Paul Mauriat Has Covered The 60s And Beyond

One big band that leaves nothing to the imagination is Paul Mauriat's. He had recorded so many cover albums his peers can only drool over his success. He had more than a thousand tiles from the Polygram label alone from 1965 to 1993. In Singapore, it was the 60s music revelation, as bands were in the midst of dishing out covers too.

To date he sold over 40 million albums around the world. His popularity in Japan was common knowledge and had concerts there from the 70s. He was so established that a line of saxaphones were named after him.

Paul Mauriat, who born in 1925 and died in 2006, was a French orchestra leader who specialized in light music. He was best known in the United States for his remake of André Popp's Love is Blue, which was at the top spot for 5 weeks in 1968.

Other recordings in his repertoire, of which only a small number can be listed, included melodies from movies, songs by top recording stars like The Beatles and countless other world hits and evergreens from the 60s onwards. There must be some Paul Mauriat albums in that cupboard.

Image: Universal Music.

Statistical information: Paul Mauriat's websites.

Original article: Andy Lim.

90.5FM DJ Brian Richmond with Henry Suriya

Brian Richmond and Henry Suriya (image) are well known personalities in our local 60s music scene. Richmond hosts the 90.5 fm Gold Classic radio broadcast, Nites With Brian and Vintage Sundays on MediaCorp Station. He will one of the hosts for Eurasiana, a musical tribute, on 26/27 June, 2009 at the Esplanade Concert Hall.

Henry Suriya (check older posting), is a well-known crooner and has recorded many songs during the 60s with his brother Robert and The Boys. Two of his songs are included in The Definite Collection. Brian Richmond has a part in the promotion of this box set.

Image: Henry Suriya Collection.
(1st posting on MCs, comperes, radio personalities from 60s).

Heather - The Diamond Four - The Thunderbirds

Besides the selection of Heather's two songs Love Is Blue and Green Tambourine in 100 Greatest Singapore 60s, she has also recorded some songs with the Diamond Four, a band of UK naval servicemen.

The image was from Philips in 1966 when Heather was only 14 years old. When the Diamond Four returned to Britain, Heather Batchen teamed up with Singapore's Thunderbirds.

As piracy was rampant in the 60s Heather's songs were included in an illegal EP with Kiss Me Goodbye and Me, The Peaceful Heart. Listening to Heather within the confines of a quiet and comfortable atmosphere brings back the nostalgia that only 60s Singapore music provides. She is the peaceful heart.

1. Joe Wu Seattle/WA/USA, has Heather on You Tube.

2. Image: Universal Music, Singapore.

3. Philips is under Universal Music, Singapore

Sweet Charity - Ramli Sarip - Esplanade Concert

According to information provided, the Esplanade Concert Hall was full with 1,600 people, so there was a packed house when Sweet Charity performed on Sunday (31.05.09).

Lead by Papa Rock vocalist Ramli Sarip, the band, in all its glory met again for its 40th anniversary concert to thrill the audience with Sarip's powerful vocals, SC's slick guitar runs, classic rock songs and stage presence.

Although most of the band boys are in their 50s and Sarip and drummer Rahman Sarbani the only original members left, they were as spritely on stage. For many fans in the audience, it was a night of nostalgia and definitely a meeting for music lovers, rock or otherwise. Thumbs up for Sweet Charity.

Another one next year?

Added in May 2012:

Ramli Sarip or PapaRock is an iconic figure in the Nusantara music scene. Ramli shot to fame with his pioneering rock group Sweet Charity that was set up in 1967. His last concert with his band, Sweet Charity in 2009 at the Esplanade was a sold out.

Generally accepted as the ‘father-figure’ by the artistes community on both sides of the causeway, this recipient of 1998 COMPASS Artistic Excellence Award is an all-rounder singer, musician, producer, composer and mentor. His last solo concert titled ‘Perjalanan Hidup’ was staged 27 years ago at the then World Trade Centre. SADAQA is therefore his first solo concert in almost 3 decades and the only concert for the year that is charity-based.

With special guest artiste, Raihan, Ramli will perform songs from his latest album – SADAQA. SADAQA features a compilation of 14 selected hits throughout Ramli’s solo career. SADAQA is in aid of Hasanah Mosque.       

Article: by Andy Lim

Image from: The Star Online/star-ecentral.com /Azhariah Kamin 12/05/2008.

Singapore 60s Music Including Silver Strings

No fanfare, no promotions, unnecessary discussion! Just stop, look, listen and buy. Take it home and enjoy the music.

"Stop, look and listen, baby/It's my philosophy..." (Elvis Presley).

Image: Box Cover/100 Greatest Singapore 60s/Universal Music Singapore.

National Theatre, Celestial Room, SEAsia Hotel: Guitar Bands That Rocked Singapore 60s.

Whole gangs of guitar bands performed within a night at three venues in Singapore. Again, newspaper advertisements from The Straits Times on 12th December, 1964 promoted a gig at the National Theatre at Tank Road and week-end dancing at the Celestial Room, Orchard Road and South-East Asia Hotel at Waterloo Street.

For me, as a school teacher then and only singing for fun as a hobby these were great times as I had the opportunity to sing with a live band on stage. My only knowledge of music was playing the guitar and knowing only 10 chords to accompany myself. It was during these performances that I met other band folks. 

Our boys and girls, both in the audience and on stage, were having a great time, entertained by The Silver Strings, Keith Locke & The Quests, Bobby Lambert & The Dukes, The Jets, Steven Tan & The Gippslanders, The Midnighters, The Tramps, Zainab Huri and Johnny Nakamura of Sukiyaki fame. Ticket prices were only one, two and three dollars. There was no cover charge for nightly dancing.

For those fans and pop music lovers who either cannot afford the entrance fee or just refused to pay for it, could climb trees beyond the half open-air theatre to watch, sitting perilously on the branches, as the cold winds blew. All in all, it was fun and games.

I'll Remember Today' from the late Shirley Nair

 with the Silver Strings. She joined the group 

in later years after Andy Young left the band.

YouTube Video from Audie Ng.

The Silver Strings, with Andy, entertained at the Celestial Room and South-East Asia Hotel too. Can anyone remember those days? Do write in to contribute.

An original article: Andy Lim.

Image: 

from The Straits Times Press Singapore 12/12/64. 

National Library Board Singapore)

One could climb trees behind the theatre to watch shows 

amidst a starry sky and windy whirls from the woods behind.

Robert Song - Singer, Artist Extraordinaire

Shirley Nair left the *Checkmates, to join the Silver Strings in the mid-60s. Robert Song [image right with microphone], who was percussionist with The Flamingos Combo Band, replaced Nair. Although Song fronted the Checkmates as a vocalist he was still playing with the Combo band for some time. He was also with The Stylers (check out the previous posting under Stylers).

Song was the Johnny Ray - Cry - of Singapore and already in the music scene since the mid-50s. He produced many stage shows to promote movies that his company brought in. He was best with jazz standards but could sing rock and roll. Just Walkin' In The Rain, was one of the standards he did.

The Checkmates play instrumental song Sylvia.wmv. Video: eosyeo.

Robert Song and The Checkmates performed at the Cellar and other venues that included the Golden Venus and the Celestial Room. Golden Venus was a rendezvous for British servicemen stationed in Singapore then and love different genres of music, including jazz. Song could perform jazz standards easily.

Song, always with a personal touch, distributed postcards of the band while he was with the group. As a graphic artist and an excellent one at that, he designed the above card; it was a special calling card for promotional purposes. 

Robert Song in a blue shirt [3rd from right].

Many of the huge cinema posters in the 60s, fronting the Capitol cinema at North Bridge Road, were created by Robert Song. These colourful creations have become synonymous with the building and thousands of passers-by or motorists would take notice of these colourfully gigantic posters.

The card (image) was a gift from the talented singer. Song had since migrated to the Philippines.

*The Checkmates comprised, Benny Chan (lead), Lanky Lawrence Lee (bass), Hans Hussein (rhythm) and Amir (drums). They were one of the top guitar groups in the 60s.

Checkmates, Trailers, Golden Venus, Palace

It was Saturday night on the 12th of December, 1964 and obviously about 2 weeks before Christmas. Nightclubs were full and so were the spirits of youths in Singapore. The above advertisement (image) from the Straits Times Press, Singapore, shows the Golden Venus at Orchard Road and the Grand Palace theatre at East Coast Road doing brisk business.

And on Sunday, bands were in full swing with Robert Song and the Checkmates and The Trailers fronted by Vernon having the rockingest time ever.

Although admission was free, patrons paid for their drinks. Usually they bought one drink for the whole afternoon, well sometimes two. But nobody bothered because each couple was trying to show the rest on the floor that the cha-cha-cha, twist, shake and rock would rule the T-Dances that day. After all it was the Dave Clark Five & The Animals Twist & Shake Special.

(Image from: Straits Times Press, Singapore/National Library Board, Singapore.)

The above idea was initiated by Dennis Tan.