Sunday, February 16, 2020

Singapore's Cliff Richard Tribute Artiste Winston Koh

The above image is an illustration of what a Winston Koh vinyl record could be. 
Winston Koh sings Cliff. Cheers. You Tube videos by: Rocker Lee.

There are many Cliff Richard Tribute Artistes in Singapore today. A few of them are still running around on this island and while some still perform on stage, others have given up the glaring lights for reasons of their own.  In the 60's they used to be called Cliff Richard impersonators. 


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The official winner who was named Singapore's Cliff Richard was Kenneth Gomez. He was good-looking and performed well. But Mr Gomez left the scene some time back.

One  particular gentleman I know sings Cliff too. He was featured on this blog (connection below) and is currently accompanied on stage by well-known 60's pop guitar group The Trailers.


Winston Koh has allowed me to post some of his videos here. There are four Cliff songs. You can listen to him at YouTube connections by typing in his name.

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain by Elvis Presley or Willie Nelson uses Minus One.

Winston and I got together last year for a meal at the Singapore Cricket Club of which he is a member. So with Charlie Yap from dance band Locomotion and Johnny Yeow from Winston's previous band, The Flying Phantoms, we had a great time talking about Singapore's golden years of music in the 1960's. 


Winston (above) sings another Cliff favourite. This gig included Sam Gan and Friends: Horace Wee, Richard Ortega, Sanip Ismail and the late Patrick Seet. 'Move It' was rearranged by Sam who was on piano too.

The intro-riff and lead guitar belongs to Horace Wee! Muh man!!!

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From Facebook are a few of his photographs from the 60's and 70's. Winston had appeared many times on Singapore Television during Sharp Night and other local shows. A no-fuss guy he's focused on what he's doing and carries Cliff's and others songs well. Great diction and a well-modulated voice. That's Winston.
Evergreen Tree with Winston Koh

Videos and Images from Winston Koh's YouTube by Rocker Lee and Facebook pages. Notice a very youthful Winston. He was in Hong Kong for a while and sang with The Flying Phantoms.

Read about Winston and The Phantoms:

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26 comments:

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Here he is guys. Took me a while to feature him because he says no. Thumbs up for Winston. Cheers.

SAM GAN (AUSTRALIA) said...

Closest voice to Cliff's in Singapore.....
Cheers Winston....
Hope you are well..remembering the Cathay Restaurant days,,😍😍😍

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Sam.
Just spoke to Winston.
He runs mornings around the country.
He sends greetings from SG.
Thanks to Rose and Jimmy too for the LIKE.

SAM GAN (AUSTRALIA) said...

not many of us left.....
wonder if Walter Koh ...
Singapore's Pat Boone is still around ?...
Cheers from Perth.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes, he is Sam.
Son Perry too.
Walter is on the blog.
Still sings rock n roll.
Cheers.

WINSTON KOH (SINGS CLIFF RICHARD) said...

I still have few photos taken at Cathay Restaurant!

TERENCE LEE (Kuala Lumpur) said...

Keep rocking Winston.

WINSTON KOH (SINGS CLIFF RICHARD) said...

Thanks Sam, good to hear from you. Are you back in Sg or still in Perth? Let's catch up if you are here. Take care,Cheers!

will do Sam, likewise if you are in Sg. I still kept the songs that were backing by you, Horace, Richard, Late Patrick Seet & late Sannit Ismail during 60's RTS (Radio TV Singapore).

SAM GAN (AUSTRALIA) said...

I live in Perth... call me when you if you are ever in Perth.

CHARLIE YAP (LOCOMOTION BAND) said...

Winston Koh is the only one with the voice nearest to Cliff Richard. I've back him in many functions in the '70 together with late Peng Koon on lead.. Keep on rocking, Winston Don't stop. Cheers 🥁🎹🎸🎶🙂👍

FREDA HANUM (TEEPEES KEYBOARDIST) said...

Amazing, sounded so much like Cliff Richard,.... beautiful 👍

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Charlie for sharing. Great to know of Winston's popularity and singing capability. I think you, Freda and Sam Gan are right.

Congratulations and Celebrations to Winston. Hundreds of viewers already. Wow! Thanks to all who LIKE the post, Freda, Charlie too. And to Rose Khoo who shares this post, thank you.

martin ong said...

Rock it Winston Koh!!!

ERICBRONSON WONG (HONGKONG) said...

Hi there ANDY YOUNG,

Yes indeed it's true, after listening to Mr. Winston Koh of Singapore,
He has D honour to be The Lion City's Golden Boy,

I'm certain that Cliff Richard noticed him n does agree with your suggestion,
thks Winston for all D Joy n DELIGHTS for singing the songs of Cliff Richard to us.
it's truly very entertaining! 😊😄😁😉🤩🥰😘😍

JIMMY APPUDURAI CHUA said...

And what a lovely man Winston is still... Jimmy

HIROSHI DEGUCHI (JAPAN) said...

I can't help admiring Winston, because he sings with the voice nearest to Cliff's.
I can't help hating him for the same reason.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Ha ha.
That's a good one.
Admire him Hiroshi.
Personally he's a great guy. H
e buys me lunches all the time.
That's why I posted him.

Thank you all for comments and viewing post.

JIMMY APPUDURAI CHUA said...

I'm sure I will love him if Winston treats me some Roti John, my favorite.

STEPHEN HAN said...

Winston’s voice is quite like Cliff Richard.
Last saw him in a concert at the SOTA with Victor Woo and the Trailers.

KUSUYONO (former GM: Garuda Indonesia 80's) said...

My dearest friend, Winston 'Cliff Richard' Koh.

From the very beginning, when I first met you and listened to your singing, there I've been
adoring your magnificent Singaporean Cliff Richard voice.

This article has proven that I'm not the only one who has such a judgement.
I miss you Winst, I miss your Cliff Richard voice as well.

WINSTON KOH (SINGS CLIFF RICHARD) said...

Good Evening Ericbronson,
thank you so much for your kind words & Likes.
Just to share with you my band The Phantoms and I were in Hong Kong July 1969 performing at The World of Susie Wong off Hankow Rd.
We were there for 8 months.
Once again thank you and have a great week ahead.
Cheers!

ERICBRONSON WONG (HONGKONG) said...

Hi Winston,
Thq very much for your warm greetings,,
glad to know that U n The Phamtoms were here in Hankow road,, Kowloon which is next to Hyatt Hotel,,
back then l was still in Singapore!!

If U happen to come one fine day,, l will be glad to guide U round,,the pleasure is absolutely mine,,!!

WINSTON KOH said...

Good Morning!
Thank you, likewise if you are here in Sg.
Take care & have a great week ahead.
Cheers!

facebook chats said...

THANKS TO THE FOLKS BELOW FOR LIKING POST:
Freda Hanum
Stephen Han
Hiroshi Deguchi
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Rose Khoo
Charlie Yap Locomotion
Yen Chow
Ericbronson Wong
Irene Yap
Terence Lee
Ivor Lesslar
Yip Dick
Ho Victor
Richard Paul M
Kali Dass S
Bernard Hamon
Rocker Lee
Tan Ser Kiong
Jalani Mohamed
Lim Tin Leong
James Seah
Kokkoonjim Boey
Tan Andrew
Randy Lee Keng
Lim Tin Leong
Ricky Eugene Lockwood Holley
Christopher Ng
Sarah Lam
Kavin Ting
Don Jayanath
Vanessa Goh
Edelyn Mendoza
Lorraine Chan
Nancy Leong
Doreen Lim

list includes E Wong's friends.

WINSTON KOH (SINGS CLIFF RICHARD) said...

G. day Kus,

Thank you for your kind words and likes.
It was great that we reconnected again after so many years through your Ex-Manager Eddie Chan in Sg.
Yes, definitely we will meet in the near future either in Sg or JKT.
Say healthy and happy always.
May God bless you & your family, Cheers!!!

Winston

ERICBRONSON WONG (HONGKONG) said...

Thq to U also for being so nice to all of Us,, with U around there is Joy In All Of Us,, so We dedicate"Joy To The World" a Hit R N B song of D 70s by The Three Dog Night to U,,!!