaz Akib is the 2nd lead guitarist, is 16 and student of Geylang Methodist School. She went for a music course year ago.
They had all gone for a TV audition and were accepted to appear on the small screen, so be on the lookout for this sensational teenage group. They are under the able hands of *Harry Martinez, Singapore's well-known music tutor."
The top image shows a Philips (438302 QE) recording of the same group. It features the same members (I think?) accompanying a vocalist called Dorothy. They pressed four Chinese (Mandarin) songs. These girls are unique within the Singapore 60s music circuit because I cannot think of another all-girl guitar group that plays Chinese music. Can you?
The band is known as Du Le Di in Chinese and the four songs translated into English are: Love Is Like A Balloon, Singing A Never Ending Song For You, Ah Lah Nah (Alanah) and Lian Hen (another Chinese name?)
*(Harry Martinez lived at Siglap on the East Coast and was a popular music tutor in the 60s who talent scouted his own students and grouped them into successful pop bands. The Silver Strings was such a group.)
Were you one of the band members? Is this the same group that was with Satellite Records? Do write in to tell us.
Connect below to read the other posting about The Vampires:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/10/vampires-in-singapore-at-cavanagh.html
Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.
Black bats, black cats or fiery pumpkins, the image below, taken from a souvenir magazine, shows The Vampires.
Whether they were part of a Halloween group to scare others was questionable but from the vinyl recorded and publicity given, the girls were very popular and had appeared in a number of variety shows and private functions in the sexy sixties in Singapore.
The description and position of each member in the magazine image is clear. From Dinner and Dance Magazine - 2nd October 1965, standing (left to right): Connie Fong is 18 and is a student at the Nanyang Academy of Arts. She plays the rhythm guitar and decided to opt for music some six months ago.
Rebecca Fong (with moon-glasses) is 18 and the lead guitarist and leader of the group. She is a student of the Sacred Heart School and took up music a year ago.
Front row (left to right): shows Gladys Ang, 17 years and is a student of Geylang Methodist School. She studied music nine months ago. Cynthia Fong is in the center and attends Fairfield Methodist School. She took up the drums a year ago. Montaz Akib is the 2nd lead guitarist, is 16 and student of Geylang Methodist School. She went for a music course year ago.
They had all gone for a TV audition and were accepted to appear on the small screen, so be on the lookout for this sensational teenage group. They are under the able hands of *Harry Martinez, Singapore's well-known music tutor."
The top image shows a Philips (438302 QE) recording of the same group. It features the same members (I think?) accompanying a vocalist called Dorothy. They pressed four Chinese (Mandarin) songs. These girls are unique within the Singapore 60s music circuit because I cannot think of another all-girl guitar group that plays Chinese music. Can you?The band is known as Du Le Di in Chinese and the four songs translated into English are: Love Is Like A Balloon, Singing A Never Ending Song For You, Ah Lah Nah (Alanah) and Lian Hen (another Chinese name?)
*(Harry Martinez lived at Siglap on the East Coast and was a popular music tutor in the 60s who talent scouted his own students and grouped them into successful pop bands. The Silver Strings was such a group.)
Were you one of the band members? Is this the same group that was with Satellite Records? Do write in to tell us.
Connect below to read the other posting about The Vampires:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/10/vampires-in-singapore-at-cavanagh.html
Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.
11 comments:
Hi Andy,
I had never seen this Philips ep before now. I think there is no doubt that the Vampires on the Philips ep are the same girls as on the other ep. By the way, the only other girl group I can think of that you haven't already mentioned is the Idaly Sisters. They were from Indonesia, but made a number of records in Singapore with backing by various local bands.
Regards
Steve
Hi Steve,
Thanks for writing. A rare piece indeed and I paid a fortune for it.
I am thinking of summarizing your thesis on Indonesian pop music in the 60s. It is highly informative and detailed.
Would prove helpful to readers who are keen to research on the topic.
I'd be very interested to read that thesis also!
thanks again for posting so much great information here.. i always enjoy visiting your blog and always come away from it with some new inspiration
Thank you sir. It may take a while to summarize Steve Farram's thesis and I won't promise it.
Glad this blog has inspired you. It's a pleasure to be of service.
Hi Andy,
Radiodiffusion Internationaal has put of a post of the Vampires as well and has an interview with Connie Fong. You can see it here:
http://radiodiffusion.wordpress.com/2010/10/30/dorothy-the-vampires/
Regards
Steve
Hi Steve,
Thanks for information. I hope readers who wish to read more about them can go to this blog.
Hi Andy,
do you know how to get hold of the album record by chance? is there anywhere that you can buy this from?
- Yann
Hi Yann,
You need to check out the record shops and people connection. It could be costly too but such products are priceless so unless you are willing to pay the sum asked, it's best you hunt around for the bargain. And that might take time.
All the best in your search. (I only have a copy myself.)
Dorothy passed on peacefully yesterday
THANKS VERY MUCH 'UNKNOWN'.
WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW HER NAME.
IS IT IN THE OBITUARIES IN THE STRAITS TIMES.
RIP DOROTHY
It is not in the obituaries. Dorothy Syn is my aunt.
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