Singapore 1966 Artistes In Kuching Sarawak Show

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This newspaper advertisement was published by Sarawak Press, Kuching.

The Welcome Party

JUDY LEE

Kuching is a small town in Sarawak, Malaysia, so when a pop show that featured Singapore singers and bands made their way there, the population went wild. Nearly every young person in the area wanted to see them. 

According to Audie Ng who was the leader of the Silver Strings, everyone in the group was treated like international stars. They were all invited to the Governor's house for lunch, with reporters tailing them. After the interviews, they went to their hotel to unpack.

Audie remembered an incident when they heard a knocking at their hotel door. Thinking it was the housekeeper coming to check the room, one of the band boys sauntered to the door with a cold drink in his hand and casually opened it. The shock he experienced lasted to this day.

The Odeon and Capitol Cinemas in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia in the 1960's.

Imagine his surprise and embarrassment when a group of teenage girls rushed in screaming with autograph books in their hands. They refused to leave until every member of the entourage signed them. 

Apparently, some of the boys had to hide under the blankets because they were still in their briefs. It was a hilarious situation, one where the Silver Strings could remember forever.

The Talent Shows

The show featured Bryan Neale the bouncing boy from England, Judy Lee TV and radio nightingale, Catherine Chong top a-go-go dancer, Shirley Nair Singapore Singing Sexation (as advertised).  K.V. John was the compere for the evening and Robert Chua was the executive producer.

CATHERINE CHONG

There were two top bands in attendance then, The Silver Strings and The Jets. The line-up then for both bands were Audie Ng, Merlin Lim, Danny Boy and Dickie Tan. I provided the tag-line, "the big beat band with the big bang beat" when I was with them for one and a half years.  Mike and Herb, Beatles of Malaysia, were the highlight of the show.  

The other band The Jets, had lead guitar Edward Tan, bassist Alan Poh, Harold on rhythm and Robert on drums. He was known as Singapore's dancing drummer. I remember they had one of the best instruments in the business, using solid Fender guitars on stage. Thomas Ang was their singer then. 

BRYAN NEALE

There were two shows each evening at 6.45 pm and another at 9.15 p.m. and staged at the Odeon Theatre in Kuching.

A Good Deed Not Forgotten

When the top Kuching pop band was invited to perform on stage, Audie Ng was shocked to see the lead guitarist carry an amplifier as small as a Rediffusion set with six batteries inside. Seeing it might not be able to amplify the guitar sound in the large cinema hall, Audie offered the group to use the Silver Strings Fender amplifiers. 

AUDIE NG

He remembered very well that they played the instrumental Tabu with pomp, polish, and pride. The band leader was ever grateful for the favor and kept in touch with Audie and the band. 

"Twenty-five years later he came to Singapore looking for the Silver Strings and repaid his favor by allowing me to service all his four nightclubs in Malaysia," explained Audie who provides bands for entertainment places.

Shirley Nair & The Silver Strings - 

You're the boy (Lyrics)

YouTube Video by: herecomeshariss

The Show Producer

Robert Chua said: "In 1966, I produced and staged pop shows in Singapore and Malaysia and was the manager of The Jets. I wonder how many of my friends in Singapore remember these pop stars?

KV JOHN (MC)  SHIRLEY NAIR

Can you imagine tickets were S$1, S$2 and S$3 (then S$1 was HK$2)? This was before I secured a job with Singapore television when they rejected me as they considered me too young."

Robert Chua was one of the youngest producers in S.E. Asia when he started.

"But when I got the job I worked about 7 months and produced more TV shows than any of their producers. After that, I resigned to join TVB and the rest is history!"

According to Mr. Chua, he was one of the youngest show producers in the 1960's. He was only 19.

ROBERT CHUA

From Merlin Lim
[Rhythmist Silver Strings]
18th February, 2024:

While we were there playing on stage, dear Shirley Nair told me after the show. "That song, 'What Now My Love' brought tears to a member of the audience. It's a nice song and probably brought back memories to that person."

To bring tears to someone listening, while performing for them, is  a dream, a very sweet dream come true.

Thanks for the memories. Let there be peace, love and compassion in this troubled world. Love transcends all boundaries. PEACE and BLISS to all.

Love: Merlin.

Images from Mr. Robert Chua's Poster on Facebook; A Personal Collection and Google.

YouTube: Terry Snyder And The All Stars - Tabu. (1959).

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