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"I knew Robert when he was band leader of, Naomi and The Boys with the late Moses Tay who played bass. We became great friends through music interactions during the 1960's when I was with Sonny Bala and The Moonglows, having done stage shows together at the Singapore Badminton Hall, the F&N Hall at River Valley Road and other popular venues.
We were in Vietnam too in the 1970's since our bands were under the same management. When the troupe returned to Singapore, Robert left for Guam shortly afterwards but we kept in touch only on Facebook with the other musicians.
My deepest condolence to Robert's family.
[And to my two late buddies too whom I miss dearly, Donald Thaver, Zul Sultan. You'll all be missed.]"
A tribute from Cedric Cork.
"One of the best Singapore guitarists and composers from the 60s." Horace Wee.
Article contributed by Cedric Cork.
Links to Naomi and The Boys:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/06/robert-suriya-naomi-n-boys-chats-with.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2013/10/singer-songwriter-robert-suriya-to-be.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2010/01/passing-away.html
Links to Cedric Cork, Vietnam War Stories:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2022/03/vietnam-war-with-singapore-music-maker.html
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2022/02/vietnam-war-music-trail-singaporean.html
Condolences to HENRY, the elder brother of Robert. We were all school mates at St. Andrew's at Woodsville Singapore.
ReplyDeleteDeepest Condolences To All In The Family 🙏
ReplyDeleteSAD NEWS.
ReplyDeleteREST IN PEACE
ROBERT SURIYA.
RIP
ReplyDeleteHenry Suriya, Robert's brother is such a lovely man; he used to pick Robert and me in the 60s, at Shenton Way, like at 4 a.m.
ReplyDeleteROBERT SURIYA, RIP.
ReplyDeleteAnother St Andrew's Old Boy bid us goodbye. The 3 brothers were friendly with me though some others would not be too chummy with them. Their father was a teacher. Can't recall what subject Mr. Suriya taught as I was never in his class.
ReplyDeleteRIP ROBERT
CONDOLENCE TO HIS FAMILY.
SINCERE CONDOLENCES
ReplyDeleteHENRY & FAMILY
R.I.P. ROBERT
ETERNALLY
Robert Suriya, full name Robert Wickeremasuriya, passed on this date 17 June 2022 in Guam USA. Robert had planned to visit to Singapore but the pandemic unfortunately blocked that possibility. It might have also been his last visit to his home Singapore.
ReplyDeleteOf coincidence also on this date in 2015, Reggie Verghese also left this world.
They will both Rest In Peace!
Yes, I did meet him once and I would like to wish his family my heartfelt condolences. May his soul RIP.
ReplyDeleteDeepest condolences to family and friends.
ReplyDeleteHis work will be remembered 😢
A glorious period after WW2, when things settled in and babies grew up. Talented and creative youths did their thing with pop music... Robert was one.
ReplyDeleteYour turn now Wen Hing, let's get some hits for SG.
One of the most brilliant musicians and songwriters from Singapore! Salute sir!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless his soul, May ROBERT SURIYA Rest In Peace
ReplyDelete🙏🌹
A great musician he was.
ReplyDeleteA great musician.
ReplyDeleteRIP ROBERT, God bless your soul. Condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteGreat. Salutes.
ReplyDeleteRIP Amen
We salute you for your service dear Robert ,
ReplyDeletethank you for be your music...
A real Singapore Icon.
xxxxxxxxxxx
John Cher
ReplyDeleteRose Khoo
Freda Hanum
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Chow Wen Hing
Stephen Han
Jalani Mohamed
Gracie Teo
James Kwok
Ann Rowena Lim
Patrick Teng
Davy Chan
RIP ROBERT FROM FRINDS AND FANS.
Sad news. Songs written by Robert Suriya and recorded by Naomi & The Boys and the few by The Boys on their own are among the best to come out of Singapore in the 1960s. A great songwriter and musician.
ReplyDeleteRIP Robert and condolences to the family.
Steve
Hi Steve
ReplyDeleteThanks for the informative comment. It's true indeed. They sold a lot of vinyl for their hits and Robert was responsible for many of the original songs composed.
Andy,
ReplyDeleteI have never come face to face with him or Naomi. But I have heard their songs at the concerts. What was he doing in Guam?
I have forwarded this post to several groups of friends.
Victor Lee
ReplyDeleteRoop Singh
Richard Khan
Freda Hanum
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Andy Young
Jennifer Lim
Medalene Kane
Van Ronk Beatrice
Dolly James
Richard Danker
Jeremy Monteiro
Leonard Rezel
Ashley Jansen
Chin Chin
Edward John
Jody Clunies-Ross McCully
Chris Chew
Ronald Burgess
Gilbert Louis
Errol Stahlmann
Eileen Baobei
Albert Tan
THANKS TO THE ABOVE FOLKS WHO READ PART OF THIS POST FROM
CEDRIC CORK'S FACEBOOK AND SHARED HIS LOSS OF HIS 3 FRIENDS.
Cedric Cork
ReplyDeleteMiss U guys ! RIP buddy’s !
Ivor Lesslar
Missing Them, Especially Donald.
Gilbert Louis
It is changing of the guards. All our old time musicians are unfortunately leaving us for the "green green grass of home". It is a matter of time before we all join them for a concert in the sky. We enjoyed the good old days and forced to accept the present times as "on our way". Many musicians were not entitled to CPF and therefore find it difficult to cope in our old age. We should organise a mega old timers concert.."Let the good times roll".
Raja Ssundaram
RIP Robert, Don & Zul. 🙏❤️🙏💐
Jody Clunies-Ross McCully
R I P Zul Sutan and friends.
Leonard Rezel
RIP to the old guards who have left us. Till we meet again 🙏🙏
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Unforgettable xxxxxxxxx
Ramalingam Ramasamy
Well brother we all miss them. They brought joy and happiness to us all❤️
Dolly James
My Condolences to you Bro🙏🙏🙏🌹🌻🌺🌻🍁🌼🏵️R.I.P
Andy Young
Yes Cedric, I can share with you remembering your buddies who have gone away permanently. Many in the music faculty too share similar feelings... Thank you.