It's time.
He's finally 'officially recognised' and will be put on the NDP (National Day Parade) to perform this year. That's an encore for those people who are in charge of the annual national get together on August 9. This music maker deserves it.
Mr Julai Tan who is 93 years young will be in action and the most senior musician to be on stage. He will be playing a Bach piece, Air On The G-String, accompanied on the organ by piano man Jerry Monteiro.
He has performed with the BBC Orchestra during his youthful days for three years from 1964 to 1967. Prior to his engagement in England, he was with our own Singapore radio orchestra in the 1950's. He returned here in the late 70's.
Eight years ago in 2010, I wrote two articles about him and mentioned, "He must definitely be put on the list of prominent Singapore 60s musicians as his career spans more than 4 decades."
Please connect below to read:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/03/is-this-violinist-julai-tan.html
Mr Tan was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 15th Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (Compass) Awards in 2010.
Congratulations Mr Tan and your wife, Madam Ng Siew Lan. We'll all be watching you on TV this National Day Parade 2018.
If you remember Mr Tan, do write in to tell us.
Bach: Air on the G String from his 3rd Orchestral Suite in D major, BWV 1068.
Video by smalin. Thank you. This video has 9.5 million views.
Chinese Indonesian names are often misspelt. Similarly with Mr Tan's, who was promoted as JULY TAN on his vinyl.If you remember Mr Tan, do write in to tell us.
Video by smalin. Thank you. This video has 9.5 million views.
NB:
Images:
Irene Yap Copyrights Reserved.
A Personal Collection and from filemklasikmalaysia.blogspot.com
25 comments:
It's great news. He is one of Singapore's great musicians. Playing together with Jerry Monteiro, one of our great jazz musicians. Wow! What a treat!
Did you know the rehearsals and the actual National Day is very tiring for older folks? The time and so on spent is immense. Singaporeans voiced out that it should now spread out National Day ie: not yearly.
Fantastic guy. He used to play at the Ming Court Lobby Lounge when I was there.
It was a three-piece band when I met him in 1975. Called THE JADE LOUNGE at Ming Court Hotel.
I first heard about him in 1965 from my violin teacher DIRK KALF, who told me Julai played at the ADELPHI HOTEL. Dirk was also a violin professional at the Adelphi. Julai knew Dirk well.
Andy,
I see that you are still actively blogging. That's good. Keep it up.
Yes, way back during RTS (RADIO-TELEVISION SINGAPURA) time when TV was in black and white. Met him again just a few years ago in Jazzsistic where we jammed together.
It is just awesome that at 93 he is still performing and will be performing this coming National Day for the nation.
Hope Mr Tan can last all the rehearsals. I'm being very frank.
There are no photographs of him in Singapore because Julai Tan left for UK during the 1960's.
One of our very own legend.
During our middle years, recalling very often, hearing JULAI TAN's violin and music over the airwaves, both on the radio, Rediffusion and TV.
Just in time; yes, put in on the NATIONAL DAY pedestal.
Well done.
Wonderful that he is given recognition for his contributions to Singapore music. He was in the same era as MAESTRO GOH SOON TJIO who discovered LEE PAN HON from the slums of Chinatown.
Yes, I've heard that name mentioned before whilst listening to the radio, as a child. Kudos to the organisers for inviting him to perform at this year's NDP. (Thumb's up).
Wow!
Great news and to know that X-Singaporeans are getting recognition at home.
Thank you again for a great blog.
I would like to thank those who have written in and comment about Mr Julai Tan. At 93 he's truly a champion for us Seniors.
Appreciate all of you for your support, both for Mr Tan and this blog.
Hooray for our local 60's artistes.
Julai Tan performed as a duet with Sam Hussein at the Albert Court Hotel Lounge run by Michael Tan my ex-partner of 10th Storey Musical Agency. Julai played pops and commercial music as a duo and dyed his hair red. He looked kinky at his age.
(Sam Hussein was the last guitarist with the Silver Strings that performed at dark Scene Outram Park before the group disbanded. He was known as the HANK MARVIN of Orchard Road in the 60's because he played Shadows music at his brother's Sarabat Stall at the previously popular Orchard Road Carpark open-air Hawker Food Centre opposite Centre Point.)
Hi Andy,
I remember Julai Tan well. He is about 16 years younger than my dad. The last I heard him play was when he played the Wedding Waltz at my niece's wedding in 1983 at the OUB plaza.
Julai Tan is one of the best violinists in Singapore and definitely the only grand senior violinist.
Cheerio
The Stray Dogs REPENT strings were performed by Julai Tan.
(Jimmy was with the STRAY DOGS during Singapore 60's golden age of music).
The Stray Dogs, "Repent" strings were performed by Julai Tan.
THANKS FOR LIKING POST
Jennie Law
Ann Rowena Lim
Rose Khoo
Roop Singh
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Veronica Young
Merlin Lim
An unknown fact is that Julai's Spanish wife at that time was the one who coached me for the correct pronunciation for my recording of Guantanamera...
(Watch out for HORACE WEE'S full story soon on this blog.)
Andy is a good friend from our blogging days.
He has probably the most comprehensive music blog in SG! I like his style of writing and commentary including his comments here. That is Andy.
We will meet up again with our S K kakis soon.
Hi Dick,
Thanks for the compliment. A great guy and always helpful in his ways; that's DICK YIP. Hopefully to meet up soon. I'm currently still in touch with JAMES KWOK and PETER CHAN, our FOYERS group. Thanks, Angela, using your platform to chat.
PS
Again thanking all others who contributed to mention about JULAI TAN. We might understand now why Julai is so famous.
Hi, I´m Elena Tan Ortega, I´m Julai Tan´s daugther. I would like to knoww how I could locate my father, to know more about him.
I am a musician and piano teacher and also a Music Therapist.
I would very much like to have more information about my father.
Thank you.
Elena Tan
To Ms. Elena Tan Ortega,
You can write to me again by leaving me your email address, country you are writing from and a phone number.
I shall not publish the information.
I shall write to you personally and include my email address for you which will be confidential.
Thank you.
Hello Andy
Would you be able to help me get in touch with Mr Julai Tan's widow.Anyway of getting in touch with you first w/o putting my tel no here?
6/3/2021
Hello Anon.
I am sorry I am not in touch with Mr Tan's widow.
There's really no way I can help unless somebody writes in after reading your letter.
But you can leave me your phone number but I shall not publish it.
Good luck and all the best.
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