Tommy Steele, Lonnie Donegan, Helen Sharpiro

I also remember another Tommy, this time it's Tommy Steele and a favourite I shall never forget, 'Butterfingers' which was on the UK Hit Parade Charts for a while.

The UK invasion hit Singapore way before Cliff Richard did in the 60s because songs by Steele and others were heard on the radio in the 50s when I was still a school boy.

Steele's other favourites include, 'Water Water', 'Singing The Blues' (taken from Guy Mitchell) and 'Where Have All The Flowers Gone?', a classic folk.

Other pop singers in the 50s with a large following in Singapore are Russ Hamilton, Petula Clark, Adam Faith, Billy Fury, Gary Miles, Helen Sharpiro, Frankie Vaughn and of course, Lonnie Donegan (the skiffle man).

The influence was tremendous as the British servicemen who came here to occupy the military bases made up a good percentage of people who patronised the night clubs at Orchard Road and other dance halls in Singapore.

Image: Google.