Robert Suriya [Naomi n Boys] Chats With Andy

''I've always admired Bob with his song-writing skills.'' [Andy].

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Chatting with Robert Suriya in Guam brought about this story of how a famous Singapore band made it, with memories to savour... Most of us know the Naomi and the Boys story but we just wanted to hear it again, this time from the man himself.

Encore and thanks Robert.

Hi Andy,

Naomi and the Boys were actually formed in 1960 and the original members were Peter Richards [Keyboard], Henry Richards [Bass], and Joe Ahmad [Drums] with myself on lead guitar.  We toured East Malaysia, Kuching, Miri and some other islands. Naomi did not go but The Boys toured. We had completed our first EP with Naomi in Singapore before we left for Malaysia in 1963.

 

After being contacted by Mr. Lee H. King [AR Manager of Philips Records] to record our next EP, It's All Over and since it was a big  hit for us, I needed to make a change in the music we were doing. So I reformed the group, with a newer feel to suit Naomi's voice and style.

I reformed the group with Naomi, Robert Suriya,  Moses Tay, Alphonso Soosay and Peter Thomas. This is when, Happy Happy Birthday Baby, hit number one on the Malaysian Charts followed by another one of my compositions, I Know. 

Vinyl record covers of the Extended Plays [EPs] 

by Robert Suriya's top of the pop Singapore group.

Naomi had many hits. It's not that she is my sister that we did the recordings but it is because she had a tremendous feel in the songs. We rehearsed at my home at 14 Lim Ah Pin Road in Singapore. It was also great to play and write for my brother Henry Suriya who had some hits too.

So the years went by, as quickly as a wink...

Then 1969 came around. Some of the members started showing interest with other plans. I felt really bad and like most bands it happened. Like the Beatles and the Shadows and many more. But the band lasted for a while. So we did an LP, The Best of Naomi and the Boys. It contained fourteen songs.

In 1970 I did a recording with Naomi on the Polydor Label. The four songs which I wrote showed the real Best of Naomi, The Life I Wanna Lead, Today, He's Mine and I Call Your Name. The musicians had Quests percussionist, Lim Wee Guan on drums and flute, Steve Bala on electric bass and I did the rest, the Leslie organ, the piano, the guitars, acoustics and the electronics.

With Hank Marvin, lead guitarist 

from The Shadows. 

The beauty about music is that it lives in your system. I still write new songs but just *Christian songs and other pop ones. I play and sing for the prisoners in Guam, USA. These people have made the big mistake in life.

The way I feel is in the title by Naomi and the Boys, So Sad To See Good Love Go Bad. A beautiful memory I cherish.

I thank God for the blessings in music.

Kind Regards,

Bob Wickeremasuriya [Robert Suriya].

This posting is in memory of Fumiko Suzuki.

Andy,

My late wife Fumiko Suzuki Wickeremasuriya  [3-7-1942 till 2-4-2019].  We were married in Tokyo, Japan on 6th December, 1976. We had two children, Carla and Carl. She was a wonderful wife and mother and was with me for four years before we got married in Japanese tradition. We were together for 39 years afterwards. I miss her.

Connect to similar topics.

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/05/when-naomi-and-boys-recorded-for-decca.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2012/05/rock-your-socks-off-says-rhythmist.html

Robert Suriya [right] plays the sitar, 

a Ravi Shankar phenomenon.

Those years smoking was a craze,

nobody really bothered.

NAOMI N THE BOYS

AS LIFE GOES ON

Lim Wee Guan, from Quests

joined Robert for an EP.

Three bands in unison, Alfonso Soosay [The Boys], 

Jerry Fernandez [Neu Faces], Robert Suriya [Boys], 

Audie Ng, Andy [Silver Strings] in 2012.

Images are most from Robert Suriya and 

Alfonso Soosay's private collection. 

Copyrights Reserved.