Music, Moonlight, Mooncakes, Mambo and Madness, Rhumba, Samba, Pachanga, Calypso n Cha Cha - Singapore 50s

TOP TUNES INFLUENCE: 1956-1957

Singapore, in the 50s, had more than its fair share of instrumental music before The Shadows and Ventures came to town in the early 60s. In fact, the music was more varied and instead of the monotonous three electric guitars and a drum routine that permeated the world in the 60s, the influence of both Latin and strings came distinctly from a few big band combos and orchestras.

First, the Latin flavour came from orchestras like Perez Prado's. Following the Top Tunes 1956 list and having lived in that decade, the tune that surpassed all others in popularity in this genre was, Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White. It was played everywhere and for many years, as the whole country was immersed in this particular Latin song with its powerful trumpet solo, exciting rhythm and mambo madness.

Pérez Prado Y Su Orquesta - 'Mambo No. 5'

YouTube video by: uhbytube

Besides Cherry Pink, Perez Prado during his hey-days also provided Mambo No 5 and Patricia (image). Then Cha-cha-cha came to light as many Latin songs with the conga, mambo, samba and rhumba beat were changed to the cha-cha beat. And "one, two, cha-cha-cha," came to life! 

Singapore dance cabarets at the Happy World and Great World, where you can pay for a lady dance partner [taxi dancers], was filled with Seniors who enjoyed the vibrant movements and steps.

"Like exercising and playing soccer!" someone screamed! 

"Yes, but fully clothed!" someone added, chuckling!

MOONLIGHT, MOONCAKES, MAMBO, MADNESS

It's 6th October today and Singaporeans celebrate the mooncake festival.  Below are some connections if you are interested.

Click below:

.: Search results for mooncake

Perez Prado Orchestra in the 50s and 60s.

Mid-Autumn madness with mooncakes and mambo.

Enjoy my dear readers! 6th October, 2025.

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

Images: Google Collection.

Posting Updated from: 10.9.09.

Patricia: James Last and Orchestra.

YouTube Video by: Last Forever

Richard Rajoo Recalls Famous Yao Li [姚莉] Songs His Mother Loved...

When mum stir-fries and sings her heart out.

Good friend Richard Rajoo felt there was nothing he could contribute for the blog when I wanted to interview him. A humble person indeed but when we chatted about Chinese songs, and he's very informative about them, he had a short story to relate. Hopefully he will tell us more the next time. Thanks so much Richard.

"Good morning, 

These melodies are etched in my mind... I hear my mum singing in her hi-pitched voice, as she prepares our family's meal in the kitchen, I can still recall her in her samfu [Chinese blouse n pants outfit], stir-frying the vegetables in the kitchen at our Tiong Bahru pre-war flat that we lived in.

🙏🏻 R.I.P. Mum.

And I enjoyed the sight and her voice singing along...👍🏼80 years ago, 🤦!
Yao Li's song... till this day, every once in a while, the sentimental melodies still play back in my mind..."

Author: Richard Rajoo.

Today Richard Rajoo goes along Charity Roads and at Senior Corners to perform now and again, during his free time. A kindhearted man indeed. He sings and usually accompanies himself on the guitar. Richard knows many songs and is lyrical wise, emphasizing the importance of words and placings.

Comments are welcome.

30.9. 2025.

Yao Li [姚莉] 18 of her hits from the 40s  

YouTube Video by: cuckoo bird.

Yao Li姚莉 18 of her hits from the 40s

Thanks to video enthusiast 'cuckoo bird' for the above.

Do you know the songs on the video?

Tell us.

The reason Richard decided to tell his tale. Connect below:

.: Searching For My Favourite Chinese Oldies: Yao Li - 那個不多情 姚莉

Andy's 60's Music Blog Reaches 4.4 Million Plus Views on 22 September 2025

It was more than 4.3 million views on 1st September 2025. In less than a month the blog acquired another 100,000 views to achieve 4.4 million plus views.

+PLUS Views

On 22nd September 2025.

The Impossible Dream

Reaching 4.4 Million Plus Views. Now That's

A Lot Of Readers For A Singapore Music Blog!

Lulu, Elvis Presley, The Platters, Charlize Theron, Papas and Mamas,

Tom Jones, The Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, The Shadows,

Paul McCartney, Babra Streisand, Dionne Warwick. 

Check them and others on this music blog! Four point four million plus views cannot be wrong!

Do you know our guest stars above?

Is there a mistake somewhere regarding these stars?

Answers and Comments are welcome.

"The Impossible Dream" Elvis Presley. [1971]

YouTube Video by Mr. A.P.

Images: Google.

Letter To Andy 60s Music: Singer @ Ambassador Hotel Tells Laura In Mandarin He Loves Her.

"No one knows what happened that day

How his car overturned in flames

But as they pulled him from the twisted wreck

With his dying breath, they heard him say..."

I receive many anonymous letters in the mail, and they usually write positive reviews about the blog. Here's one short note written on 27th August 2023. Thank you, my friend, whoever you are...

Hi Andy, 

Glad to have stumbled onto your post and reading yours and others’ wonderful stories reminiscing of the old times!

I love songs from the sixties. When traveling in North American cities, I would still look for old diners with booth tables and some wall jukeboxes.

Booth tables and old diners in America during the 60's.

'Tell Laura I Love Her' in Mandarin.

Sung by: Liu Wen-Cheng.

YouTube Video by Liu Wen-Cheng - Topic

In late sixties of Singapore, I occasionally hung out with a group of Mandarin and Hainanese speaking friends at the Ambassador Hotel roof top nightclub. They called the club manager ‘Boon’. I was told that the nightclub owner was a lady, probably one of those experienced entertainers from Shanghai.

The Ambassador Hotel opposite a popular 

60's playground called Katong Park near Meyer Road.

The roof-garden of this hotel gathers local pop music bands

and crowds fill it up on Saturday nights especially.

Frequently we encountered a ‘guest-singer’. He usually sang popular English songs with Mandarin lyrics. He did Ray Peterson’s ‘Tell Laura I love Her’. I don’t remember the whole lyrics, only this part:

“… 日日我在想念, 夜夜我在想念… [Every day I miss you, every night I miss you...] "Tell Laura not to cry…”

27/08/23.

Comments are always welcome.

"And in the chapel where Laura prays

For Tommy who passed away 

It was just for Laura he lived and died

Alone in the chapel she can hear him cry..."

Juke boxes from the 60's that play vinyl records

automatically when you slot a coin into the machine.

Images: 

[1] Google, 

[2] Self-created from WhatsApp/Meta AI.

60s Music Singapore: Some September Sentiments, Songs: John Keats And Drones?

Peaceful rainy September on the streets in Singapore. Now's who's playing with those flying machines in other countries, while candles and joss sticks illuminate the Chinatown skies. A significant season for Singapore indeed.

UP TO 1,000 VIEWS

An Anonymous Comment... and Mine:

True, true. It is a very wet September so far; it's raining now and gets heavier too. The Heavens crying its eyes out at the state of the world, a world with hardly any peace, where newly invented drones fill the skies to destroy.

911 - a number known to all Americans, and the world. The Emergency services number. 911 will be seared in the memory of the world.

Every season has its beauty. Autumn, or Fall, is resplendent in fiery colours. It is also harvesting season, when Mother Earth offers puny Man her rich larder to tide over the lean Winter. 

In this New World, it is Time for Thanksgiving, an occasion many considered as important, if not more, as Christmas. At American and Canadian universities, Fall is when term begins afresh, time for Orientation and Homecoming, when the blaze of academic life and enquiring minds are stoked anew.

John Keats in Ole' England in 1795, because

the digitalized folks have only awakened

from their slumber in 1975.

In the Old World, we can't help but remember John Keats' "Ode to Autumn".

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless, With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core...

So, in Asiatic Singapore, we get the brown branches and green leaves bowing under the weight of the thunderstorm. Expect more rain this September 2025. And are we expecting the school holiday, Teachers' Day, Prophet Muhammed's Birthday, Little India's Deepavali Light-up, the Hungry Ghost, Mooncake or Mid-Autumn Festival too? Better check them out.

The preference for decorative lanterns in 

downtown September Singapore is obvious.

Let's fill our skies with the pops of yesteryear:

Maybe September, Tony Bennett.

Come September, Bobby Darin.

September Morn, Neil Diamond.

September In The Rain, Sarah Vaughn.

September When I First Met You, Barry White.

September Of My Years, Frank Sinatra.

Try To Remember, Brothers Four.

There are other singers too.

'Try To Remember' [Campfire 14].

The Brothers Four.

YouTube Video by: Mark Pearson Music.

Video was suggested by good friend, 

Chew Hee Hong who wrote about

Skeeter Davis. Click below to read:

.: "Skeeter Davis Was A Friend." Unassuming HH Chew Tributes International 60s Singer.

Whoops! Forgot the umbrella!

Comments are welcome.

[Anonymous, Comment Page on 13 September 2020 wrote; and I added some.]

Andy's 60's Music Favourite 'Knock Knock' Songs And Jokes?

When KNOCK, KNOCK songs were popular.

They were characterized by a call-and-response format, and usually with a humorous storytelling twist. Furthermore, they were interactive and catchy usually featuring a dialogue or one-liners reflecting the 60's lightheartedness. Social change and upheaval, these pops provided a fun and carefree world for listeners.

Beats Juliet screaming quietly: "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou."

And she's on the balcony. Was Romeo at the door downstairs knocking? 

By the way, the two Chinese ladies knocking on the door are Juliet Lim and Juliet Tan. They both come from 1A Meta Road, Singapore.

😄

'I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door' [1959]

Also by Eddie Hodges, the last lines of the lyrics are sung 

so quickly they need good timing and fluency of the language 

to vocalize them. Just listen to Little Pattie go...

“I’m gonna knock and ring and tap and knock and ring and tap 

and knock and ring and tap until you do!”

Little Pattie: 'I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door'

YouTube Video by: VintageVideoClips.

 

'Knock Three Times' [1970]

There was no 'Dawn' when the song was recorded, so

Orlando asked Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, 

whom he had hired to work as background vocalists or,

in music jargon, backup singers. They became 

'Dawn' and K3T became a big hit.

“Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me,

Twice on the pipe if the answer is no.”

Tony Orlando & Dawn - 'Knock Three Times' (1970 HD 720p) 

YouTube Video by: NVNCBL @VINCENTDICRESCE.

Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Why?

Why who?

Y.M.C.A.

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

Rain!

Rain who?

You rain nothing but a hound dog!

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

Everybody!

Everybody who?

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting!

'Knock On Wood' [1966]

Insulting indeed, when the teacher tells the child to 

knock his own head in front of the class and says it's wood.

The term is also supposed to ward off bad luck.

But then the song itself, composed/sung by Eddie Floyd, 

has a different theme. Amii Stewart sings it in style...

“Babe, you better knock, knock, knock on wood,

Babe, you better knock, knock, knock on wood.”

Amii Stewart - 'Knock On Wood' (Official HD Video)

YouTube Video by: Amii Stewart (Official)

BYE, BYE.

This is one crazy posting.

Three of my favourite knock, knock songs!

Andy, you going crazy or what? 😋

Images: Google.

"Andy 60s Music" Blog Has No Connection With Other Websites Using Similar Name.

 

Andy's Music Blog Reaches 4.3 Million+ Views

THIS BLOG HAS REACHED 4.3 MILLION+ VIEWS SINCE 1st SEPTEMBER 2025 AND IS STILL GROWING DAILY...

MILLION+ VIEWS

Thanks to all readers, friends, fans and contributing writers. You have helped to make this music blog a big success since 2008 and it has become one of the top 5 music blogs under 25 Best Music Blogs in SG 2025.

Andy. 2.9.2025.

60s Music Vinyl Records For Sale At Night Markets [Pasar Malam]: By Foo Jong Fook.

The writer himself, or a friend, at Albert Street Night Market 

during the 60's in Singapore, checking out vinyl records to buy.

Fabian Foo Jong Fook reminisces:

When The Record Shop Comes To You:

I was born in Albert Street, currently the Albert Food and Hawker Centre. During the day Albert Street was just an ordinary road but in the evening from 6pm to 10pm, it became a very busy Pasar Malam or Night Market.

There were many makeshift stalls selling everything we needed [last image below]. What was more an attraction to me were the record stalls, blasting music from the vinyl of our many Singapore bands like The Stylers, Travellers, Melodians and Chinese singers who sang in Mandarin, like Rita Chao or Sakura Teng. 

Vendors would come early to set up their stalls [last image below] and as the sun set, people who live around the area would come by after their dinner for their evening stroll and check out the shopping mall that visits the residents. 😄

The songs the vendors played were mostly Chinese pops. We kept hearing the same songs every night when those LPs [Long Play Records] and EPs [Extended Plays] were hot on the market.

Chinese records like these sold well among Singaporeans in the 60s who find them entertaining and the record covers were attractively designed to show off the musicians and singers.

Hawkers' food [image below] was at every corner, but I was too poor to eat night snacks. Only on special occasions were we able to buy these titbits with some extra pocket money that we had. The extra funds that I used to save were spent, not on food, but to buy records at Kwang Sia Records at North Bridge Road. But that's another story.

"Those were the days my friend; I thought it'll never end..."

Any experience on night markets in your own country? 

Comments are welcome.

16.11.19.

Food stalls @ Albert Street Night Market in 1966. 

Photo from 'flickr' by David Ayres.

Vendors come early to set up their record stalls; the 

early bird too gets his share of vinyl selection in broad daylight.

One could buy almost anything at a night market.

Do we still have them around in Singapore today?

Author and good friend:

Fabian Foo Jong Fook.

Read another 60's music story about vinyl records:

Click below:
.: Singapore 60s Chinese Records Are Disappearing