Faith, Hope, Love: Good Friday In Easter Week

SONGS I LOVE:

Religious Pop Song

Many religious songs today have a pop beat and it was no different in the 1950s. As a teenager I learnt The Bible Tells Me So very quickly since it was on the air a lot with its cheerful jazz rhythm.  It  still remains in me today and the lyrics clear in my mind. I am uncertain if it was written by Dale Evans (wife of cowboy star Roy Rogers) but she, Nick Noble and Don Cornell made it a big hit. 

Although songs from the 50s like Irene Goodnight, A Dear John Letter and Tom Dooley have different themes they each have a simple and easily remembered refrain.  So it is with The Bible Tells Me So, accompanied by a big band and a repeated verse that is not easily forgotten.

Lyrics

Have faith, hope, and charity.
That's the way to live successfully.
How do I know?
The Bible tells me so.

Do good to your enemies,
And the blessed Lord you'll surely please.
How do I know?
The Bible tells me so.

Don't worry 'bout tomorrow.
Just be real good today.
The Lord is right beside you.
He'll guide you all the way.

*Nick Noble passed away on 24th March, 2012 aged 85.

 Alfred Ho from Penang, Malaysia (Video by: AlfredHo111)

"Veteran singer Nick Noble had a massive hit with this song when I was just growing up in the 50's," says Alfred Ho. This Malaysian is the consummate entertainer with over three decades of performing experience at numerous stage shows, shopping complexes, private functions and nightspots across the country. Although visually handicapped Alfred is certainly one of the best entertainers from way up North.

                                              

2 Elvis Presley's Bible

Elvis' Bible

A Bible that was once Elvis Presley's sold for US$94,000 in September, 2012. The Book, given to the King on his first Christmas in Graceland in 1957, was expected to fetch around US$40,000 but went for more than double its value. It was used by Presley throughout his life and contains his handwritten notes, thoughts and annotations (image above).

Lost and Found

I found this large, old Holy Bible near Siglap some months ago (actual image above). It was sitting on a PUB electric circuit box at a side road and I have kept it since.  It is a King James version with the words Super Giant Print and Holman Bible Publishers (Copyright 1996) on its side.

If you have lost a Bible that is 10 inches long and 7 inches wide with very big prints do write to me and I shall return it to you.

A Blessed Good Friday and Happy Easter everyone!

Image 1, 2: Google.

Image 3: Andy Lim Collection.

Ben Portsmouth UK Ultimate Elvis Tribute 2013

 

Ben Portsmouth Wins Collingwood 2012

Just close your eyes and listen:

An Elvis tribute artiste Ben Portsmouth from the UK singing,  An American Trilogy shown live on The David Letterman Show at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City on 8th February, 2013. You Tube Video is by Musicfantasy2. According to David Letterman, Portsmouth was, "The first European to be named the ultimate Elvis."

King Ben Portsmouth - 2012 to 2013:

On August 18th, 2012 ten of the top Elvis tribute artists in the world competed at a sold-out Cannon Center in downtown Memphis where the 2012 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist was announced. Ben Portsmouth from England, winner of the Collingwood Elvis Festival won the title.

Elvis Presley or Ben Portsmouth?

Ben lives in a small village in England called Walthan St. Lawrence. He enjoys spending time with friends and writing songs. He first heard Elvis as a young boy while riding in his father’s car.  Ben  learned some chords on his dad's guitar and started to play and sing along to Elvis’ music.  He sings most of them but the favourite is American Trilogy.

Video 1: by Musicfantasy2. Video 2 by kiko9918 from You Tube.

Image from: elvis.com/news.

Thanks to good friend SnookHawk for sending me the video.

Mata Mata Special Squads Roam 60's Night Clubs

Mata, Mata - The Singapore Police Force in the 1950's.

Something on my Mind with d'Starlights. Video by Mr Rainbow.

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Singapore Police Force n Nightclub Scene:

"Mata. Mata lai leow. (cops are here). Time is tight man! Let's make a run for it before we get caught by the special squad!"  The nightclubs in the 1960's were usually quiet with conflicts and rowdiness more or else contained.  

But there were instances when fights and clashes erupted and the police would appear quickly to appease the situation and handle the trouble makers.  

Guru Happy, who now lives in Vancouver is here again to discuss certain tough areas that he had been patrolling those years.  Personal names have been left out and the article has been edited:

*d'Starlights: Karate-kicks on stage before music performance.

"D'Starlights, I'm sure many of you could remember, was one of the first and top band from the Philippines to perform at the El Amigo in Singapore. We would always frequent the Lounge or Nite Club (as they were known those days) located at the New World Amusement Park.

This group were karate exponents and would include some Japanese art of self-defence techniques at the beginning of their music performance to show the gangsters their own agility.

Is this a **BLACK MARIA with reinforced steel bars?

Located at Kitchener Road (City Square Mall has now replaced New World) it was one place where well-known gangsters and hard-core fugitives would also congregate and come to know me pretty well too.  We would always land up making arrests in the club when I was then with the Police Special Squad working together with one Mr Singh (Special Squad or plain clothes policemen were known as arm-pai amongst the Chinese).



Another place we used to frequent often was at the Pink Panther off Orchard Road and the Shamrock Bar and Nite Club. "If you're looking for trouble, you came to the right place, If you're looking for trouble just look right in my face (Elvis Presley's Trouble from King Creole)."

Elvis Presley spells trouble in King Creole.

Childhood Friends:

Cathay Nite Club and Restaurant at the Cathay Cinema at Mount Sophia and Handy Road was another favourite joint and that was where my present better half and I had our first date, together with childhood friends, a well-known radio DJ and another friend who was one of Singapore's great footballers. We grew up together in primary school and if we didn't frequent the nightclubs we would spend most of our time on the soccer field in Queenstown.

Nightclubs in the 50s and 60s

Besides D'Starlights I still remember Susan Lim with The Crescendos and would still listen to her on You-Tube today to recall all those memorable times where we enjoyed our T-Dances and house parties in the 60s. Yes, so much to talk about, but so little time-lah, especially when you're far away from your kampung in Pasir Ris. Original article by Guru Happy."

Angchia (red van) arrests begin with warning messages over loudspeakers.

Takes A Crook To Catch A Crook - Singapore Gangsters

Call them what you will: triad, secret societies, thugs or samseng kia, these criminal organisations were known to identify themselves using numerals like 08 or 329. In the 60's gangsters would be detained under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance.  In the month of February 1965 alone more than 3,000 suspects were screened and about a dozen gangsters arrested. They lived in hideouts at Geylang, Yeo Chu Kang, Havelock, Chinatown and other areas.

Undercover police officers who dressed like thugs would penetrate hideouts and together with ex-gangsters recruited by the police, raid dens and red-light areas like Geylang and Sago Lane. The exploits of these reformed criminals were legendary as they helped to capture some of the worst in our society.

Mata mata means Eyes in the Malay Language. It is the colloquial term for Policemen.

Gangsters caught by the mata-mata and arm-pai. From stomp.com.sg

Images:

Vinyl from d'Starlights: It's Soul Man with A Man Without Love, Hip Hug Her, El Pussy Cat and Louie Louie on EMI/ECHK 598.

Police vans to transport prisoners inside a specially adapted cell in the vehicle; also for rapid transport of police officers to an incident.

The vehicle most gangsters fear was the ang-chia or red van, used to round up troublemakers and placed under arrest. They would be escorted under heavy guard in these red vans and charged at the police station. Such vehicles have been phased out today and replaced with smaller ones.

If you take information from this article for your own use, 

at least credit me because copying is stealing.

Andy.

Images from: Google,  stomp.com.sg, Andy Lim Collection.
Original article: Guru Happy from Vancouver, BC.

Music Memory Trail Jazz Guitarist Vivian Nonis @ 87

Vivian with new Gibson. He looks like *John Lee Hooker. (image from: XINMSN).

We have a number of guitar maestros but not many Singaporeans are aware except for those who are either in the music industry or following the melody trail.  With some help from Wilfred Lim, St Andrew's classmate and guitar enthusiast, I met one who is a veteran jazz guitarist and who played big time with 1960s bands. 

Have guitar will travel and whether it was in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Indonesia or far away Japan this gentleman is still strumming his way into the hearts of many music lovers for 40 years and more.

Vivian Nonis was a clarinetist but started playing the guitar when be-bop was top. He is so good at his craft that his versatility spans many genres.  Rock and roll or rhythm and blues, Latin or mood music Uncle Vivian plays them all.


At the Singapore Art Museum performance in 2007 (image by Guitar77).

His favourite is jazz and this 87 year young connoisseur has performed with western bands, chinese bands, malay kugirans, big ensembles, combos and ker tais.  Vivian is still at it today and devotes most of his time with a new curvaceously sexy life partner, a semi-solid Gibson given to him by Gibson Singapore for his contribution to our music scene.

He shares his music with others, practising and jamming with anyone who's interested to learn the art.  He is a guitar tutor and in one of his rare appearances Vivian performed with his students at the Singapore Art Musuem in August 2007.  In 2012 at the annual President's Star Charity Show on TV he was the accompanying guitarist playing Nat King Cole's L.O.V.E. and The Beatles, Can't Buy Me Love.

According to TheGuitarista1102 interview on You Tube, Vivian has lived for 10 years in a home for seniors on our island since his family migrated. It was his decision to stay because he loves the country and his many music friends.


Vivian Nonis' Music Corner where he tutors students (image You Tube by The Guitarista1102)

He lives alone, manages well and spends  time composing songs whenever he is free.  When asked about his sunglasses he mentioned that he wears them because of a problem with his left eye but adds that he still sees well with the other.

During his younger days Vivian had played with famed Malay film star P. Ramlee and other prominent musicians.  He was leader of a band that played at the 7th Storey Hotel and gladly mentioned that about one quarter of Singapore's musicians were his students.  That is something!

I was lucky enough to have met Vivian some years ago when I visited him at the Home.  Quiet, unassuming and very cheerful he taught me the embellishment of a few pop songs when we sat together at his favourite garden spot in the Home.



Full house during tribute to Nonis (image by markomas n Guitar77)

"I dream to be a top guitarist in Singapore," says Vivian. I think he is. Listen to him on You Tube (top right bar).  MediaCorps calls him "one of our oldest legendary jazz guitarist."  Here's to a Singapore idol.  Many more years of guitar playing Vivian! 

NB: If you were one of his students or if you are friend or family please write in as Wilfred and I will be meeting him soon and providing him a copy of this write-up and comments. Thanks.

*"John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1917 – June 21, 2001) was a highly influential American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.  William Hooker rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally a unique brand of country blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark (Wikipedia)."

Images: Google, You Tube (XINMSN, The Guitarista1102, Guitar77 and markomas).

Hey Pallies: A True Blue Dino-Lover From Dino-US

DMP, with his generous heart, posts my blog on his with this introduction:

Saturday March 2nd, 2012

Was Singapore Ever On 'The Dean Martin Show'?

ilovedinomartin.blogspot.com header.

Hey pallies, likes ilovedinomartin is pleased as a bowl of spiked Dino-punch to be able to shares with all youse Dino-philes our great great Singaporian Andy's powerful Dino-patter from his majestically marvelous musical blog, "Singapore 60s: Andy's Pop Music Influence." Andy has been hangin' 'round ilovedinomartin for a long time and is truly truly one of the most devoted Dino-holics that ilovedinomartin is privileged to tag pallie.

As you will read below, Andy details how our most beloved Dino, at the pinacle of his tremedous television career "was invited to come to Singapore in the middle of 1980 to shoot a film for his series. He was invited to sell our little island by the local tourist promotion board who had noticed its immense popularity." As Andy notes, the production was to be a "special Christmas extravaganza." Sad to say, our great man ended up havin' to say no to this great opportunity.

Andy shares many many cool Dino-details in his Dino-scribin's and likes the coolest of the coolest note is that "his show was so popular it ran twice a week over RTS (Radio Television Singapore)." And, as always ilovedinomartin's awesome pallie Andy gives a huge nod of Dino-approval to ilovedinomartin and yours truly. Indeed Andy is a fabulously faithful friend of our Dino's and this humble Dino-blog.

ilovedinomartin sends out our deepest of deep Dino-appreciato to our wonderfully wise pallie Andy for liftin' up the name of our Dino at his fab blog and helpin' his huge readership to grow in knowin', lovin', and honorin' our main man. To checks out Andy's reflections directly at his blog, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-report. Dino-delightedly, DMP

*Dino Martin Peters is so enraptured by Dean Martin that he has dedicated a blog to Mr. Cool and has been writing it for many years using his own Dino-patter, a Dino-lingo that is in itself so unique that it is amusing yet sophisticated and encompasses everything Dean Martin. Check out the original blog by Dino-lover DMP @: http://ilovedinomartin.blogspot.sg/