Friday, October 01, 2021

RIP - Mike van Dort - Beatles of Malaysia - Mike n Herb - Silver Strings

MIKE VAN DORT [Beatles of Malaysia], 
brother of Herb who were both with the Silver Strings.

UP TO 1,600 VISITORS N 30 CONDOLENCES

Mike has passed away last night at 7.43 pm at the age of 77 years.  The sad news came from Australia when younger brother Herb called Audie Ng [Silver Strings leader/bassist].

Mike, with brother Herb, were Philips recording artistes accompanied by the Silver Strings and had recorded four songs on vinyl in the 1960's. 

RIP Mike. 

The Silver Strings and others who knew you will miss you much.

Condolences to Herb and the Family.

Mike and Herb were touring with Malaysia's Falcons before joining Silver Strings.

Connect -


MIKE, who has passed away, is on the right. 
Younger brother Herb is beside him.
At the RELC International Hotel [2014] , 
Singapore
Mike and Herb performing. Mike, with dark hair 
and more passive, has just passed away in 
Melbourne, Australia. 
YouTube video by Fabian Foo[Singapore].

RIP - MIKE VAN DORT [RIGHT].
Herb [left]

Images - A Private Collection.

27 comments:

Joey said...

Our deepest condolences to the family.... It is a great loss to the silver string 😢

DAVID LIM said...

Hi Andy
Hope all is fine with you.
Thank you very much for your blog.
It keeps me updated and connected.

Regret to know Mike has passed on.
I remember attending a concert they put on with FALCONS of IPOH at Odeon Katong many years back. See... your blog enables me to recall past events... those were so such happy n memorable days.

So thanks a lot again Andy.
Take care and stay safe.

Fabian Foo said...

Hi Andy,
Sad to know another one of our musicians has passed on. Condolences to the family of Mike of Mike and Herb fame.
Hopefully this video brings back memories of him for many years to come.
Cherish to us and live life to the fullest.
Fabian Foo

JIMMY APPUDURAI-CHUA - ENGLAND said...

Season of our times,
the autumn leaves...

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks Jimmy and Moody.
One by one the heroes fall...

And to DAVID LIM for his encouraging letter.

RIP MIKE.

DAVY CHAN said...

rip
amen

OLIVER BALASHINGAM [DRUMMER] said...

rip

VICTOR LAM [DRUMMER 'THE MYSTERIANS'] said...

RIP

JIMMY APPUDURAI-CHUA - ENGLAND said...

Stay safe ❤️.
hope all is well with Singaporeans...
mixed messages from the three ministers.
contradicting one another..
these are the three selected potential prime ministers.
hmmmmmm...

IRENE YAP RECORDING ARTISTE said...

I remember meeting Mike when I was very young just starting out to sing and he was telling me his experiences and showing me his skills in playing the tambourine, throwing it high in the air and catching it again and I was very impressed with his style!!
Thanks for the memories!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Irene hi,

thanks for your very interesting comment.
Mike is exceptionally well-mannered and jovial, a very kind soul indeed.
It is sad that he's left us so suddenly.

FACEBOOK CHATS said...

FRANCIS ROZELLS

Mike n Herb are from Butterworth....Andy.
Knew them from way back when we were all starting...
cheers.

Francis hi,

Many thanks; yes, we met for singing occasions and Mike/Herb tell us their kampong stories sometimes. Like what Jimmy said, autumn leaves from summer have to go with the wind in its natural process. We all share Mike and their families' grief.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes,
Jimmy I love your symbolisms as nature has to take its course.
Thanks Frank for your condolences.

I shall list out the names soon, of those who wrote in.

KOH SUI PANG - KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA said...

Rest peacefully in Heaven ...
Michael Van Dort ...
Amen !!!!

MICHAEL BANGAR [PROFESSIONAL GUITARIST] said...

RIP MICHAEL VAN DORT

FACEBOOK CHATS said...


Hiroshi Deguchi
I am sorry for your loss, a person who spent younger days with you.

Andy
Hiroshi Deguchi yes, sang with us during our anniversary shows.
Thank you.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Nearly 350 visitors within 24 hours, paying their respect to MICHAEL VAN DORT, one half of THE BEATLES OF MALAYSIA - 1960].

AUDIE NG [SILVER STRINGS/BAND LEADER] said...

Mike n Herb joined Silver Strings when d latter were performing in Penang for d M.sian concert tour n I invited them to come to Spore to stay with me to rehearse for d Polygram recordings.

These 2 brothers are close buddies n whenever they performed, were crowd pullers cos they were very energetic n wild on stage.

They toured with Silver Strings to East M.sia performing in all Shaw Bros Cinemas and Theatres and in Singapore at the National Theatre n many other venues.

In 1967 they migrated to Australia up to the present. Both brothers are very friendly and not egoistic nor put on airs.

We sadly miss Mike who passed on yesterday.
RIP Mike.

EUNICE CHUA said...

Sad to hear.
It's great someone is keeping track of these...

JIMMY YAP [SINGING AMBASSADOR] said...

Andy,
Deepest condolences to Mike's family.
I will always remember attending the SILVER STRINGS 50TH ANNIVERSARY at the RELC AUDITORIUM after buying tickets from Veronica Young who returned from France to perform at this sold out event. Mike and Herb really got the entire crowd stomping their feet when they did not stand up to dance.

Good choice that you selected their WOOLY BULLY from YouTube for this posting. This song is also one of my favourite songs.

I have forwarded this pos to varius chat groups as well as to my friends in Malaysia and Melbourne. I do know that Audie Ng always speaks proudly of Mike and his brother Herb.

FACEBOOK said...

CONDOLENCES FROM THE FOLLOWING
Francis Anthony Rozells
Patrick Teng
Althea Lim
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Charlie Yap Locomotion
Kali Dass S
Poh Huat Tng
Charlie Bogosoff
Alexandra Hsieh
Gracie Teo
Ho Victor
Davy Chan
Hiroshi Deguchi
Freda Hanum
Yip Dick
Chow Wen Hing
Stephen Han
Yen Chow
Jalani Mohamed

THANK YOU.

Anonymous said...

That is very sad news. I met Mike back in 2008 when he and Herb did their first re-union with The Silver Strings. That was a wonderful evening.

RIP Mike

Steve

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes STEVE,
Thanks for writing in.
That's when we met too and you wrote so many articles for this blog afterwards.

I had a long chat with HERB on the phone just now.
He is still depressed with the passing away of his brother.
They had been together for a long time.
Hopefully he'll feel better as the days go by.

THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY ON THIS POST.
ANYONE IS WELCOME TO WRITE IN...

suituapui said...

God bless his soul, may he rest in peace. Yes, I remember Mike & Herb. Heartfelt condolences to all loved ones.

JC said...

May Mike RIP. I wish to add another piece of bad news. Its regarding Joe Chin, lead guitarist of the Falcons from Ipoh which was mentioned here as Mike & Herb's backing band in early 60s. He passed away in Ipoh on 2nd June 2021 at aged 74.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hello JC,

Thanks for writing in.
Appreciate your visit and mention.

RIP JOE CHIN of the FALCONS from IPOH.
I hope Herb will read this letter.

Do visit this blog again soon JC.

And thanks to SUITUAPUI too for writing in.


HERBERT VAN DORT [MIKE N HERB] said...

HI Andy,

Please thank all our Friends, Fans and Artists in the music scene who wrote all the lovely notes about my brother Mike.

I have shared the messages with members of our families (Mike and mine)and it has brought great comfort to us as we grieve our loss. Mike is already terribly missed and I feel like half of me is gone. Mike and I have always been together since childhood. We were the best of brothers and also the best of friends.

Andy my friend, you are without doubt "The Guru" of the music scene and all the entertainment venues in Singapore, especially all your millions of readers and fans around the world. I Look forward to all the music scene news that you provide. Mike and myself too are fans of your Blog. "Andy Young" Singapore's Guru in the music world and also a top Entertainer himself.

Once again Andy thank you so very much for all the notes and kind words you have sent after the loss of my loving brother Mike.

Your Friend Always

Herb