Video below.
Jimmy says he's travelled 10 years;
he wishes to jet for another 10.
Now that's about 8,000 days.
Think about it. He can do it.👍
Latest News: November, 2021
February, 2020
Walk into any Bistro, Karaoke Club or an Open Mic Session and you will find this gentleman singing in his own special way. Well-known for his ability to go on stage and perform at these places all over Singapore, he is also a travelling man and has visited many countries, similarly lending his voice wherever he goes. So whether it's Singapore, Spain, Sicily or Scandinavia, Jimmy will sing. But he is also generous with the people around him and they love him for it.
Here's good friend Eddy Eng to introduce him:
"Jimmy Yap was a corporate chief hemming MNCs from Germany, Holland and Sweden, all giants and major players in the global chemical industry. Touted the most hands-on and hardworking chief by his European bosses, he finally retired in 2009.
A very affable person with easy manners, he has the aura of someone who still matters. He spends his well deserved retirement singing and travelling around the world, a gilded life many can aspire but few can achieve."
Around 10 years ago, I was fortunate to be invited by Tony Kwek leader of The Mysterians to sing one or two songs, on the last of three sets, each Friday night with his four piece band at Little Harry's Pub. They were the resident band every Friday night.
Years later I was invited by a Keppel Club golf member to join his small group of his friends at his lovely home. He engaged a very good band called The Blackhawks every Wednesday night to accompany around ten singers. Here we could sing with confidence as it was not open to the public and a good place for the band leader to tell you the key for any new song.
Connie Francis sings: 'Around The World' (1961) from the movie, 'Around The World In 80 Days' with David Niven. YouTube video by SVansay. Thank you.
Gradually I was daring enough to venture out to public pubs with live bands and especially to those with Open Mic sessions held once a week. Here's a list of some of the places in Singapore that I hang out at: Witbier@Kandahar, Hoo Ha, Mr Punch Public House, Grassroots, Summerhill, Tavern@ Seletar Country Club, and most of the private Singapore clubs like the SCC, SRC and the Ceylon Sports Club.
Other venues include the South Bridge Hotel, Basil and Thyme, Lounge 7 @Dempsey, ExciseMan Whiskey Bar, Pura Brasa Spanish Restaurant, Ubin 1st Stop Seafood, Red Noddle Cafe and the Chill Lab at National University of Singapore.
I have also sung around Singapore with Buskers in Orchard Road, Bridge at Clark Quay, Boon Keng Market to East Coast Lagoon.
My favourite singers include: Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Louis Armstrong, Trini Lopez, Andy Williams, Matt Monroe, Pat Boone, Freddy Fenders, John Denver, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Connie Francis, Ella Fitzgerald, Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Boccelli and Willie Nelson.
Groups from the 60's include The Platters, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs, Santana, The Animals, Simon and Garfunkel.
Beside singing, I have travelled the world and my main aim now is to visit 30 more countries in the next 10 years after having visited 100 countries out of 195, worldwide.
Exotic places or countries that I have visited include: Antarctica, North Pole, Alaska, Falkland Islands, Iceland, Canada, USA, South America, Caribbean Islands like Cuba, Mexico, Jordan, Israel, Jordan, Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavian Countries and African Countries. The Asia Pacific countries are: China, Japan, Korea, Bhutan, Kashmir, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and all the ASEAN countries."
I enjoy singing when I travel to these places, especially at exotic places like the Temple of Kukulcan in Mexico and Madrid, Spain with its bullrings and unique sites.
Jimmy Yap in Ulan Bator, Capital of Mongolia - Vulture 17 kg - Wing Span over 2 meters. Mongolia was a stopover point for the Journey of a lifetime 8000 Kilometers trip on The Grand Trans Siberian Train from Beijing to Moscow via Mongolia.
I was greatly inspired to travel by Patricia Schultz , Author of, '1OOO
Places To See Before You Die' with Patricia Schultz in Dublin Ireland, July 2017.
Jimmy Yap - Besame Mucho @ Madrid Spain December 2018. YouTube.
Performing with Eliza Goh at the RELC International Hotel in Singapore during the Silver Strings 55th Anniversary Concert in November 2019. Video from Fabian Foo. Thanks Fabian.
My happiest moments in 2019 was to have been invited by Vernon Cornelius to sing with his band in February at Tanglin Halt, Queenstown and Audie Ng founder of Silver Strings to perform with Eliza Goh at the Auditorium of RELC International Hotel Singapore for their Anniversary celebration. It is not often that one gets the opportunity of being backed by Singapore's most iconic maestro, pianist Mr Jimmy Chan."
El Condor Pasa - Jimmy with Singaporean friends in market at Oaxaca City, Mexico, 2013.
Ivana Hustic - tour leader to Jimmy Yap during one of his trips around the world. The picture shows Lake Bled and Castle Bled in Slovenia [hometown of MELANIA TRUMP].
Jimmy Yap singing at SHERLOCK PUB in Houston/ Texas backed by two young ladies who were so excited accompanying him.
Article and Images from Jimmy Yap.
Here's good friend Eddy Eng to introduce him:
"Jimmy Yap was a corporate chief hemming MNCs from Germany, Holland and Sweden, all giants and major players in the global chemical industry. Touted the most hands-on and hardworking chief by his European bosses, he finally retired in 2009.
A very affable person with easy manners, he has the aura of someone who still matters. He spends his well deserved retirement singing and travelling around the world, a gilded life many can aspire but few can achieve."
Petra in Jordan - one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
Jimmy Yap
"On my singing. It started with Karaokes 15 years ago. Never took a single singing lesson. As a close friends to some musicians, they gave me tips to sing and not shout! Around 10 years ago, I was fortunate to be invited by Tony Kwek leader of The Mysterians to sing one or two songs, on the last of three sets, each Friday night with his four piece band at Little Harry's Pub. They were the resident band every Friday night.
Years later I was invited by a Keppel Club golf member to join his small group of his friends at his lovely home. He engaged a very good band called The Blackhawks every Wednesday night to accompany around ten singers. Here we could sing with confidence as it was not open to the public and a good place for the band leader to tell you the key for any new song.
Gradually I was daring enough to venture out to public pubs with live bands and especially to those with Open Mic sessions held once a week. Here's a list of some of the places in Singapore that I hang out at: Witbier@Kandahar, Hoo Ha, Mr Punch Public House, Grassroots, Summerhill, Tavern@ Seletar Country Club, and most of the private Singapore clubs like the SCC, SRC and the Ceylon Sports Club.
Other venues include the South Bridge Hotel, Basil and Thyme, Lounge 7 @Dempsey, ExciseMan Whiskey Bar, Pura Brasa Spanish Restaurant, Ubin 1st Stop Seafood, Red Noddle Cafe and the Chill Lab at National University of Singapore.
I have also sung around Singapore with Buskers in Orchard Road, Bridge at Clark Quay, Boon Keng Market to East Coast Lagoon.
Groups from the 60's include The Platters, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs, Santana, The Animals, Simon and Garfunkel.
Beside singing, I have travelled the world and my main aim now is to visit 30 more countries in the next 10 years after having visited 100 countries out of 195, worldwide.
Exotic places or countries that I have visited include: Antarctica, North Pole, Alaska, Falkland Islands, Iceland, Canada, USA, South America, Caribbean Islands like Cuba, Mexico, Jordan, Israel, Jordan, Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavian Countries and African Countries. The Asia Pacific countries are: China, Japan, Korea, Bhutan, Kashmir, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and all the ASEAN countries."
I enjoy singing when I travel to these places, especially at exotic places like the Temple of Kukulcan in Mexico and Madrid, Spain with its bullrings and unique sites.
Places To See Before You Die' with Patricia Schultz in Dublin Ireland, July 2017.
My happiest moments in 2019 was to have been invited by Vernon Cornelius to sing with his band in February at Tanglin Halt, Queenstown and Audie Ng founder of Silver Strings to perform with Eliza Goh at the Auditorium of RELC International Hotel Singapore for their Anniversary celebration. It is not often that one gets the opportunity of being backed by Singapore's most iconic maestro, pianist Mr Jimmy Chan."
The Teepees: Rumini, Freda, (Eliza: not Teepees) and Anna with Jimmy Yap during the huge lunch meet at a Tanjong Katong hotel, not far from the sea.
Article and Images from Jimmy Yap.
He travels the world to more than 100 countries and sings everywhere he goes. Former Karaoke and Lounge amateur singer Jimmy is enjoying his carefree retirement. Check him out. :-)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could lead a life like him. Keep on singing!! Jimmy is going to make a lot people happy. I'll join him when comes here.
ReplyDeleteI met Jimmy in 2019 in Queenstown as he saw me doing the video.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hiroshi and Fabian. Yes, he's quite a guy, open with no agenda to be a pop star. He just loves to sing and travel.
ReplyDeleteFabian I have acknowledged your video on the post. Thank you
Thanks also to Peter Cheong and Roop Singh for the thumbs up.
Yes indeed so very fortunate and lucky to meet this wonderful and friendly guy Jimmy Yap at the Teepees buffet at Katong Kitchen together with you too Andy.
ReplyDeleteHe sang so wonderfully too at the buffet lunch accompanied by Anna our guitarist. Really honour to meet him and Eliza too, like to attached this photo taken on that day 7th January 2020 at Katong Kitchen.
Thank you Andy for his article 😊👍👏👏👏
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy sing with Teepees.
ReplyDeleteJolly Jimmy is a name we’ve given him because he sings loudly, laughs heartily and gives
ReplyDeleteSo generously to others.
A blessed man who blesses others.
Keep it going, Jolly Jimmy!!
Thank you all for comments, Fabian for photo and others who LIKE this post. It's all done for fun and for the love of 60's music and friendship, not for fame or fortune :-).
ReplyDeleteWe wish Jimmy all the best for his future plans to travel and yes, sing!
Oooooooooooooh he is a jolly good singer... give us a song here Jimmy Yap the traveling n singing Ambassador... 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗.
ReplyDeleteFreda Hanum
ReplyDeleteStephen Han
Hiroshi Deguchi
Peter Cheong
Koh Sui Pang
Lim Tin Leong
Roop Singh
Ser Kiong Tan
Tan Andrew
They all like Jimmy Yap
I met Jimmy Yap, who was witness to one of my best Filipino bands, when he listened to D Groovematic Trio at Ceylon Sports Club.
ReplyDeleteHe jammed with the Trio and sang WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD and his friend Eliza Goh gave a rendition of SUMMERTIME. Each sounded like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald respectively. I invited them to sing the same songs for our 55 Anniversary Concert at RELC last year.
There was no publicity about them as I wanted to surprise the audience.
Eliza sang as Jimmy Chan accompanied her and Jimmy Yap that evening. To everyone's surprise their hidden talent showed their prowess on stage. They sang well and were good.
I discovered hidden talent in Anita Sarawak in 1967 when she was singing at Ritz Bar at Tanjong Pagar. Later she performed with the Silver Strings at Serene House (a place for R&R for GI's during the Vietnam War).
Wow ! Jimmy Yap looks sporting and very talented. He has retired, but I guess he is in his early 60s. He is gifted to have traveled to countries around the world, but not many people can live a lifestyle like him in Singapore. Anyway, everyone has one life, and we must make full use of it without regret.
ReplyDeleteHi FL
ReplyDeleteYes, It is true. Jimmy is enjoying himself singing and travelling. He loves pop 60's music and is able to sing many of the hits. We wish him well.
Thanks to FL, a regular contributor to this blog, and others who have written in.
A common factor is an appreciation of the music we all love, and like Jimmy's list, an enjoyable repertoire of past pop hits from the 50's to the 70's.
Like what FL says, "It's now or never!" Everyone has one life.
Cheers.
Jolly Jimmy well done1
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
My brother Jimmy also sang at the Sherlock’s Pub when he visited us in Houston a few years ago. What made the evening more fun was that two girls joined him onstage and were his backup singers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Yan Hong
ReplyDeleteGlad to know you on the blog.
He never told me he has a sister :-)
What song did he sing on stage?
Wow! To have two backup singers.
That's a big treat.
Do visit the blog again soon.
ReplyDeleteU are so talented, being 'traveling and singing ambassador'.
How lucky you are you can go around the world.
Congratulations Jimmy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the story n videos Jimmy.
Love to see Jordan soon.
ReplyDeleteNice sincere article Jimmy.
Such passion.
Retirement is hard work!
Haha Jimmy is the Best!!!
ReplyDeleteMet Jimmy recently and was blown away by his singing abilities. Jimmy linguistically gifted ie he is able to sing in many different languages. His gift is truly a gift from God. He has done Singapore proud around the world with his participation in singing with the locals in any country. Having said all needs to be said about Jimmy, he remains humble and down earth, his international fame has not gone to his head as his feet is firmly planted to the ground. Jimmy, you are truly are Singapore's ambassador to the world.
ReplyDeleteTS Tan
ReplyDeleteJIMMY YAP — a poem
We usually met in the toilet,
When it was time for lunch breaks,
As his office was next door,
In Robina House, Singapore.
Then we lost contact,
As our offices re-located.
Fifteen years later we met,
With his brother on a golf course for a match.
Humbly he once proclaimed, “I’m an ACS dropout!”
I was surprised about that fact, that he was so proud,
For his peers became doctors and lawyers with distinctions and fame,
Whereas he had nothing behind his name.
But he made the best with what he has got,
And made his way to the corporate top,
Last position was as MD (Asia Pacific) of Swedish Chemicals Perstorp,
And later retired to reinvent himself — a traveling singer in night spots.
Text: TS Tan
Hi morning The Singing Ambassador.
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed an extraordinary achiever.
Affable n perseverant.
Kudos to you Mr. Jimmy Yap.
In my next life, hope to have songs, will travel like you too.
Keep on travelling
ReplyDelete