Saturday, March 06, 2010

Maurice Patton & The Melodians With Simon Jr


 UP TO 6,200 VIEWS, 60+ CHATS, COMMENTS

pipa wrote:

Hi Andy,

Have you got any info on Maurice Patton and The Melodians featuring Simon Junior? It seems they were very influential in the 1960's. Nothing much on the internet about them. Can't find much information about them elsewhere.
Thank you.

Andy's Reply:
Yes, it's a challenge indeed. I have been trying to get some information about this group of musicians and hope to compile something in the near future.
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According to the information gathered from EP vinyls of the 60s, Maurice Patton And The Melodians (image with Choh Ying and Simon Jr. on drums) have recorded many songs in English and Chinese with these companies: Hero Records, Cortersions $, Blue Star Records, Art Sea, Roxy Records, Happy Records and the studio involved was usually the Pearl, Dean & Kinetex Studios. Patton has recordings where he features his own name - MAURICE - and image on the sleeves.
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Simon Junior, Ling Seow, Wong Chin Yian, Choh Ying, Patrina are some of the Chinese singers backed by Patton and his group. I have also noticed that some of the Chinese songs recorded are covers with English lyrics and sung by Simon Junior.
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Some titles like Man Lee, My Girl, Wait For Me, Night Dream, Born To Live, Dream Of Spring, Deep Deep Love are popular Chinese tunes available on the market presently. They are for English speaking listeners familiar with the melody but not the language.
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Other songs by Patton and his boys are 60s US and UK pops. One interesting vinyl I own called 'Let's Dance Soul' has Master Jack, She Wears My Ring, Kiss Me Goodbye and Man Without Love. The other called, A Go Go, Off Beat Cha Cha has Silver Threads & Golden Needles, I Really Don't Want To Know and Where Are You and Mixed Feelings. According to one website, Patton used the echo unit to create a Chinese beat style later emulated by many Chinese bands.
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The vinyl market is so large that many professional musicians grouped to record guitar instrumentals. The Stylers, The Travellers, The Silverstones, The Tones, Charlie and The White Cloud Orchestra and Patton with The Melodians are some of the successful ones.
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Anyone familiar with Maurice Patton and The Melodians? Were you in one of these groups? Do write in to tell us. We'd love to hear from you.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

62 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Andy,

I have a few Maurice Patton and the Melodians records. One of them has an instrumental track called 'Molly' that I quite like. I was surprised to hear that the Simon Jr song 'Man Lee' is actually the same tune. So, this was originally a Chinese song called 'Maidelei'?

All the best

Steve

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Steve,
I only know the song as 'Man Lee' and don't know its original title as you mentioned. It's a very old song.

Yes, Maurice Patton, Simon Jr. with The Melodians are sold everywhere, even now. You can get them for $2.00 a piece or maybe more nowadays.

Anonymous said...

Hi Andy,

Sorry, I was confused; the 'Maidelei' I quoted was the name of the Youtube site, not the song.

Steve

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes Steve, And the 'Molly' you mentioned is from an EP selection by the group on Happy Records called, 'Off Beat Cha Cha' with three other songs, 'As Tears Go By', 'Sweet Dream' and one with a totally Chinese title. They are on SN8815.

Anonymous said...

Yes, that is the one. It is a good version As Tears Go By as well

Steve

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Steve for all the comments and information you've provide for this blog. Helpful indeed.
Cheers.

Anonymous said...

Dear Andrew, I have already more than 400 covers /versions of "She Wears My Ring" in Spanish, English and other languages. As you probably know, it's a Mexican song "La Golondrina" of Narciso Serradell, sometimes titled as "Las Golondrinas", also as TRADITIONAL (!). The English version is "She Wears My Ring", known by Elvis, Roy Orbison, etc...
Dear Andrew, please, if you do have time and you wish to help my great request, it would be just fine and beautiful, thank you in advance for your efforts. Please, send me by mail just this song SHE WEARS MY RING, by Maurice Patton & The Melodians.
Thank you, best wishes, Slobodan,
darko47darko@yahoo.com

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

I shall look through my collection to see if there's a cover of SWMR by Patton and will send it to you. Otherwise I shall post your letter on the blog for other readers to respond.
Thank you for writing.
Cheers.

Anonymous said...

*Thank you so much Andrew for trying to help my great request. I am looking forward... Also, who can help me to get Rita & Sakura' version of SHE WEARS MY RING too, album "Talk Of The Town" (Rita Chao & Sakura Teng)? Anyone who is more interested in versions of LA GOLONDRINA /SHE WEARS MY RING is welcome.
Best wishes, again, Slobodan of SRB,
darko47darko@yahoo.com

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Actually they are all available on vinyls in Singapore but they are not available on the market in CD format.

I do not have the device to transfer the song to a CD. That's the problem.

Will try and find out if I can buy them from the shops.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

I have a Sakura Extended Play, EMI ECHK 603 vinyl, with 'She Wears My Ring', and 'Tell The Boys' together with one Japanese and one Chinese song.

I will not be able to transfer it to a CD as explained. I have written to you on your email.
Cheers.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

To me they are still properties of the recording companies so it is illegal to download them on CDs. You can still buy the vinyls from the 2nd hand markets.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for your great efforts... I will looking further to find this recording!
Regards, Slobodan

dustin said...

I became fascinated with this group many years ago, mainly due to their beautiful album covers. I would love to hear more of their story. For fans/researchers, I've got a gallery of the over 50+ Maurice Patton & The Melodians records in my collection.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi dustin,
Thanks for the visit. Yes, MP & M were popular in the 60s playing mostly instrumentals of Chinese, English and even Malay songs.

YOu have a great collection. Keep up the hobby because many Singaporeans do not know the value of these vinyls and many are bought over by foreigners.

find.din3 said...

Hi Andy, thanks for your post. I found it really interesting. but what happened to the band? I've been trying to find information about Simon Jr after the car accident in 1968. they seem to have disappeared. would greatly appreciate if anyone has any information. have been searching for months for my project, but information seem to be limited.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

I am unable to furnish such details on the blog.

Many times bands and artistes do not wish to reveal information regarding their own private lives. I respect their wishes.

Cheers.

Unknown said...

I am wondering if you have any uploads or if you know any links for ling seow/ling xiao's concert dvds - his nostalgic 40 yrs concert 2007 and the one in 2011? any idea where to get the dvds? i can;t find them anywhere in the stores. I really love his rich and soothing vocals, and would love to view his past concerts in recent years. any idea if the singer is ever married..or some profile on him?
pls assist. thanks

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi magg jnne,

1. Thanks for visiting this blog but I am not in contact with DVD shops nor suppliers. I hope readers can help you.

2. Regarding your second query. If you wish to help you can write a profile of him and I can post it on this blog. Readers can expand it somehow with their contribution. Would be a nice idea.

magg jnne said...

Thanks Andy for your quick reply.

Music, besides writing,has always been a therapeutic retreat for me, ever since I was a child.

I grew up with a fusion of English and Mandarin melodies, though I am not that proficient in Mandarin. But music cuts across all languages; it bridges boundaries...

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks again for the visit. I have left the rest of your comment unpublished and hope to present it as a posting soon with photographs of your favourite singer.

Would you mind since I have always wanted to write about him and have some EPs that is lying in the cupboard? It could generate some comments and ideas from other readers.

Thanks.

Vincent Patton said...

Hi Andy,

Thanks for having a write-up on my dad.

I'm Maurice Patton son and he has passed on in June 1991. We have lots of Maurice Patton & The Melodians records at home still in good condition.

Simon Junior & one of the band member Sim are still around but not in contact.

Fyi - Barney Morier (Hawaian singer & steel guitars) has migrated to Perth WA.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you Vincent for the information about your dad and the other members. I have written to Simon Junior a few times through a friend but he has not replied.

If you know the whereabouts of Mr Sim and Barney Morier's email address I would be grateful if you could send them to me.

Is there anyway I could contact you via the Internet. I shall not reveal your email address. I am doing all this in good faith for the younger generation to read and not for rewards, monetary gains nor personal success.

Cheers.

find.din3 said...

what you're doing is great Andy! just like you've said, it really does good for younger generation like myself as I did research on Singapore musicians in the 1960s. Thank you for doing this :)

find.din3 said...

Dear Andy and Vincent, my music professor is interested in getting to know more information about music in the 60s and would like to meet up with both of you (separately if preferred) over coffee or lunch. Please let me know if both of you are able to meet up with him. We are both music enthusiasts and my professor has done many research in the music field and would like to expand his knowledge of music in the 1960s.

Please email me at xxx.com and I will leave his contact if the meet up is possible. Thank you so much in advance. :) cheers to furthering music education in singapore!

Anonymous said...

Simon junior is in kl (cherad).he is no longer siging and not employed

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you for the information and visit. I think many of his enthusiasts will be glad to know.

Anonymous said...

Maurice Patton was electrocuted while playing onstage

James Lee said...

Hi Andy recently i managed to contact Simon Junior's Daughter we both talk about the accident where Simon was involved

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi James,

Thanks for writing in. Is it possible to meet up with her? Are you both in Singapore?
Please send me your email address (I shall not divulge it) and will send you mine.

If it's possible.

Simon Junior said...

Hi Andy this is Simon Junior,Im currently live in Philippine, Iloilo.hope to go back in singapore ASAP and back to music scene again.Adios!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Simon,
Thanks for info. Write to me again when you are in Singapore. Good Luck.

Simon Junior said...

Hi Vincent this is simon junior I'm in Phil.sad to hear bout your dad hope to see you when I come.I want to go back in music again,cheers

Simon Junior said...

Hi Andy it's possible for me to make new record English songs and mix with some of my old record?thank

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

I think so, Simon. Anything is possible today.

James Lee said...

i heard so many story of Simon Junior is the USA Malaysia etc. but how we confirm you are him? what is your birth date??

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi James and Simon,

Thank you, both for writing to me. The best I can do is to re-post this story on the blog. I have extended it to FB, G+ and will soon post it on Twitter and email connections.

No commercial interest but just trying to help as a music lover.

RICHARD RAJOO said...

Good morning, Andy, those days we were more into our Western music and T-dance scenes at the Golden Venus.

A-go-go and Off-beat Cha-cha. Was considered OFF-BEAT. We never really went into that area's dance scene.

We were listening more to Quests, Keith Locke, Thunderbirds, Shirley Nair, Silver Strings, Veronica and you, Flybaits, Siva Choy, Wilson David and of course Susan Lim and Crescendos, just naming a few.

STEPHEN HAN FB said...

Simon Jr used to sing English cover of hit Mandarin songs, was backed by the Melodians.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes it's true. Simon speaks Hokkien and sings in Mandarin. Thank you Stephen.

IRENE YAP (70'S RECORDING ARTISTE AND SINGER) said...

I remember Maurice Patton. We performed at a lounge way-way back. It was so long ago. Seems like aeons ago.

James Lee said...

Simon Junior records i still have them and i am gonna keep them till i leave the world

STEPHEN HAN FB said...

The vocal version of “Man Lee “ that was sung by Simon Jr in English was played on the airwaves often.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks again to James Lee for providing me with some information regarding this posting.

Here's his connection to more songs from Simon Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdEmHeBV2GA&feature=youtu.be

Also thanks to everyone else for the comments and information given.

Let's just listen to great music that the group has given us all these years.

FACEBOOK said...

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING LIST FOR LIKING POST

John Cher
Koh Sui Pang
Joey Koh
Rose Khoo
Jennie Law
Wanchai TG Top
Ann Rowena Lim
Fred Ching
Charlie Yap Locomotion
Tan Ser Kiong
Tommy Gomes

Simon Junior said...

Iam he,Simon junior my actual name is Simon Anora,from Serangoon gardens and everyone knows it,you can cntc.me on Facebook,simon anora.I still sing at church here in Iloilo Phil.

James Lee said...

Hi Andy do you read the comments on the youtube video section? Read it it provides more info on Simon Junior

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi guys,

It's interesting James that you can get in touch with Simon. I leave the communication between the two of you.

All the best.

James Lee said...

Can you provide a recent photo of you Simon Junior ?

Simon Junior said...

Hi James in 3 months soon I'm 70 years old but still young at heart coz of music.I was born on April 8,1947.

Simon Junior said...

Hello james you could reach me here in my fb links https://www.Facebook.com/simon.anora.9 Thanks

James Lee said...

Do you have a daughter named Cristal by any chance?

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi James,
Simon has provided you with his Facebook connection. With conversation pieces, perhaps it's best that you write to him directly. I am sure Simon wouldn't mind. It will also be easier for you to get photographs, information, etc.

For postings on this comment page, I need to be involved because all emails will be monitored, different from MESSENGER on FB because you can both write and reply immediately on MESSENGER.

Thank you.

James Lee said...

Sorry Andy for the trouble Thanks for the infomation

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

James, please don't apologise. I am glad I have managed to get you both together. I think I mentioned in my PROFILE.

Do feel free to write anytime. What's important is the conversation created and the awareness of Singaporeans about our local music.

In some ways, you and others have created this awareness by writing in.

Leave me your email address if you can. I won't reveal it but will write back to you.

Again, thanks James.

Pcgee said...

Thanx Andy for your blog, and to everyone who has written in. You dont know how much it has helped with ‘walking down memory lane’ questions reading through allllllll the comments! Thank You All very much!
(Still keen interest in the year 2020).

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Dear Pcgee,
I don't know who you are but your comment has boosted the quality of this posting to another level. I must thank you for it because when I started this blog nearly 13 years ago the intention was clear, to relive SG music memories and its influence from around the world and to make the blog like a coffee corner for people to 'meet' and discuss our music.

Maurice Patton, as many in the Singapore 60's music industry know, has been one of the more successful recording musicians. I am glad, with the help of contributing writers and commentators, especially those who care to write on the blog, many more music artistes from Singapore's small world of entertainment have been sussed out (Eddy Eng quote) and revealed.

Thanks so much and do write and visit this blog again.


Pcgee said...

Thanx Andy. I started my google search becos of Simon Jr and it brought me to your blog. I know few brothers who are friends of Simon Jr from way back Gardens and school days but who have lost contact with him and would like very much to contact him again. I thought I’d help them locate him so that’s how the search brought me to your blog. It was so interesting reading everyone’s comments... and Especially so when i saw that Simon Jr actually wrote in too!!! I have gone to his FB page and sent him friend request as well as sent him a message on Messenger, but there has been no reply. Am writing here again in hope that Simon Jr might read this comment one day and maybe make contact. 🙏🏼

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone, hope you all are in good health. As I understand that anyone that can remember these singers and songs that they sing are not young by now. I am already 70😀. I was searching for the singer Simon Jr. and I got into this page. He was my favorite singer during that time I had 1 vinyl of Simon Jr then but nowhere to be found. I love his singing. Bless everyone and cheers from Petaling Jaya - Simon Liew

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hello Simon,
Thanks for writing in.
Yes, he was a pop star in his own rights.
As you note with the comments, he is still remembered today having one of the most comments on this his post.

His vinyl records are still being sold in the 2nd hand markets but they are expensive. Where it used to cost S$2.00 a piece, it is now selling from S$40 to S$60 each.

Do visit this blog again.

Eddie G said...

Is it true that Maurice Patton died due to an electrocution. I've recently been looking to the melodies and I can see many people say that he was . Is it true or is it just some rumor???

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Eddie G.

Thanks for visiting.
Usually I leave rumours alone.
I am not certain myself but if anyone has proof enough the person can write in to inform?
But he was an excellent musician and performing artiste.