Happy Tay, who contributes frequently to this blog, writes about his recent Elvis Presley appearance at a Hawaiian Theme Party in his hometown in Vancouver, Canada. He migrated to British Columbia in the 1970's and is the city's official Elvis Presley.
Open and frank, he was a police officer, both in Singapore and Vancouver, a Jalan Besar footballer, an ardent movie and music man and friends to many of our pop 60's stars today. One good friend, he says, is 90.5 FM front man, Brian Richmond.
Tall, good looking, Happy definitely has the animal GRROWL factor in him when he sings Elvis, so read on and find out how he made the ladies faint...
Aloha Andy,
Aloha Andy,
Been quite a while since we last communicated. How have you been doing?
Just to update you on my recent Elvis performance at a charity Dinner & Dance, with a "sell-out" audience of 300! I agreed to come out of my Elvis Tribute Performance retirement to help out a good cause and was pleasantly surprised by the reception I received.
I had actually retired but when the Knights of Columbus from the Parishes (there's 4 in Richmond, Vancouver), approached me to help them in their charity fund raiser, I felt obliged to help out. The theme was Hawaiian and the Dinner & Dance event, which was held last month, was a sell out. I did three songs, Blue Hawaii, Can't Help Falling In Love, and How Great Thou Art.
The black suit I wore for that occasion was purchased in Graceland, Memphis, on my last visit two years ago. It was from the same tailor that Elvis had all his suits made. This particular one was the replica of the suit he wore in a come-back concert but fashioned on a much smaller scale.
I was pleasantly surprised that my performance literally brought the house down with some of the ladies swooning and rushing to the stage with their handkerchiefs and scarfs but fortunately, nothing much more personal. In fact, two of them insisted that I gave them a kiss too.
Wow, now I know how The King felt, receiving all those attention - albeit, mine was only on a much smaller scale though.
All in all, everything went well, and I thank the good Lord for all the beautiful things he has provided me; good health, singing ability, a great family and wonderful friends and most importantly, being Happy!
Hope we'll get to meet during my coming visit to Singapore.
Happy Tay
Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Images: Happy Tan (Copyright).
So watch it Jimmy PresLee, Happy Tay's coming round to Singapore. And it might prove Girl Happy time for the ladies on our island.
Elvis Presley - Girl Happy - Video: SoundAndArt2010
Read Happy Tay's other articles:http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/search/label/Happy%20Tay%20Postings
14 comments:
Dear Andy,
Thank you for the email.
Please send my warmest regards to Happy Tay, whom I’ve not met for many years, and you’ve very kind to keep friends informed of his impending visit.
Keep in touch and have a nice weekend.
Warmest Regards.
Supporters who have seen and read this posting:
Priscilla Teo, Pamela Loo, Tony Seow, Way R. Way, Ky Minh Nguyen, Grace Philip, Sherry Rawls, Ooi Richard, Frankie Toh, Terry Ip, Juliana Ong, Cheung Regina, Hanche Presley, Honesto Espiritu, Sue Jan Lai, Kim Ong, Bruce Hui Kim Siong, Kilala Tilaar, Peter Jason Lai, Hiroko Naka (up to 5th July, 2015).
Thanks Andy, an old friend and colleague of mine.
It's simply pleasing to know the amazing Canada-Singapore connection in music too.
Good on you brother Happy.
Yes I noted in his article, in soccer n police. I'm sure in soccer, hope he is familiar with Burnley United, one of the outstanding young team in 60's, advised by late Uncle Choo, managed by Maurice Pasqual and coach Kejapathy.
Hi all,
Thanks for response and support. I don't know Happy personally but, like himself and a few others, have been sending me stories about Singapore in the 60's these past years.
It's friends and readers like you that have kept the blog going.
Yours sincerely.
Thanks Andy,
Appreciated the blog you have put up and the many long lost friends, who have read the blog, and have responded warmly to my coming visit.
I believed that many of the Baby Boomers from the 60s' and 70s' era (including S'poreans who have emigrated, and living overseas), appreciated the time and sacrifices you have contributed to this fantastic creation of yours.
Kudos to you my friend, as you've created an iconic chapter of the good old days of S'pore, as the song goes, "those were the days, my friend..."!
Hopefully, we'll be able to meet up in S'pore, together with my Buddy, Jamie-san Kwok.
Cheers and God Bless,
People who like the posting: Kali Dass, Jervin Kho, Irene Lung, Michael Seok, Edward Lim, Sam Quah, Florence Foo, Tony Tan, Serene Ho, Wah Eng Koh, Janice Ang, Ambrose Tham, Jess Koh Eckberg, Ming Lee, Justin Ang, Gary Yeo.
So nice to see you singing. Bravo.
Good looking guy.
Hi Andy
I remember Happy Tay from the previous write-up. At first I thought it was his own show but it turns out to be none other than Elvis himself.
Anyway, this video clip immediately reminds me that you should choose this same song for the Marina Bay (Promontory) performance on 7th of August, 2015.
I bet you will get the same attention just like Elvis, ie go down from the stage and get a nice lady from the floor, sing and dance like he did and this will certainly make an eventful evening for us all.
I am looking forward to have fun.
Cheers
I'd probably frighten all the ladies away. We did the routine for the Silver Strings Show at the Lucky Plaza gig at Orchard Road, didn't we. with 'Mean Woman Blues'?
Supporters who have seen and read this posting:
Alfred Boy Sanchez, Agnes Chee, Rico Prospero, Nicholas Ong, Nitz Bill One's Jr., Joe Elvis Rozario, Per Arne Elde, Enrico Blardony, Rupert Rajah, Rickson Elvis Goh, JM Tan, Morokawa Billy, Helen Ma,Eric Alvarez, Viviane Gonzalez, Mabel Lee, Gede Wirsana, Charlie Nieshio, Tony Seow and many more...
If names have been repeated or left out please excuse.
THIS KID IS FANTASTIC GO GIRL NO MATTER WHAT THE CRITICS SAY.
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