Friday, November 10, 2017

Andy's 60s Music Influencers Meet Dr Farram & P. Hakonen From Australia, Scandinavia: Part 1

Music influencers: 
Little Ong, Daniel Abidin, Michael Bangar, Peter Hakonen, 
Jerry Fernandez, Dr. Steven Farram, John Cher, Horace Wee and Andy.

UP TO 2,000 VIEWS & 25+ CHATS, COMMENTS

When 60's Music Influencing Friends Had A Get-Together In Singapore: Part One.

The Music CD:

The Sleepwalkers are a Scandinavian, instrumental, rock n roll group that combine the Euro sounds of the Shadows with the American twang of Duane Eddy. 

According to the promotional literature on its website, The Sleepwalkers, a Finnish group, play brilliant early 60's style rock 'n' roll guitar instrumentals as they provide lots of original material, crystal clear production, and perfect musical arrangements and performances.
The band included: Ben Engblom (rhythm), Jan-Eric Saine (lead), Mikko Lund (drums) and Taito Ikavalko (bass).

"The members are strongly influenced by the great instrumental guitar bands, performing with character and originality and guaranteed to keep you awake -
Fat City Cigar Lounge."

If you like it laid back and twangy, then you've come to right place. The music is both exotic in imagery and easy on the ear.
The Sleepwalkers with 'Too Young' 
YouTube Video from TRR 25.01.2019


Some melodies in the selection include Sleepwalkers' Theme, Twisting Tango, Mr Z, Too Young, Shazam, Twisted Fate, Cossack, Golden Earrings, Riding Guitars and six others.

From other groups, I heard about 25 more guitar instrumentals and thought these well-produced CD's deserved an airing. You can find them on YouTube. 
These groups are The Quiets, The Dangermen, NoNo Soderberg, The Atomic Blast and The Youngers.

Horace Wee (local guitar legend) has this to say when I sent him the video, "Nice. Well played and great tone 👍."

For Horace to say that...
Andy Young with Pete Hakonen from Helsinki, Finland @ Bras Basah Book Place.

The Music Friends:

This recording and a few others from the same European connection were introduced by a Helsinki friend, Pete Hakonen (image above). Pete wrote to me just two days before coming over to Singapore last week. His speciality is rockabilly.

Pete has been reading my blog for a few years, finds Singapore and its music an interesting holiday idea. He decided to come here, away from everything else.

He had to buy his own beer when we met because I bought him only coffee and tea. Seriously though, I am glad to have met the Finland connection.
Zainal Abidin (Dukes), Michael Bangar (Silver Strings), Pete Hakonen (guest), Jerry Fernandez (Neu Faces).

This is Part One of a music connection and together, a group of 10 Singapore music influencers met for a chit-chat about international 60's music. Pete and Steven provided some insights about music from their countries.

Watch out for Part Two next when Steve, Michael Bangar and I got together to discuss Australian pops.
John Cher (Silver Strings), Horace Wee (guitar legend) and Dr Steven Farram (Darwin U).

Disclaimer:
This posting does not, in any way, promote the music CD's nor their production. 

20 comments:

PETE HAKONEN (HELSINKI, FINLAND) said...

Hello Andy,

how are You ? thank you again so much for meeting me and inviting me to meet your friends. that was very very nice.

i was back home in Helsinki 6 am on Wednesday morning. I am still thinking how well everything went on my trip. So pleased with everything.

My label will have a new CD out from Swedish rockabilly trio "The Go Getters" next week. This is very important release for my label. They have been nominated to Ameripolitan 2018 Awards in Memphis in the category of best rockabilly band. Very important 😊

DEREK McCULLY (TORNADOS, LEAD) said...

They're very good Andy.

PETE HAKONEN (HELSINKI, FINLAND) said...

I am so glad to hear it Andy.

Thank you so much :) i am sure the guys of the Sleepwalkers will enjoy after seeing your blog 😊

By the way - Ben Engblom from the Sleepwalkers - he is also playing with the Dangermen and with The Quiets.

Leslie said...

Wow Andy! They're good. The guitar tone has a mix og Shadows, Ventures and a lityle Dwane Eddy in there. Thsnks for sharing this.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks to Pete who has reached home safely, the source of this informative posting, Horace Wee for his view and quietly serious Shadows-music guitar king Derek McCully from the Tornados for their expert views.

Welcoming LESLIE. Thanks Leslie for your views. Tell us about yourself. First time on this blog? Or have you visited us many times?

PETE HAKONEN (HELSINKI, FINLAND) said...

https://www.facebook.com/goofinrecords

Andy, Thank you so much 😊

i will share your blog on my Facebook and my newsletter mailing to my customers if that's ok ?

HORACE WEE (PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN) said...

I'm glad I made the effort to squeeze in a couple of hours to meet Steve and Pete. And of course the rest of you guys. Always relaxing and enjoyable.

MICHAEL BANGAR (GUITARIST, BLOG WRITER) said...

The same with all of us. All glad that you came Horace.

JOHN CHER (DRUMMER SILVER STRINGS, FACEBOOK, WRITER said...

Hi Andy,
Thanks very much for your coffee. Thanks also for organizing the meet. Cheers!

STEVEN FARRAM (DARWIN U) said...

Thanks for all your help and I will write again from Darwin. I'd love to see some of the group photos from the other day if could send them to me.

I was pretty happy with the way things worked out and am very grateful to you and your musical friends.

Hopefully it will not be so long before I can come again.

All the best
Regards

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you all very much for the co-operation. We had a jolly good time and I'm glad things have worked out well for all.

Apologies to Horace and John for not getting the lunch they needed since they left earlier. Everyone's been so engrossed with topics they chose to discuss and we forgot meal time.

Thanks too for Little Ong's presence and the sweet lady singer who turned up. I forgot her name.

RONNIE SEE (LEADER OF 'THE BURNS') said...

Dear Andy,

Thank you so much for bringing much new information.

You’re really remarkable, so passionate even at this hour!

Best Regards.

FACEBOOK said...

Lost FB account recently. Thanking the following for immediately responding to this story.

Priscilla George
Peter Lim
Foo Jong Fook
Jennie Law
Kwandy Yao
Leslie Wilson Philips

HENRI GANN (LEAD: THE TREKKERS) CALIFORNIA USA said...

Glad to hear that you are having fun with the boys. You will be a Centenarian.
Thanks, Andy!

PETE HAKONEN (HELSINKI, FINLAND) said...

I enjoyed every moment in your country. I have been talking about the meeting you invited me- to my instrumental music friends and they are saying " you are lucky" and "it happens only to you Pete".. I was very lucky. Thank You, Andy!!

I think Mr Ben Engblom from the 'Sleepwalkers' is coming to meet me today at my shop. I will show him the link to your blog and how nicely you wrote about them.

RONNIE SEE (LEADER OF 'THE BURNS') said...

I truly marvel at your passion, energy and sincerity in spending so much time “bringing new information” to people all around which would have been otherwise lost, forgotten and disappeared. That’s a tremendous contribution, Andy.

I salute you to every endeavour you’d created. I am sure there is plenty of envy and sour-grapes in the beginning, nevertheless, I watched you grow from strength to strength. It’s easy to shoot from the hip, while those who attempted, will now have to have their minds examined!

BERNARD CHIN (YOUTUBE) said...

Hi, very nice Shadow-like instrumental number. Are these guys a sixties band???

Anonymous said...

Nice, Andy.

I look forward to the next instalment.

Regards

Steve

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

It's a repost from 5 years ago.
Meeting Peter Hakonen and Dr. Steven Farram was a cinch.
Great influencers for Scandanavian and Australian music.

Welcome again.

FACEBOOK CHATS said...

Andy Young
Hi guys, 8 Singapore music influencers and 2 from another planet, got together once upon a time to chat about our SG music and its connections. Read la... Thanks.

Andy Young
Thanks Terence and Kwandy. You are very early birds that caught the first chat. 🙂

Ericbronson Wong
WHAT A GREAT N HAPPY GATHERING,, IT'S POP KNIGHTS OF D LONG TABLE,, 😃😁🤩😍💪🤘🤟✌️👌👍☕☕🍻🍻🥂🥂🍹🍹CHEERS

Freda Hanum
Awesome 👍👏👏👏

Andy Young
CHECK OUT THEIR SONGS ON THE BLOG:
Colin Kee
A Champions League gathering of all the greatest 🙌.