I had met Reggie a couple of times backstage in the mid 1960's when I fronted a band or two but had never known him personally. Polite smiles and a nod were the usual gestures of recognition backstage because our minds were occupied with pre-performance jitters rather than empty conversations.
It was only in the last six years or so that I realised what a giant figure he was in the late 60's, 70's and 80's when, on scrutinizing my vinyl collection, I noticed his profile (usually in very small prints) on the back sleeve covers of Frankie Cheah, Tracy Huang, Anita Sarawak, Matthew/Mandarins and other albums.
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| Some albums that Reggie Verghese produced for recording companies. |
He had his own series of Reg Guitar Long Plays (33 1/3 rpm) where he recorded instrumental pieces using his own arrangements and guitar techniques. He was the music producer, arranger, adviser of these best sellers and a master behind the recording consoles.The list is long but I have with me only a small collection of Reggie Verghese records that he had produced during his vibrant and productive years as a musician. (Listen to RV's rendition of Feelings as interpreted by Tracy Huang at the side-bar on the right.)
We have indeed lost a talented Singapore son. Rest in peace, Reggie Verghese. We shall always remember you when we listen to the melodies you have provided.
Friends, readers and all those who have known Reggie one way or another send condolence to Mrs Verghese and Family.
Images from:
A Private Collection and Google including albums by Frankie Cheah, Anita Sarawak, Tracy Huang, Matthew/Mandarins, Tania, SuZanna Teo and Tony, Terry n Spencer.
Andy,
ReplyDeleteWell the local music scene has lost a talented musician, producer and mentor.
Personally I had only met Reggie and his wife at a lunch together with Veronica,
Vernon Cheong, and the late Jap Chong sometime late 2013.
RIP Reggie Verghese of the Quests and condolence to this family.
Fabian Foo
Reggie Verghese was very talented, a guitarist and a very gifted producer. EMI's late Daisy Devan was right in bringing him to the recording business.
ReplyDeleteHe did well for many artistes and now may his soul rest in peace. God Bless brother Reggie; your great achievements will be remembered by many in the history of Rock n Roll in Singapore ever after.
Play it again Shanty. God Bless.
It was a sad day for Singapore.
ReplyDeleteI'm at Reggie's wake. Showing your article to Virgie. She says thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery sad to have lost a good friend and a great musician.
ReplyDeleteI just had a birthday lunch with some musician friends when I heard the news. He went home to our maker on my birthday. I am saddened.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the comments and condolence messages. (Compiled from SMSes, FaceBook and direct blog emails.
ReplyDelete"Verghese went on to be well regarded in the local music industry as a veteran producer. Jazz musician, composer and Cultural Medallion recipient Jeremy Monteiro remembers working with him in the late 1970s. Verghese was then the executive producer at music label EMI's now-defunct studio in MacDonald House, while Monteiro, then a teenager, was a session pianist. Together, they worked on recordings by popular regional acts..."
ReplyDelete(By Eddino Abdul Hadi Music Correspondent).
How weird to read this just while I'm busy recording a super great album from Rita Chao & The Quests, I never realized that he was also behind those Reg Guitar albums...
ReplyDeleteI will dedicate my next Rita Chao post to him....
May he Rest In Peace
Anonymous wrote in to request for the names of albums Reggie Verghese produced. As I have explained i have quite a handful so it would be a reasonably detailed one to document. I am also not a vinyl record dealer so to satisfy both sides I shall list only the ones I have illustrated on my posting:
ReplyDelete'Matthew and The Mandarins II' EMI EMGS 5033 (1979).
SuZanna Teo 'Loving You' EMI EMGS 5003 (1975).
Tony & Terry with Spencer 'I Won't Move Over' EMI 5023 (1987).
Frankie Cheah 'Our Last Song Together' REGAL SREG 9814 (1974).
Frankie Cheah 'You' EMI SREG 9543 (1972).
'Tania' EMI EMGS 5041 (1980).
Tracy Huang 'Portrait' EMI EMGS 5042 (1980).
Anita Sarawak 'Sophisticated Lady' EMI EMGS 5006 (1976).
Looking for them? Good luck.
I've just come from Reggie's wake. So sad, everyone one is going...
ReplyDeleteFriends, where is Reggie's wake? I couldn't find any info on ST obituary. The two phone numbers of Reg & Virginia I have seemed to be old numbers. I would want to pay my last respect to this great musician & friend. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteWith reference to Khir Johari's query.
ReplyDeleteYou were just a little late as the cremation was today at Mandai in the afternoon (20th June 2015). I have just read your message.
If you leave me your email address and mobile number I can relay them to Virginia. You can call her afterwards.
CHARLIE GILLET THE SOUND OF THE WORLD WEBSITE:
ReplyDeleteABOUT REGGIE VERGHESE:
From: judith » Wed Feb 02, 2011 8:05 am
(1) Have we included Reggie Verghese in any lists of guitar players? His name sounds familiar. Here he is backing Rita Chao in "He's Untrue" sung in Mandarin. See comments below video for more about him.
From: Adam Blake » Wed Feb 02, 2011 8:48 am.
(2) That is gorgeous! The song, the production, the singing, but most of all that guitar playing.
Byootiful!!
John P, Norman, Andy - I think you might like this!
Andy, we are saddened to hear of Reggie of the Quests, our home grown talent,has passed away. In the hey day, The Quests was such a hot favorite when I was still a sec. student. Our condolences to Reggie's family and loved ones.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this post. I just listened to Reggie's arrangement for Trcacy's rendition of Feelings. I must have heard this version many times before but I never knew that it was the talented Reggie who was behind the arrangement for this song. My condolences to Reggie's family and may he RIP.
ReplyDeleteJohn Lee ex musician/arranger/tenor sax ,from Radio and TV passed away June 7th 2015 from various complications.
ReplyDeleteAll these events don't seem important enough for the news to be reported. Only musicians within our circles respect, remember and grieve for losses of our fellow musicians. Too bad the nation does not recognize or acknowledge the musicians at home in Singapore. Such a waste of the country's heritage.
I am often asked nowadays, what am I famous for, can I really play instruments/music. Ha ha ha. Keep asking.
Cheers.
Thank you all again for your messages of condolence for the late Reggie Verghese.
ReplyDeleteSince 1979 till 2014 there has been a List of Cultural Medallion recipients and one of the categories is Music where there are presently about two dozen names of outstanding Singaporeans who have received this award.
One of them is a good friend, Yusnor Ef who has written more than 200 pop songs since the 1960s. Other recipients include Ahmad Jaafar, Choo Huey, Dick Lee, Iskandar Ismail, Jeremy Monteiro, Paul and Alex Abisheganaden, Lim Yau and many more.
You can check the full list here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Medallion
RIP Reggie.
ReplyDeleteSteve
I recall the days of black and white television, when the group was on many local shows.
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure to watch and listen to Verghese perform. He was a guitar maestro who, together with his band, took local music to a high level and influenced other performers to contribute to the music industry.
V@ANDY: Can you please share with us contact details of Mrs.Virginia. We only had old address at Laurel Park & old phone number of Mr.Reggie.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
I shall write to you soon with the home address and phone number after clearance from Mrs Verghese.
ReplyDeleteMy partner and I were hoping to find out more about the Singaporean music scene, from the past to the present. I'd love for the chance to interview you about what it was like being a musician in Singapore's golden age for music...
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, I hope to hear back from you soon.
With Regards,
Thanks Andy. Sad to hear about Reg's passing away.
ReplyDeleteDear Reggie, I never met you in person but I have seen you with the Quests performing live on many occassions and hear your music without getting jaded espcially your guitar solo technics.I regard you as Hank Marvin of Spore(guitarist from The Shadows).May you rest in peace but your music will be remembered till eternity.Thank You Reggie for the music.
ReplyDeleteThank you again. I hope people who read this blog will realise how much fans of Reggie Verghese love him and appreciate the honour and recognition he had brought to Singapore's music world.
ReplyDeleteReggie Verghese was Singapore's most legendary producer, he was the "Phil Spector" of Singapore. I worked with him in the 70's and 80's. He wants to get the best sound of the recording, he will scream at you if you think you have not done the work the way he wants it. He will always be remembered, there is no one like him.
ReplyDeleteThank you James for sharing your thoughts about Reggie. The amount of recorded materials he left behind is a legacy in itself, a 60's music giant who will be difficult to parallel.
ReplyDeletePlease visit this site more often and if you wish to write any article or post a story on this blog feel free to contact me by leaving your email address which I shall not reveal. Singapore needs people like you to tell her music tales.
Appreciate your contribution.
TABULATED FROM FACEBOOK PAGE
ReplyDeleteRose Khoo
Tks Andy for all your hard work in keeping n sharing with all of us.
Andy Young
Thank you, Rose, for reading the work.
Abel Tan
Ex the Quest
Andy Young
Thanks, Abel.
Lange Brunei
The last year's we spent together in Serangoon Gardens before his passing was a grumpy old fellow. But otherwise was cool.
Stephen Han
RIP Reggie, you were instrumental to the success of The Quest.
Abel Tan
Ex Queenstown Secondary Technical School 1961/62/63/64
Abel Tan
Sorry, can't recall names -. Jap n drummer
Andy Young
Yes, Abel: Jap Chong who has left us. Henry Chua, bassist and Wee Guan, the drummer who are both as active as ever today.
Bert Fern
Remembered. The timesGod bless
Andy Young
Thanks, Bert.
Terrence Kennedy
After Henry Chua ( bassist) left .it was Sam Toh.
THANKS FOR LIKING THIS POSTING OF REGGIE VERGHESE
ReplyDeleteClement Gomez
Falcons Malaysia
Little Ong
Randy Lee Kheng
Johnny Yeow
Eddie Ng
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Romito Mendoza
Ann Rowena Lim
Chen David
Peter Lim
Merlin Lim
Alphonso Soosay
Albert Louis
Penny Koh
David Lim
Daniel Hong
Tony Ng
Jimmy PresLee
Rose Khoo
Richard Danker
Irene Hoe
Leslie Wilson Joseph
Irene Yap
Sam Quah
Jalani Mohamed
John Cher
Joe Peters
Wong Hoe Sang
Shafran Hamid
Albert Sirimal
Robin Han
Probably you guys may know or may not know that in the 60s, can't remember the actual date, there was a Talentime held at YMCA in Palmer Road, Reggie was competing with The Quests. Believe it or not Reggie was not playing the guitar, he was playing the PIANO! He was playing with the group THE JITTERBUGS, playing the tune Caravan. He was a prolific piano player. They have their jamming sessions in a house in Sennet Estates. The double bassist was Edwin, (passed way). The rhythm guitarist then was Jimmy Low, the famous Bossa Nova singer, was in the top ten finalist in a Radio Singapore Talentime. So you have it, some news for your record, cheers!
ReplyDeleteReggie Verghese Was An Outstanding And The Best Shadow's Lead Guitarist Then In The 60's. I Remember When I Was Staying At Newton. Reggie Verghese And Benny Chan Started The Checkmates Together. Then One Day, Reggie Verghese Was Offered To Play Lead Guitar With The Quests. At That Time I Was Told That Reggie Was Offered A Better Deal In Terms Of A Recording Contract With EMI Records. It Was Then That Reggie Verghese Left Checkmates To Join The Quest. The Rest Was History With “Shanty”.
ReplyDeleteSounds right Alphonsus.
ReplyDeleteMy idol...I named my eldest son Reggie ( Regginald) in his memory.
ReplyDeleteBernard, unfortunately not many guitarists play The Quests' music in Malaysia and Singapore any more. Henry Chua was very surprised and delighted to see The Jigsaw still play so many of their music while he was at D'Junction in KK some years back. That was the 1st live performance of The Jigsaw in KK that time.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Herman for the info. So you've met Henry and also a good friend of him. How old is Henry Chua now? When Reggie pass away how was he? When I was in my teen I was always tried to learn how to play their music with no success, haha!
ReplyDeleteAndy Young
ReplyDeleteWe remember him as the QUESTS lead guitarist but he was more than that.
Check REGGIE out again on the blog.
Andy Young
Thanks Merl. A month early but this music maker deserves it.
Terence Lee
He is very talented and I respect his playing very much. I met him when the Quests were playing in KL after the Hong Kong contract. I used to go to the place where they stayed and chat with them. I know Jap and Sam Toh well. Jap and I used to go down to China town. Reggie was a quiet person.
Peter Cheong
A talented guitarist of The Quests. We lost a gd musician of bygone yrs. RIP Reggie.
Stephen Han
Reggie Verghese was an excellent guitarist.
Freda Hanum
He was an old friend Andy... He did move up to JB with his wife for some years. Always fetched them for makan and to almost every other day to his house in JB. When he decided to go back to Singapore he asked me to take care of his dogs... After 2 or 3 years I heard he passed away. I used to go to his EMI recording Studio during those days Tracy Huang doing her recordings and also Martin Pereira our old buddy guitarist friend. He's also a real joker. So sad when I heard he's gone.
Davy Chan
Freda Hanum He gave me his mixed German Shepherd named Duke. When rain got thunder he shivered n hide. I was running Guard dog services then. Duke changed to be a good guard dog. I was helping Reggie.n Brian Miller running Jim's Pub at Serangoon Gardens. (Jimmy Chan)
Freda Hanum
Davy Chan He got 2 dogs that he brought up... yes I took one poor fellow he misses the owner... So sad..
Davy Chan
RIP My Friend Reggie
Freda Hanum
Davy Chan Yeah he took me there 2 or 3 occasions to Serangoon where his joint is... He's really a drinker. I remember Ernie from stray dogs was quite frequent with him.
Richard Khan
My hero I'm playing music because of him met him when he was a checkmate he took me around to his rehearsals & gigs and I finally got to perform with him and the Quests reunion gig 1995 at the Mandarin Htl his last performances. Spent time hanging out at food courts before his demise RIP my good friend
Andy Young
Thank you guys for kicking off such a savvy chat starting with Terence as it continues to Peter, Stephen, Freda, Davy, and Richard. And the rest who LIKE this post for the very talented Reggie, many thanks. Like what Horace says, we remember them for their talent and contribution to our music scene; our unsung heroes. You are all unsung heroes.
We remember him as the QUESTS lead guitarist but he was more than that. Check REGGIE out again on the blog.
ReplyDeleteFreda Hanum
Andy, Sorry Andy... You brought back so many old memories back... the mind just can't stop thinking back the good old days...
Thanks to you.
Andy Young
Thanks Freda. Let the mind free and it will walk its path... :-)
Winston Koh
Well written Andy- on PG Musicians & Artists when they passed on and were not reported in the News or on TV. Agreed ST & Mediacorp should have at least acknowledged their contributions in the music scene. They were the Pioneer of the Black & White Radio Television Singapore (RTS) TV Station known today as Mediacorp. The Sixties Musicians & Artists created their own talents and shared it with RTS (Mediacorp) Have a good Evening, Cheer!
Peter Cheong
Winston Koh well said.
Winston Koh Peter Cheong thanks, Peter! Have a good day.
Andy Young
Thanks, Winston. You and the others who replied are the icons we have and should be honoured.