Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman/Ronnie & Burns

After practices: a picture with Ronnie See, left, band leader, vocalist, rhythm guitarist and Victor Lam , percussionist (seated). Simon Tay, left, bassist, standing and George Oh, lead guitarist.

Ronnie & His Burns brought the house down with Roy Orbinson's Pretty Woman, Cliff Richard's, Young Ones and The Shadow's Apache.

Image: Andy Lim Collection

Ricky Nelson Travelling Man Elvis Mystery Train

Mr Roger Poh, who helped with these recent pictures taken at the Orchid Country Club. Mr Poh is a travelling man, having visited places way beyond the guided trails organised by tour groups. He roughs it out on trains and boats and planes.
Image: Roger Poh Collection.

Dean Martin's Sway & Malay Heritage/Sriwana Juniors Backstage With Andy Chatting Up Rahimah Rahim's Group

These are the little ones who accompanied Rahimah Rahim on stage dancing to Sway and marimbah sounds and rhythm. They were a delight, boys and girls from primary schools in Singapore, who spend their time fruitfully learning to dance to traditional and pop music with the Sriwana Dance Society, a group that is synonymous with Singapore's malay heritage since the 50s and 6os.

When Andy asked if they love A. Ramli or The Beatles, they answered, "Both!" They are familiar with 60s music. Smart too!

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

Rahimah Rahim Sings Teresa Teng & Dean Martin - Backstage With Andy

Dean Martin made it a hit in the 50s and 60s and Michael Buble's revival made it an international hit all over again.

When Rahimah Rahim performed this song, the audienced clapped throughout. And when the accompanying children danced with her, the audience roared.

As marimba rhythm started to play, Rahimah delivered Sway like no other. Teresa Teng was not forgotten when Rahimah sang the Chinese version of Dayong Sampan and the large Friday crowd appreciated it just as much.

Backstage, Rahimah obliged a picture with Andy as she waited her turn to sing. Image was taken on the 23rd July, first night at the Orchid Country Club Concert in Singapore.

She has always been in the entertainment business; her father was Singapore's Nat King Cole. He was Rahim Hamid who performed all over Singapore during the 50s and 60s. Close your eyes when he sings and you think you're listening to Nat himself.

Rahimah does the same as she can always transport you to another time and place when she sings in Malay, Chinese and English. I understand she sings in some other languages too.

Image/Original Article: Andy Lim

881 Movie Actress And Ger-tai Singer Karen Lim

Petite Karen Lim, vocalizing her 60s Hokkien and Mandarin melodies, wooed the audience with her beauty, wit and natural charm when she was on the Orchid Country Club stage. 

A concert was staged there with the Silver Strings,  Andy, Mike and Herb, Veronica Young, Rahimah Rahim, Ronnie, and The Burns with the Beatles Unlimited as the highlight that evening. 'Those Were The Days' announced the huge banner outside the Club's lobby.

Singing three Chinese songs, Karen danced and teased her way through an exceptionally comic performance, accompanied by two 60s A-Go-Go dancers in colorful costumes. 60s Chinese music by a 21st Century star. That went a long way.

She was a delight with her banter and routine when she practically dragged a shy, member of the audience on stage and teased him with her songs. 

She was pleasant and restful backstage after the show and agreed to pose for the picture. She did not talk to anyone and hurried off after a quick change, ready for another show at another concert. She was a professional alright. Meeting Karen was a delight!

Grand Finale of 'Those Were The Days' Concert with Andy, Ronnie, the late rhythm guitarist, Bobo, Audie, and Jerry. 

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

60s Pop Music Concert Crowd Orchid Singapore

The patrons streaming into the show for the concert at the Grand Ballroom, Orchid Country Club in Yishun Singpaore on 24th July, 2009. It was a thicker crowd on this Friday night and the hall was nearly filled to the brim.

Image: Roger Poh Collection.

60s Pop Rock Concert Theatre Crowd Singapore

The large and excited crowd at the Those Were The Days Concert at Orchid Country Club on the 24th July, 2009. Digital camera clocks don't lie. At 23:29, they were still rocking the aisle with Hey Jude.

Performers have the crowd to thank for the success of the concert.

Image: Roger Poh Collection.

Fender Bass Man - Boss Man: AUDIE NG

Guitar man, big boss man, family man, Audie is many talents rolled into one. Serious with his music business, both on and off the stage, he manages the Silver Strings family too. Always on the go, Audie is an excellent organiser and a great showman.

He usually leads the Silver Strings with some rousing melodies from the 60's music stables of guitar instrumentals.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim.

Heavy Metal/Latino Guitar - 60s Music - The Late BOBO or Abdulah Yusof Nawawi.

Heavy metal, Latino or rock, the late Bobo was always there to lead an instrumental number, accompany his singers and pleased his audiences in Singapore. Still in the music circuit, Bobo had been playing with his own group, Los Bobos (earlier posting on this blog), for many years.

Not only did he play a mean lead guitar, he was also great as a rhythmist and entertained his audiences with cute antics on stage; he was alive and was loved for his performances. 

Bobo, whose real name is Abdulah Yusof Nawawi, was once with The Neu Faces or Muka Baru. They did an LP, Muka Baru, which featured the sound of a motor-cycle and Bobo had brought his own bike to the studio to record the sound of its engine.

Four of the tracks on the album had lyrics and music by Bobo. They are Hari Minggu, Gadis Manis, Joget Jual Beli and of course, Motor with original sound effects. (From: To Be A Rock But Not To Roll/Jerry Fernandez, July 2009, Douglas Gomez/Comdesign Associates.)

Bobo accompanied me with The Silver Strings on some occasions, namely, at the Esplanade, the Orchid Country Club and at the RELC International Hotel near Orchard Road.

RIP Bobo. We love you, 💓 !!!

Image/Original article: Andy Lim.

Western & Country 60s Music Lead - ALOYSIUS

A very quiet man, Aloysius doesn't say a word but lets his blue and white Fender strike up a conversation during rehearsals. His Western and Country introductions parallel the Honky Tonk and Rock and Roll that only his guitar can produce.

Name the melody and he plays it. He has great vocals actually and accompanies 1+1+2 with his baritone voice. Aloysius plays both lead and rhythm with The Silver Strings.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim

Korg Triton Keyboardist - 60s Music - JALANI

Handsome and always smiling, this master pianist has underplayed his ability but goes overboard to make sure his accompaniment complements the singer's voice. He is very relaxed and easy with his style and helps the vocalist he accompanies feels easy too.

Another experienced musician, he has also been in the local circuit for many years.

A professional, Mr. Piano Player performs during weekends at the lounge of a top hotel in the downtown Marina district. 

Md. Jalani, or Nani, makes tinkling on the piano or keyboard like child's play.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim

l'll See You In My Drums 60s Music DANNY BOY

No mystery here! He has been around since the Silver Strings started in the early 60s. Circulating among the best in the South East Asian region, Danny Boy has played with the top musicians including The Thunderbirds for more than 15 years at a well-known local nightspot. And more than 45 years of total commitment has made him the drummer that he is now.

He plays any song you ask him, from Jazz to Jambalaya, from Cha Cha to Chiquita music, Mr Mohd. Khan [his real name] takes them all. Once I asked him how he manages his style and repertoire, his reply was, "If you love what you do, you can do it... always!"

Danny is a gentleman all the way and a professional when it comes to practices and concerts. His heart and drum-sticks are always with the Strings. Personally? He is the ultimate in local drummers.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim.

John Rostill? - With Hawaiian Guitar Capability

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.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim

Hank Marvin Slick With Original Finger Licks

Mr George Chew, the humble lead guitarist who is also a great dancer.

Quiet, unassuming but friendly, this gentleman only lets his fingers do the walking and talking when he leads the band with his versatility on the Fender frets playing, Apache, Foot Tapper, Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt and other Shadows hits.

He is able to communicate well with his bassist, rhythm guitarist and drummer to harmonise as a whole. What band is he with and who are his guitar mates? Check him out soon enough.

*George is from The Burns, a group that has been active these last few years. They have since stopped their jamming sessions.

Image/Original Article: Andy Lim

Peter & Gordon World Without Love - Gordon Has Passed On - British 60s Music Influence

Remember Peter & Gordon of A World Without Love fame? Gordon (Waller) of the British pop duo has passed on at 64. They had hits in the 1960s, including some written by Paul McCartney like, Nobody I Know, I Don't Want To See You Again and Woman.

Gordon Waller (right image) and Peter Asher, who met at the Westminster School in London, hit the top pop charts internationally with this particular McCartney special. He was dating Asher's sister, actress Jane Asher, while writing the song.

Altogether they had nine Top Forty hits in the USA, UK and internationally, between 1964-1968.

Waller's last appearance with Peter Asher was in Los Angeles in August, 2008, on the 40th anniversary of their final performance in the 60s. They sang to an audience of about 17,000, including many movie stars, at The Santa Monica Pier.

Practically all pop song enthusiasts in Singapore remember World Without Love, with poetry-like lyrics that mean so much to the man in the street, "Birds sing out of tune/And rain clouds hide the moon... The best 60s people are leaving this earth.

Reference: Peter & Gordon Websites.

Original article: Andy Lim.

Frank McCourt: 'Angelas Ashes' ''Tis' 'Teacher Man' - Irish Teacher/Writer Has Passed Away

He had nothing to do with Singapore 60s music but a dedicated teacher and writer, Frank McCourt died yesterday, Sunday, the 19th of July, 2009 at 78 years young.

His poignant tales of his poverty in Ireland and his hilarious classroom interaction with students in New York brought him fame and fortune, and his three books, Angela's Ashes, 'Tis and Teacher Man became best sellers for many years.

To break down their resistance to poetry, he had his students sing Irish songs. He wrote with a fervour and realism that only a classroom teacher could.

A personal salute to a truly wonderful mentor and author. Please read him. No regrets. Yeah! He was a 60s man alright!

Original article: Andy Lim

Image: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

Apollo Moon Landing 20 July 1969 David Bowie

20 JULY, 1969 APOLLO 11 US

20 JULY, 2017 APOLO 7 SG

I remember a friend who used to live in the Katong and Joo Chiat area. He tried to tape the sound of the moon landing from his radio and television set, using his leather bound Sony Tape Recorder. It was an open recording where he held the recorder's microphone directly in front of the radio loud speaker.  I told him would not turn out clear. But it did. The magic of cassette tapes then.

                 First Moon Landing 20 July 1969: Video from beanz2u

On July 20th in 1969 (exact to the day), the lunar module Eagle landed on the moon at 20:18 UTC. Apollo 11 was the spaceflight with two humans on the moon. They were mission commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin.

A special song by David Bowie made its debut in July 1969. Because of much interest amongst the public with space flights, Space Oddity was released to great success.  It was a seven-inch vinyl single. 

Apolo 7 SG Landing
20 July 2017

This posting has just been rejuvenated and 8 years added to it. By a strange coincidence, 7 of us good friends, landed at the Apollo Restaurant this afternoon (20 July 2017) to have lunch. 

Same Name and Day: Apollo 11 Spacecraft. Apolo 7 Restaurant. 20 July 1969, 20 July 2017.

Astronauts @ The Apolo (from left): G. Jega, E. Angullia, Mr/Mrs Tan WS, Jerry S., Rajendran, Andy Lim.

Images: A Personal Collection, Google.
YouTube Video: Official Video of David Bowie July 1969 Recording: Space Oddity.

The Fabulous Echoes: Dancing on the Moon

For Peter Cheong

Cliff Richard/Original Songs By Ronnie See

Ronnie See has a group called The New Burns. They could be performing in a special one hour concert soon in Singapore, where Ronnie will play and sing using a very special guitar.

His repertoire will include Top 10 Hits from the 60s and songs composed/arranged by himself. Most of his originals are written and dedicated to his wife and represent his own lifestyle and attitude, one of calm, peace and tranquility with his immediate environment.

A non-smoker and teetotaller, he spends most of his time with his business, family and music.

60s Music Evenings Bands & Vocalists Featured

ENTERTAINERS:

1. Silver Strings

2. Veronica

3. Andy

4. Mike & Herb

5. Rahimah

6. Karen Lim*

7. Ronnie See

8. New Burns

9. The Austrian Beatles

10. Jerry Fernandez

* Karen Lim - 90s music

Air-conditioned hall

Hank Marvin?/Fenders - Lead/Bass

And these mystery men? Who are they? Remember the one on the right? He looks familiar. Is there a new line-up for The Silver Strings? And who is the lead guitarist on the left? Is he the new lead or is he on rhythm?

The Shadows Repertoire - 60s Music Drummer

Who is this mystery man? He is a mean one on the drums and is comparable to the best percussionists on this island.

Can you remember the band he was with during the 60s? Blogger has been advised not to reveal his name. He plays Cliff Richard & The Shadows music with much versatility.