Martin Ong n The Swallows - Sibu/Sarawak's Cliff Richard n Shadows

Martin Ong and The Swallows

A Rashid [Drums], Stanley Tiong [Rhythm], 

Martin Ong [Vocals], James Tan [Bass], 

Wong Teck Sing [Lead/Band leader] .

UP TO 1,400 VIEWS N 12 COMMENTS 

I met Mr. Martin Ong through his Facebook postings and found that he is a popular singer. Martin comes from Sibu, Sarawak and is well-known in its capital, Kuching, where he performed during the mid sixties and beyond.

As it was often the case those years, his music adventure started when Cliff Richard's movie, ''The Young Ones'', showcased in his town in East Malaysia in 1965. Cliff and his Shadows, like bombs, created a huge crater where thousands of its youthful citizens were immersed in a British Invasion, caught within the fun and frolic of a musical extravaganza. And similarly, like the British lads that we copied, Martin and his swinging Swallows were dressed to the nines, with full suits, complete with ties and resplendent polished shoes [Beatle boots later]. In fact most Shadows bands dressed well in the 60s.

In Malaysia, Singapore and other South East Asian countries where Cliff with his four shadows appeared, the many thousands who followed them wanted to swing with the group's red Fenders and rock and roll on stage too. Martin Ong was one of them. 

He didn't just follow the crowd to see the movie a few times but wanted to sing as Cliff did, not in the shower or the living room but on stage and performing in front of a live audience. After all, he does sound like Cliff, has the singer's features with a very neat and attractive Tony Curtis bob to show [image 2]. We can imagine the resounding roar from audiences around East Malaysia when he appeared. The young ladies in the audience, who adored him had Martin wooing them with his, ''When the girl in your arms is the girl in your heart...''

To cut the chase, when one of the country's business bosses found that he could sing, Mr. Wong, owner of a vinyl record shop in Sibu and who knew Martin, introduced him to a group of band boys called, The Swallows. His connection with them was immediate. They practised hard, entertained in cosy venues and spread their popularity in the town and they, according to Martin, ''became the most famous band in Sibu.''

Maintaining their repertoire, they sang mostly Cliff Richard's numbers like, Bachelor Boy, My Blue Heaven, Dancing Shoes, Living Doll, A Voice in the Wilderness and the likes. He is Travellin' Light with only a guitar [above] in later years.

As the news spread about Martin and the Swallows, they were already performing in numerous gigs in town and countryside. These places included the S.R.C. Hall [Sibu Recreation Club] and other entertainment spots.  By December that year, and with Christmas around the corner, the Director of Radio Sarawak [now RTM], got them to perform at the Kuching Cinema for a 'Christmas Hamper Show'.

''Well, that's how I got started with The Swallows,'' concluded Martin Ong.

I haven't got to know or meet Martin personally but flipping through his Facebook pages I find that he rides a fancy motor-cycle, loves Elvis as much as he loves Cliff and plays the acoustic guitar well enough to entertain on stage. Martin, you are a music hero indeed. 

Today he is still actively singing, time and again, for almost four years but only when he's invited to. As for the band boys, A. Rashid still lives in Sibu but Martin has lost contact with him. Stanly Tiong had passed away while James Tan lives in Australia and Wong Teck Sing in Canada.

Comments if you wish to tell us about his shows that you might have seen.

Stanley Tiong, James Tan, Martin Ong, Wong Teck Sing, A Rashid.

[Thanks Martin Ong for your music journey which I found fascinating. East Malaysia is one place I have never visited. I hope to one day... and meet Sarawak's Cliff Richard and his Shadows.]

Images and information from this article are copyrighted by Martin Ong.

With the crew of Malaysian Airways when 

they did their flights that took them 

from Sibu to Kuching for performances.