The Trailers (above image) has drummer Tony Zee (on green seat) whom Albert Louis has highlighted when I asked him about local percussionists he admires.Albert wrote: "Locally Tony Zee comes to mind. He was the pioneer of studio drumming in the 60's, 70's and 80's, which requires precision in timing and technique and he used to rule in this area and being a first class sight reader he was quick to pick up what is latest in drumming from books and worked very hard to improve and keep up with the times.
He can be seen in the band in the programme called, "DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS," hosted by Gurmit Singh and currently on Channel Five."
Thank you Albert ('Drumming For Health' concept: Read previous blog) for your insight on drummers you admire both local and foreign.
The Trailers:
The Trailers:
The
Trailers 「特丽乐队」 was one of the most versatile and talented bands to
emerge from Singapore in the 1960s。 Formed sometime in 1964 by Victor
Woo (lead guitar) and Eric Tan (bass)，the band had a number of line-up
changes in mid 1966 with Benny Koh (vocals)，Edmund Tan (rhythm
guitar)，Tony Zee (drums) and Michael Teo (keyboards)。
That first single
contained the group's original composition, [Do It Right] backed with the
instrumental [Thunderball]。The single went on to be a number one seller
in Singapore。
Later in 1966, the Trailers had another hit with their
second single, another original, the excellent 「Don't Laugh (You'll
Cry)」，backed with a great version of Little Richard's [Lucille]。
This was
followed in early 1967 by an all instrumental EP (vinyl record)，with new
keyboardist Jimmy Chan who had replaced Michael that yielded one of
their most evergreen tunes，「Phoenix's Theme (贺新年)」，which apparently is
still a feature of many Singaporean Chinese New Year celebrations。
The
joyous instrumental rendition of a popular Chinese New Year's
song, [Phoenix's Theme」 in western Chinese tune became a standard. This
reminds of Chinese New Year in Singapore in the 60's，the family dinners
and visits, the red packets, the red fire crackers, the smell of the
black powder, school holidays。 The melody for the Spring festival injected
the spirit of splendour and goodness for each New Year。
The Trailers: I'm Ready Now:
YouTube Video by: My Moody Heart.
Another standout
tune is 「Alisan (阿里山)」，based on a Taiwanese folk-song that praises the
beauty of the Taiwanese maidens from the island's highest peak。 「Ding
Ding Song] was also based on a Chinese tune and [Lara's Theme」，from the
film Dr Zhivago is the odd one out. All the Trailers recordings appeared
on the Cosdel label but starting in early 1968，a number of Cosdel
artists received international release through an arrangement with RCA。
Article On You Tube By:
fhlew8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uirhMDjCBdg
Hi Andy
ReplyDeleteAll these songs by The Trailers were very popular in the request programmes on Rediffusion and on radio. They remind me of my secondary days .
Nostalgia.
Thank you sir, whoever you are.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are aren't they?
And we still play them today.
Appreciate your visiting the blog.
Here's a posting about THE TRAILERS, one of the best bands from Singapore 60s.
ReplyDeleteCheck out their story...
Andy Young
ReplyDeleteThanks Fabian, Somkid and Fabian for being the first 3 to LIKE this post.
Ah, and Stephen too. Thank you sir.
Fabian Lim
ReplyDeleteI continue perform occasionally with Tony Zee, the drummer since 1993, who I met when he was playing with Jive Talking then. I wanted to record the band but eader Victor Woo passed on a year earlier, and Tony has lost contact with everyone in the band. My tribute video to Tony and his band featuring Tony, Winston, and Henry Chua:
https://youtu.be/9r-tuiB0bOI?si=RHw5eOzpbMeCUDQm
David Greenfield
ReplyDeleteI need to find their first single, Don’t Laugh (You’ll Cry), then my Trailers collection will be complete
Freda Hanum
ReplyDeleteMy school days favourite song Do It Right from The Trailers ..
Hiroshi Deguchi
ReplyDeleteDo It Right is my favorite, too
Ericbronson Wong
ReplyDeleteYEAH BROTHER ANDY TODAY IS EVERYBODIES BIRTHDAY,, SO MUCH SO YOU R AN ABSOLUTELY SPECIAL ONE TO SEND TO,,,
Use to watch them at Palace T-Dance ( Katong)
ReplyDeleteFred Ching
ReplyDeleteSuperb local band of the sixties, and thanks for sharing Brother Andy. This band reminds me of a story my father told me once. When I was a boy, he would drop me off my uncle house in Katong, over the weekend, believe me it’s just next to Sin Po Po Bar and one particular day, as he about to pick me up, Peter Gunn was heard on the transistor radio which l later gathered was by none other, The Trailers.
Like I said, the power of music to further inspire my memories, I was blown away by this rendition from Duane, and reminded me of my youth of a long gone time!
👍👍👍❤️❤️..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwVD3CZ90jk
A tremendous response indeed. Thanks to the following below:
ReplyDeleteFreda Hanum
Alphonso Soosay
Fred Ching
Ericbronson Wong
Stephen Han
Ann Rowena Lim
John Klass
Colin Colin
Hiroshi Deguchi
Foo Jong Fook
Jalani Mohamed
Yip Dick
Stephen Francis
Koh Daisy
Rocker Lee
Roland Shepherdson
Patrick Chng
David Greenfield
Somkid Lakhawat
Matt Jsl Tan
Stella Ang
Peter Cheong
Fabian Lim
INDEED A WARM COME BACK FOR THE TRAILERS.
👍
ReplyDeleteTo Ms Ang.
ReplyDeleteIt's best to communicate within the topic and on the blog, unless the viewer has a topic to discuss and contribute.
Thank you all for visiting and providing interesting and informative comments.
DISCUSSING THE PRICE OF SINGAPORE VINYL RECORDS TODAY:
ReplyDeleteAndy Young
Where did you get them David? Costs? Thanks
David Greenfield
Andy Young The Antartics came from Past Image, and the others from For The Record.
The Antartics was pricy, as it’s an extremely difficult one to find.
Still, it wasn’t as bad as the Silver Strings record with the $400 price tag at Roxy Disc House.
I usually visit a handful of other shops. But, as I was only in town for 3 days, I wasn’t able to make the rounds.
Not sure how much I paid for the others, as I bought a stack of records and didn’t catch the individual pricing.
Andy Young
David Greenfield thanks. Maybe I should start letting go of my lot...
Ericbronson Wong
ReplyDeleteYes Brother Andy l forgot To Say That The Trailers Were One Of The Most Outstanding Bands Of Singapore during d late Sixties l attended many of D tea dances in Katong at D Palace theatre's Nite Club on Sundays at 3pm,,,
Oh Yes Benji D vocalist I met him a couple of times while he was here in HKG he had a contract with D HongKong Hilton in D mid Seventies l must say he truly was a great guy,, Benji Koh Was Truly An Amazing R N B Rock Singer n can stand side by side with The Animals Singer Eric Burdon,, Whether Or Not He was named with total respect the Eric Burdon Of Singapore during D Roaring Seventies,,,
ReplyDeleteAn excellent comment about Benny Koh.
Yes, he's a good friend from Joo Chiat, Katong in Singapore.
Thanks EricB.