Guitarist Donald Thaver Of 'The Moonglows'

Donald Thaver from The Moonglows

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Mr Donald Thaver has passed away this on 17th of October, 2016, according to John Cher.  May Mr Thaver Rest In Peace.

The golden era of Singapore's music history has to be the 60's.  It was a vibrant and exciting scene even though in the same period, Singapore was struggling to survive economically and as a nation.

Many bands were conceived and born in the 60's.  Some should have been aborted in the first place.  But there were some good notable ones, such as The Quests, The Thunderbirds, The Silver Strings, The Checkmates, The Dukes, The Hi-Lites (later to become The Mandarins) and others.  

Among these well accepted and good bands was *Sonny Bala and The Moonglows (Donald Thaver centre back).  Sonny, was respected for his rendition of numbers by The Platters as well as other pop genres. The band were recording artistes as well and did a number of vinyl, with reasonable success under the Philips Records international label (Universal Music today). 

One of the guitarists for the band was a young, tall, slim gentleman by the name of Donald Thaver.  He played both the lead, the rhythm guitar and would sing when the need arose.

After The Moonglows, Donald formed his own band.  It was an interesting, attention grabbing name, 4 Plus 1. Donald's forte was Country Music as well as Standards.  

Such music at that time were well liked and indeed sought after by the expatriate communities, hungry for such music, probably to remind them of home.  A good place to showcase such music would naturally be the Orchard Road area where most of the expatriates lived.  Shaw House was one venue where the band played at. They did their tour of the Japanese Clubs circuit as well.   

After  4 plus 1,  Donald joined a country outfit known as The Outlaws. Very aptly named as they were performing in a club known as the Boots n Saddle Club, located at Sembawang Road, opposite the present Sembawang Shopping Centre.  Charlie Anchant was on the vocals, Ricky Tan (Bass), Syed Murati (Drums), Ivor Lesslar (Lead) and Donald Thaver (2nd guitar).

Donald Thaver flanked by Jerry Murad (left) 

and Gina Vadham. Ivor Lesslar with hat.

Towards the later years, Donald played with various bands.  Two outstanding ones were The Neu Notes as well as Transit. In 2015, Transit did four concerts at both The Recital Studio and the outdoor theatre of The Esplanade.  

When asked why the group was called Transit, band member Jerry Murad explained, with much laughter from the audience, that the band was of a certain age and were certainly in transit to somewhere else.

*Read about Sonny Bala here: 

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2010/11/sonny-bala-well-respected-musician.html

Article written by John Cher. All rights reserved.

Images: Ivor Lesslar.
You Tube Video: cjyeo.

                                       Transit @ the Esplanade                                                   

NB
John and I had been thinking of writing shorter articles about our band boys and girls who are still active in today's music scene. This article is a start.  He made the arrangement to meet Ivor Lesslar (lead guitar with Cells Unlimited) and a close friend of Donald Thaver.  Just some coffee and a friendly chat, John got this latest story.  Again thanks to both for their willingness to help with information on this blog.

                                   Ivor Lesslar, John Cher, Andy 

                            Donald Thaver sings Things @ Esplanade.

Performance by Transit @ The Esplanade. 60's Band Members from: Adapters, Cells Unlimited, Dukes, Moonglows, Wagon Wheels.

Andy 60s Music Blog Helps Students & Communities

Pix is for illustration only.

College students

I've been helping college students with their term papers since 2009 when younger readers write to me asking for help about Singapore music in the 60's. Two professors had also contacted me regarding documented materials and information.

I will usually meet them at a fast food outlet and chat with them for about two hours. The students are mostly tertiary ones from the universities and polytechnics. Most of the term papers they are writing pertain to the history of local popular culture in Singapore. 

Media

Some producers and film makers from radio, TV, production houses and local/foreign newspapers, write to me requesting for permission to document and film my  small record collection of local music and my hands-on experience as a 1960's band boy (it was a short stint). 

The band and I had appeared twice on Channel 5 prime time slots during, Rolling Good Times (2015) and Not The 5 Show (2016), both of which drew quite large home audiences.  Brian Richmond interviewed me for five slots on his Sunday With Brian radio show.  

In 2016, I had been invited by two producers to appear in another television series about Singapore in the past but had since passed it on to others because of family commitments.

The Singapore You Tube sensation, Shirley Nair's, You're The Boy, which drew three quarters of a million viewers (750,000+), acquired some content and members of the band from this blog. Laurence Lim, a singer with The Trebles group from the 60's appeared as a 'grandfather' on the video.

Arts Organisations

Arts groups and related organisations had also commented on the blog and invited me to talk at workshops and in staging street gigs and in-door concerts, but I left this specialty to the event experts that are around after briefing them on the types of music and performances required for the events.  In related activities the band had performed at the Esplanade, the RELC International Hotel at Orchard and other venues.

Blog Statistics

The statistics available regarding this blog has not been enhanced in any way, not with purchased statistics from any source, nor with Google+. X [former Twitter], is a natural exposure where people interested in Singapore 60's music have written in. 

Why?

This posting is not a show of feat but to remind us Singaporeans, that even without much fanfare we should try to help our country men and women in some way, even if it is an insignificant one.

My reward? A young writer I met at an interview once told me, "Mr Lim, every time we look for information regarding local music of the past, we are directed back to your blog!" Can I ask for more?

You can find most of the above stories on this blog if you browse through the postings. Or click Labels below.

Yeah, for local 60's music.

To connect:
Use Comment below, leave your email address; reply will be confidential.

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Letters from students and others:

Hi Andy,

(1) I am M and I am a student from... Singapore. I am currently doing research on the 1970's long hair ban in Singapore and I am looking to speak to individuals whom have personal experience with the regulation. I am particularly interested in individuals whom were involved in the music scene too... M.

(2) I would love to meet and interview you to learn more and recover the music scene in Singapore during the 1960's. I understand that album sleeves are a niche topic, nevertheless, the historical context you are familiar with is very helpful to me to remap how the production of local music and the socio-cultural atmosphere of that time... B.

(3) Hi all, I am in search of possible audio interview of Yardbirds with late legendary Tan Swee Leong at the MacDonald House just prior to their Jan. 18, 1967 concert at the National Theatre, many photos have been found on line from various sources... Anon.

(4) Happening every... we look to celebrate 60's music with a twist. With a live DJ on the decks, we mix 60's music with lounge beats as we look to create a cozy atmosphere for dining. Is there any way that I can contact you in private, and if possible invite you down for a session, so we can gather feedback? I believe this is an untapped field in Singapore, and we will be honored to get your opinion on this... X.

(5) I'm Ms S. from S. Publishing, an educational publisher in Singapore.  We would like to use a hi-res image of Silver Strings playing at the National Theatre in our music textbook... 

(6) Can you contact me? I'm doing research on TV history series for Singapore which covers pop culture. Would like to tell you more about it privately. Not sure whether you'll have access to my email when I post this. But I'll check back for your response. And see how we can touch base - CL. 

(7) In any case, it would be a pleasure to have a chat with you! I am free any weekday and the timings you mentioned are fine. Which day would be most convenient for you? C.

(8) Hope you had a fine weekend. My name is R., and I am writing from SG-based production outfit Peddling Pictures. We are researching for an upcoming documentary programme for CNA. Would you be available for a research call, about Daisy Devan? At your best convenience. Thank you so much and I hope to hear from you soon. R.

Just a few of many letters to this blog for Singapore 60's music information assistance, etc.

60's Car Park Boys (Jaga Kereta) Give You A Flat

Del Vikings: Flat Tire Video by Eric Sempels

Motor cars cost a fortune in our country. The cheapest two-door, standard would cost at least S$60,000 brand new. With what is known as COE (Certificate of Entitlement), which an owner needs to drive a vehicle on the road, it would be heartbreak to find a tiny scratch, a dent or a puncture on the recently acquired car, etc.

Nowadays in Singapore, if you park your car anywhere you can be reasonably certain that it will still be in one piece and unscathed when you come to pick it up from a parking lot. But it was a different ball-game a long time ago.

In Singapore 50's and 60's when you are about to park your car on a playing field or open ground - there was hardly a designated car park those years - a group of boys will swarm your car and demand that they look after it for the duration you are away. 

If you refuse the car will probably be in a mess afterwards. These *jaga kereta boys (or watch car boys) would probably have decorated it one way or another with a long artistic scratch, a large beautiful dent on the body work or a newly-shaped designer wheel (punctured).

I remember an incident when I was parking my car near the Odeon Katong Cinema (image) along East Coast Road in the mid-sixties. A few friends and I were going to watch a pop music show featuring some of our Shadows bands on stage. 

As we were driving into the large grass patch two boys approached the car, knocked on the window and suggested they looked after the car while it was parked. 

I refused them but very politely, hoping not to antagonise the two scruffy looking lads. It was a mistake because I found some scratches on my grey Volkswagen (image) afterwards. The jaga kereta boys, who formed a gang around the area, had all disappeared into the night.

All too soon as the four of us drove out on the main East Coast Road and proceeded to Siglap which is on a hill, a tire caved in.

Down the road and over the hill
I took my baby ridin' in my automobile
Ridin' along, me and my heart's desire
Ssssssss, a flat tire...

It took us some time to fix the flat but definitely most of the evening was wasted and our trip to Changi Point for a sea-food dinner was cancelled.

Incidents like these became quite a fearful experience for many drivers, especially the ladies. Although reports were made to the police it was not easy to catch these youth. 

Even as late as 1971, there were incidents of jaga kereta nuisance. Here's an edited letter from a 'taxpaying motorist' in the Straits Times Singapore, dated 24th February, 1971, who wrote:

On February, 6th, at about 4pm, I was pestered by a group of jaga kereta boys on arrival at the Chinese Swimming Club.

 I ignored them and went to the club canteen to phone the police. At 5 pm when I returned to my car the boys were still present, bold and demanding as ever.

That was not the first time I phoned the police about this menace. I have phoned four times in all.

Why has no action been taken?

(Left images of jaga kereta boys not from Singapore.)

           http://adoi-means-ouch.blogspot.sg/2007_11_01_archive.html


I was all shook up and feelin' bad
I was thinkin' 'bout the fun 
That we could have had
I had just about figured out what to do

But the Police, and all government departments that were involved, took action. Like the notorious Singapore gangsters that terrorized the island during those tumultuous years, the jaga kereta boys with underground connections were got rid off from the streets and car parks soon enough.  Today there is not one jaga kereta boy in Singapore. 

Do you have a social nuisance like jaga kereta boys in your country? What about our Singaporean reader? I'm sure you have encountered our nuisance in the 60's?

*Jobless, these boys resorted to making a few cents for their daily expenses. When the government stepped in, most improper activities were resolved as these young people acquired a decent education, housing, proper work and career paths. 

An original article.

NB
The Song and Vocal Group

The Del-Vikings or The Dell-Vikings is a vocal group specialising in doo-wop, rock n roll and recorded several pop singles in the 1950's. They lasted for many years with different line-ups and known for their racially integrated members. Their top hit was Come Go With Me.

Images; Google.
You Tube and Lyrics: Del Vikings, Flat Tire.