Harry Martinez Students - Star Gazers (Pt II)

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clockwise/left: Peter Chan, Wilfred, Richard Yoong, Edwin, Tommy (Drums).

"We studied for 2 years at St. Thomas School and had our band practices at 618 North Bridge Road. Our band was under the tutorship of Harry Martinez at Siglap Road. The group lasted for almost 4 years, from about 1964 to 1968.

We called ourselves Wilfred n The Stargazers. Wilfred, a journalist and the lead singer had a voice like Tom Jones.

The band had another vocalist, a female Chinese who had a repertoire of Mandarin and Cantonese numbers but I cannot remember her name.

Star Gazers played Japanese and Malay songs too and with our versatility, we performed most instrumental dance melodies using the rhythm and beat popular in the mid-sixties. These included off-beat cha cha, rock, mambo, twist, waltz, fox trot, a-go go, hala hala and tango.

We came into the limelight after winning the Big Beat Contest at the Great World Park in Kim Seng Road and secured some television and recording contracts. We played at night clubs, tea dances, weddings, birthday parties, variety shows and at the Singapore International Airport at Paya Lebar Road.

Our recording of four instrumental numbers, White Cloud, Horn Pipe, The Lark and Sunday, a contract with Teo Kwang Record Company near the former Cathay Cinema, exposed us to the pop 60's scene in Singapore and we enjoyed the celebrity status those years accorded."

STARGAZERS, RICHARD WANTS TO MEET YOU ALL AGAIN. GET IN TOUCH!

Article edited/Image: Richard Yoong Collection.