Andy 60's Music Says Thank You & A Happy New Year 2020

THANK YOU BLOG SUPPORTERS

LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR

OF 60'S MUSIC STORIES

Hi Dear Readers,
A Happy New Year 2020.
Have another great time with SG music stories and its influence.
Thanks for reading this blog.
Cheers.

Check these connections:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/search/label/Happy%20New%20Year

Andy 60's Music Happy New Year Photos 2020 Auld Lang Syne

YouTube Videos of Winston Koh and Perry Koh are included. 

These two gentlemen are not related.

November and December 2019 with earlier months thrown in were interesting times for the blog. Meeting new friends and a trip to camel and desert country made the year all the more exciting. I try to connect songs that I learnt as a child in Singapore with my recent adventure.

Music makers support one another: Pat 'King' Koh's (2nd right)

performance at the Esplanade 2019, had an audience of

friends like Gregory, brother Perry Koh, Rickie, Andy, Laurence

and Pat himself with Ernesto. Pat has a show in Hawaii currently.

My birthday candles sheltered by a gentle palm

as they were being lighted. It was November end...

These two pretty ladies sang too.

She's definitely the prettiest lady singer in Singapore.  Alexandra Hsieh 

hits beautiful notes singing the best selection of jazz classics.

And she tap dances too, exqusitely.

A wise quote from a man who knows his wife well.

Or learn it the hard way. You'll never win.

Tan Soo Khoon who's had a huge birthday bash

at his home this year. I missed the bash but caught him 

singing Sloop John B? on video.

Today: Anna Law from Girl Group The Teepees:

Singer, guitarist and cheer leader.

Hubby Vincent (below) is very supportive. Fantastic.

Jimmy Appuduria-chua, one of the most polite musicians.  Friendly, helpful, he is also a humble guy. So many write-ups about Jimmy in the international papers about his ability and prowess on the solid guitar. He's a living legend and lives in England.

Sheik of Araby by Michael Alf Trio: One of the best instrumental versions currently. Video from YouTube by ulivids: Uli van Royen.

Here's Belinda Poh who wrote two articles that made a sensation on the blog.
Her common sense approach to problem solving kept many people reading her posts. She had a few thousand readers in a short time. Thanks Belinda. We've yet to meet. And with her hubby too.

Steve Ho and Peter Han from Tokyo Square busk at a shop in Upper Bukit Timah Road. I managed to visit them. Together they are regulars at China Town and Kreta Ayer Chinese Theatre.

Steve Ho with his Busker Boys is on YouTube. Check him out soon.

Another unassuming musician who doesn't tell the world he's the best. Tony Ng is one great keyboardist and peranakan who gets along fine. He plays often for charity.

Jimmy Chan with Sandy Loo and friend. It's Ernesto again. He's appearing everywhere on this blog. Jimmy tinkles on the piano keys, Ernesto strums.

With Chew Hee Hong, after the cruise concert, a great lunch at the Mandarin and chicken rice. Hee Hong is a pop 60's music enthusiast and a fan.

Winston Koh sings Cliff. Always a health enthusiast, Winston has walked most of Bukit Batok and the Jurong greens. He knows Cliff's repertoire so well, he's sung 95% of them.

Winston Koh sings: Move It.

Here's Perry Koh again, a picture I stole from his profile. Perry, like Alexandra sings the jazz classics, crooning too like his dad, Walter Koh (Singapore's Pat Boone). They belong to a well known Peranakan family of entertainers. You should listen to him sometimes with 'Fly Me To The Moon' and 'New York, New York.'

A childhood friend, Paul Ibrahm (centre), used to sing with The Velvetones, then proceeded to fame with Tania. He's  still in touch when we said hello on the internet. Quiet and a lady-crusher with his good looks, Paul is still the usual nice guy. Next to him is Ahmad Albar, Indonesia's #1 rocker, from the band, Godbless and his wife, Dewi.

Yen has kept in touch for some time and organised a lunch recently. She is an independent thinker and helped me with some research on Chinese songs I posted, sometimes with her dad's help. Doesn't call me 'Sir' anymore. Also an art lover and artist. Thanks Yen.

He's a great man and reading Tolle helps us to consider that we need to control our Ego within. Suggestion that we separate E, from GO and let it go. From an old book, 'The New Earth'. Like my poster? It's original. 

It wasn't really an official visit. But he came all the way up to the 15th and there we were. The former President is 1.85m tall. I didn't mention if this scene is Singapore. Fun and games. I guess this picture is an ego booster? 😐

Here's someone who helped me buy the John Lennon semi-solid smooth and slim guitar I wanted. With Michael Bangar we were at Swee Lee where I met Helmi (left), the expert with drums and guitars. Thanks Charlie Yap. I have still to buy the guitar though. 

With the SGCC group at the Bar and Eddie in red.

I'm no drinker but just to support them as a coffee man.

Good friend Larry Lai, Rediffusion DJ (in a white jacket) and wife Selina.

The Sheikh of Araby. Great song. So is the car.

You know the 60's rock n roll term, "Dig that crazy chick". But there's also another term using dig, like, 'I'm just taking a dig at someone..."

Yes, we're just taking pleasant digs at everyone. Cheers.

Images:

Stolen from Facebook and

other sources all over the world

but mostly from my iPhone Collection

Andy 60's Music A Merry Xmas & New 2020

Many many thanks to FREDA HANUM for creating and putting up the above poster on Facebook.  It wasn't planned at all but I am grateful for the recognition she and many readers have given this blog. 

I am taking this advantage to feature below the wonderful people I've met because of this blog.

Teepees: Anna, Audie, Freda, Andy, Rose, Rumini

Backstage Pek Kio CC.

Linda apparently runs the show. 

Boss Audie only instructs. Hee hee.

With Stephen Han who sends me news pieces 

daily and write articles for the blog too.

Rocky Wong sings at a hotel in town.

He's in his 80's and plays the guitar as well.

Still with a great voice and very talented.

He does Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Thai and

is a C/W rock n roller.

Silver Strings backstage RELC: Peter, Nick, Andy, Michael,

Percy, Audie and Johnny. Man! One of the best teams I've sung with.

Very easy going boys.

With Swee Leng, NIE colleague, her sister and close friends.

With Lydia Kok, La Salle student, 

and Mike Bangar and Mrs Bangar.

The SG Rat Pack: Johnny Yeow, Ernesto, Andy, Richard, Audie.

Since our show at NLB Hall in 2016

Rose Khoo has kept in touch, LIKING my postings 

on Facebook all the time. Thanks Rose.

Before Christmas. With camel-keeper Erhmad (Ahmad) 

and the ship of the desert.

The great man himself: 

DJ personality Jerry Fernandez

He sings Tom Jones songs better

than Mr Jones.

Three of the nicest guys in SG 60's music scene today.

These boys have no airs about them: Johnny Yeow,

Winston Koh and Charlie Yap. Great guys.

Ms Angela Leow (selfie)

during the RELC show break in November 2019.

She's a reader of fine books and writes well on her Facebook.

Addy Ng, son of Audie Ng.

He's in charge too when papa

does a show. Cheers Addy.

With Ted Ha (seated), a superbly disciplined jazz guitarist,

with Steve Ho, rocker from The Heartbreakers, who busks

in Chinatown and Alfred Wong (yellow T), entrepreneur.

When I asked that Deadpool take off his hood, 

he threatened, "I'll kill you afterwards?" I walked away.

Luckily he allowed our picture. Have you heard the

theme music to this guy's movie?

Alfred Wong who runs shows for clubs and events. 

Catch him at SGCC on 29th December.  

An ardent 60's fan although he's only 45; Alfred

is a classical guitarist and keyboardist.

Says he related to some Sultan Wongo in the Far East.

Peter Cheong is a familiar face on Facebook

and often shares my posts with his friends.

He's an old SAS boy and climbs the banyan tree

to play Tarzan, after pushing his bike up the hill.

My surfing buddies in the Sunshine Coast, Australia. 

We used to go watchthe surf so when it's high tide they surf, I watch.

No BeeGees live but plenty of statues

and nostalgia in this special lane. Brisbane, Australia.

The peak for this blog when Hafizah and her two friends

wrote to me for a paper they needed to write about local music.

I agreed and got Jerry Fernandez, Michael Bangar and Winston Koh 

to help. With Tom Jones, BB King and Cliff Richard, what better lecturers

do they need?

And here they are, my most wonderful students

from the 90's. While you guys were screaming

and singing on stage, I was screaming at them

in class. After nearly 30 years they still invite me

to their outings and it's all due to Yen. Thanks Yen.

3 generations in touch.

The blog helped to bring many of these students, friends and musicians together. Thank you all.

Christmas Message: 'God Used Your Blog To Bring About This Happening': CYLin

When I wrote to CYLin, who has been a regular contributor, for a Christmas Blog Message, she hesitated as usual.  It is not easy to write a meaningful Christmas message.

Then this episode, which happened recently, brought about a revelation which cannot be explained.  You need to read the whole article to understand and an earlier posting by CY to appreciate her story.

Maria Carey with 'Joy To The World'

Andy,

Where did the time go?  It wasn't that long ago that the Xmas decorations were taken down and stored. Now they're up again. Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw in a public area along Jalan Bukit Merah the God of Fortune with all the attendant lanterns, gold coins. But Chinese Lunar New Year is not till 25 January 2020!!!  We are fighting against time.  We are fighting against climate change.

As we go into the season of Christmas and what it means, I would like to share how time and happenings are sometimes within/not within our control.

In July 2015, I posted in your blog about Dr Lim Boon Keng's kampong at 1 Paterson Hill where families of different races lived in rented rooms in his big atap-roofed mansion. The adults were mostly neighbourly and the kids of varying ages were the most happy - climbing trees and running wild in the big field fronting the house.  Today, some people talk about trying to make life in the public housing estates just like in the kampong days.  Can this happen?

In August 2017, in the blog I reminisced about my Home - Singapore and the places that are now gone; lost to progress.  1 Paterson Hill, my home from the mid 40's to early 70's was one.  

The Boon Keng MRT named after Dr. Lim Boon Keng, as discussed in the message.

A reader of this second post had asked how he could contact the writer (I did not use my full name for the blog).  He too did not reveal his identity but mentioned that he was a descendant of  Doctor Lim and that he and his co-writer were planning a book on the Doctor's final years at 1 Paterson Hill.  Unsure how genuine this request was, there was complete silence on the Singapore front.  He was persistent - wrote you a few times.

In December 2018, I mentioned this case to my brother, a technophile.   He made enquiries.

Revelation - Doctor's grandson whom we played with for years till the early 60's when he emigrated to USA without a parting word.  On 6 November 2019, he and his co-writer were in Singapore to present some of his grandfather's belongings to the Asian Civilisation Museum. 

This visit was also to attend a school reunion and of course to catch up with his long lost childhood friends.  During his month's stay, we had five nostalgic and for me emotional sessions.  God has used your blog to bring about this happening.  Truly, IN HIS TIME, HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL.

Thank you Andy.  A blessed Christmas to you and family and your readers.

CYLin.

Read Part One:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2015/07/dr-lim-boon-kengs-kampong-paterson-hill.html

'In His Time, He Makes All Things Beautiful' is a hymn relevant to this story.

Lim Boon Keng's grandson is seated in the middle and all others are to remain anonymous, according to the wish of the writer.

You can read more about Lim Boon Keng from Wikipedia:
He is a legacy and has places named after him in Singapore like Boon Keng Road, Upper Boon Keng Road, Boon Keng MRT.

He co-founded the Singapore Chinese Girl's School (SCGS) and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC).