The Esquires - Hot November Night - Vivo City

There are also 60s musicians who are tutors in music schools now, and while some are busking on the sunny streets in Singapore, others sing under the moonlight. They do not earn much, work for many hours and can be found at Orchard Road and other street venues.

Farid (left) was on lead guitar during the VivoCity gig. The Esquires also accompanied Wilson David, a well-known Elvis Presley impersonator, when he fronted them during the show singing, Mean Woman Blues, Wooden Heart and Mona Lisa.

There were numerous 60s artistes who had performed in Singapore's night-spots, cinemas, theatres and hotels. Singapore nightlife was truly vibrant, captivating and unforgettable.

Some of them are still playing at private clubs and hotels, while others have either gone into business or quit the scene for more lucrative careers.

Khalik (left) was the bass guitarist for The Esquires that evening and all their musical instruments were provided by Dan of Dan Enterprise at Peninsula Plaza. He was the leader and saxaphonist for the band.

The Esquires were men of steel who braved the night to heat the stage up at the VivoCity Concert in November 2008. They were the band that started the rockin' and rollin' that evening. Some of them are more than half a century young but they were in top form.

The concert also featured The Silver Strings, Veronica, Mike & Herb, Andy, Wilson David, Max Surin, Michael Goh and The Trailers. Jerry Fernandez was the MC for the evening and the other Jerry was on the drums (right).

Images: all 3 from Mike & Herb through Steven Farram - Australia.

60s Music Better Than Today's - Twitter Youths

About 9 hours ago today, Twitter Brian of bhbluebird8 remarks: "Maybe I'm getting older, but I keep realizing that music from the 60s and 70s is so much better than what is played nowdays."

About 8 hours ago today, Twitter Ashlilouise (Hollister) made the same comment: "My grandad was 56 today and it made me think... what is it like to have lived in the 50s and 60s? I'm so jealous, they had good music."

Knivesinmyeyes says: "As I sit out here smoking my cigarette, I can hear slow 60s music playing in the distance. It's making my night."

These comments are from very young people and how right they are. The period from the mid-50s, 60s and early 70s is the golden era of pop music. Singapore too, had its golden years during the 60s.

Image: twitter.com

Information: Topics from 60s Music Bing beta website.

The Shadows Versatility - Hawaiian Guitar Too

He plays bass for this group and also the hawaiian guitar for another band. He enjoys what he is doing and spends much time jamming with his friends when he is free. He has a large collection of guitars. Shadows' versatility too.

The Shadows Versatility - Leads 60s Music

Quiet, unassuming but friendly, George Chew only lets his fingers do the walking and talking when he leads the band with his versatility on the Fender frets playing, Apache, FBI, Kon-Tiki and other Shadows hits.
George is able to communicate well with his bassist, rhythmist and drummer and harmonise as a whole. What band is George with and who are his guitar mates? Check him out soon enough.
Image/Article: Andy Lim

(2) Singapore 60s Musicians For Charity Shows

"An entertainer's life in the 60s did not evolve around the music alone, many were also involved in community service - a fact not many people are aware of. Top performers very often were called upon to help in fund-raising events for various charities in Malaysia and Singapore. They did this willingly and seldom were paid.

Recording technology was inferior then. Good recording and sound engineers were few. As a result many groups produced their own music through trial and error. Yet, some of the best local recordings were done in the 60s. This also inspired some to become good record producers."

(2nd part in a series of 4 articles by Henry Suriya.)

Article/Image from: Henry Suriya Collection - All Rights Reserved.

(1) Henry Suriya Singapore 60s Artiste Recalls:

Local music was at its peak during the 60s, it was a period which also saw the beginning of some good song writers and record producers.

The 60s was a vibrant period for Singapore's music industry. Everyone became a part of the music scene - those who liked to dance, those who loved and bought our vinyl records, the radio stations that played our music - without them no singers and bands could continue. Their support for the locals artistes was the greatest compliment any artiste could ever want.

To many of us, music was just a hobby. We could never make a living from music. The highest one could achieve is to make a record and get some publicity in the media.

(1st part of a series where HENRY SURIYA, recording artiste, provides an overview of Singapore's vibrant music scene during the 60s .)
Image: www.wesdooley.com

Guantanamera - 60s Music - Covered By Many

The song, Guantanamera, needs no introduction and it has been interpreted in many languages including Chinese (image) but for most music lovers, it's the melody and the beauty of the original lyrics in Spanish that enchant.

The original composer for this Cuban folk song is uncertain but is usually 'attributed to a José Fernández Diaz (Wiki)' and written around the 20s. The lyrics relate to a particular woman from Guantánamo, with whom the person had a romantic relationship. If used with different lyrics, it can be a vehicle for social commentary, etc.

There are many versions but the lyrics loosely translate as, "I am an honest man from the land of palm trees, so as I lay dying like a wounded deer seeking refuge in the woods, I want to share the verses of my soul. I have a white rose each for this sincere friend who has given me his hand and for the cruel one who has torn his heart. I also wish to share my fate with the poor people... to me, the mountain brook provides more pleasure than the sea." Possibly a rejected lover!

The Sandpipers, personally, is the most poignant and popular since it was arranged by Peter Seeger.  There are other versions by Los Lobos, Trini Lopez, Joan Baez, Jose Feliciano and Julio Iglesias. 

There are numerous Asian versions of Guantanamera too including one by The Burns, Charlie & His Go-Go Boys, Lisa Lim and Horace and the Girvin Sisters. If readers come across any other version, please contribute. The accompanying song on these vinyls is usually, San Francisco (Some Flowers In Your Hair)

Vinyl Image/Article: from Andy Young.

Herp Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Latino 60s

Remember Herp Alpert and the Tijuana Brass? Singaporeans loved his good looks and trumpet. Better than Harry James. They sold twice as many records in 1966 as compared to The Beatles.

Herp Alpert and the Tijuana Brass were first on the Billboard album charts for 18 weeks with 4 albums in the Top 10. Lonely Bull, (image) Whipped Cream and Other Delights, South Of The Border and a single that must be mentioned, Spanish Flea. The hits followed one after another as the handsome L.A. Californian introduced Latino sound to the pop/rock mainstream in the 60s. He is the "A" of A& M Records with Jerry Moss (M).

Alpert's musical accomplishments include 5 number one hits, 28 albums on the Billboard charts, 8 Grammy Awards, 14 Platinum albums, and 15 Gold albums. As of 1996, Alpert had sold 72 million albums internationally. But he could sing too and with This Guy's In Love With You, he topped the US charts for 4 weeks and reached Number 2 in the UK.

A personal favourite: SPANISH FLEA, a melody heard so many times, it comes out as a whistling tune, anytime, every time. Mr Herp Alpert.

He was also an influence on Singapore music in the 60s. Born in 1935, Herp Alpert should be 74 now. It is also well-known that he uses only Benge trumpets (image).

Comment by Mr Lum about the non-existence of instrumental music from the 80s till today has been inadvertently left out after the post has been deleted. The answer is probably because of IT and digitalized music without live musicians. Next, it's probably because of the introduction of rap where there is hardly any melody to be instrumentalized. Any other reason?

(Articles: Sourced from Music by David Wells)

Pan Xiu Qiong 潘秀瓊 SK Poon: Lover's Tears 情人的眼淚

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Pan Xiu Qiong or Poon Sow Keng, the original singer of "Lover's Tears," is featured in today's Straits Times Life Section. Read about her life and the book she has published that will soon be available.

At the Monday Interview by Straits Times journalist Andy Chen, she explains why her fans must 'forget her not'.

She will be appearing in a concert in August at Suntec City. Also on May 21st, 2009 an article about her was posted on this blog. Check them out.

A Personal Experience:

My moments with this lady singer came about when I was introduced to her by a Chinese school teacher friend of mine. He was with me at a primary school in the East Coast. We got along fine; he wanted to learn more English, I wanted to learn about Chinese pops.

Lover's Tears was the first song he introduced me to. This was in the mid-sixties when I had already left the Silver Strings and was grounded at school. I was gently advised about singing in the evenings and doing vinyl recordings with the band. I didn't do any more singing nor played with any band, focused on my work and, as a hobby, set my mind on learning about our local Chinese singers.

My teacher friend interpreted the song to me line by line (remember there was no Google Translate nor any useful nor fruitful Chinese interpretation gadgets at that time except for the usual listen and repeat Chinese lessons).

Poon Sow Keng (Pan Xiuqiong) - Lover's Tears 1964 

潘秀瓊-情人的眼淚 . Video by zzenzero. 

I had tried to attend one of her concerts when she was here not many years ago but to no avail. Her concerts were usually booked full house weeks before her performance.

According to Ms. Pan, this song made her famous. For me, it made me learn a little Mandarin.

Thank you, my friend, wherever you are today and Ms. Poon for learning Mandarin using the lyrics of your songs.

Oh my gosh! I grow up listening to S K Poon! The Queen Of Bass with her unique and distinctive vocals is one extraordinary performer whose renditions will bring music souls on a beautiful reminiscing journey and a trip down nostalgia lane. 

I could still remember saving up quite a bit to get my first cassette tape, a compilation of her classic songs and I could play over and over in my black Sony Walkman way back in the ’80s. From cassette to this one favourite CD of mine, her songs have walked me through many decades and she is still one of my most favourite female singers. Brother Andy, great to hear this again. 

Thank you for posting!😊

Connect below to read the other posting:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2009/05/blog-post_21.html

Images and videos: Google and YouTube

COMMENTS FROM 2019:

Anonymous:
I have been listening to her songs since I was a teenager.
Her Lovers Tears song is, in my opinion, the best of the lot.

Heard she stays in Toa Payoh.

Andy replies:

I am sure all of us would like to wish her good health , happiness, and long life. Thank you very much, Anonymous. Yes I hear she stays at Toa Payoh Singapore
Together with you, we'd like to wish her happiness, good health and long life too. It would be nice if she writes to this blog so we can meet and chat with her.