Friday, June 17, 2022

A Tribute To Robert Suriya [Naomi n The Boys] from Cedric Cork


R.I.P. Robert Suriya
17th June, 2022

UP TO 1,200 VIEWS, 30+ CHATS, COMMENTS

"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.

Top left - Donald Thaver, Cedric Cork [writer], 
Bottom left - Robert Suriya, Zul Sultan.

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


'As Life Goes On': Naomi and The Boys. 
YouTube video by: Sheldon L. King

Singer, Tunesmith, Lyricist, Musician,
Robert Suriya embraced them all. 
A truly multi-talented school mate
from St.Andrew's. God Bless His Soul.

25 comments:

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Condolences to HENRY, the elder brother of Robert. We were all school mates at St. Andrew's at Woodsville Singapore.

Ivor Lesslar said...

Deepest Condolences To All In The Family 🙏

HORACE WEE [LEGENDARY GUITARIST] said...

SAD NEWS.
REST IN PEACE
ROBERT SURIYA.

GEORGE CHEW [THE BURNS LEAD GUITARIST] said...

RIP

JIMMY APPUDURAI (GUITARIST EXTRAORDINAIRE) said...

Henry 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.

MICHAEL BANGAR [PROFESSIONAL GUITARIST/BLOG CONTRIBUTOR] said...

ROBERT SURIYA, RIP.

WILFRED LIM said...

Another 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.

RIP ROBERT
CONDOLENCE TO HIS FAMILY.

RICHARD RAJOO said...

SINCERE CONDOLENCES
HENRY & FAMILY
R.I.P. ROBERT
ETERNALLY

VERNON CORNELIUS said...

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.

Of coincidence also on this date in 2015, Reggie Verghese also left this world.

They will both Rest In Peace!

CEDRIC COLLARS [PIANIST - PERTH/AUSTRALIA] said...

Yes, I did meet him once and I would like to wish his family my heartfelt condolences. May his soul RIP.

CHOW WEN HING [SINGER/COMPOSER] said...

Deepest condolences to family and friends.
His work will be remembered 😢

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

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.

Your turn now Wen Hing, let's get some hits for SG.

JOHN CHER said...

One of the most brilliant musicians and songwriters from Singapore! Salute sir!!

FREDA HANUM TEEPEES [KL/MALAYSIA] said...

God bless his soul, May ROBERT SURIYA Rest In Peace
🙏🌹

JALANI MOHD [PIANIST] said...

A great musician he was.

STEPHEN HAN said...

A great musician.

WINSTON KOH [SINGER WITH 'THE TRALERS'] said...

RIP ROBERT, God bless your soul. Condolences to his family.

DAVY CHAN said...

Great. Salutes.
RIP Amen

JIMMY APPUDURAI-CHUA - ENGLAND said...

We salute you for your service dear Robert ,
thank you for be your music...
A real Singapore Icon.
xxxxxxxxxxx

FACEBOOK CHATS said...

John Cher
Rose 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.

Anonymous said...

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.

RIP Robert and condolences to the family.

Steve

STEVEN FARRAM [DR.] said...

Hi Steve
Thanks 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.

JIMMY YAP [SINGING AMBASSADOR] said...

Andy,
I 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.

CHIT CHAT said...

Victor Lee
Roop 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.

CHIT CHAT said...

Cedric Cork
Miss 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.