Frankel Estate, Siglap Singapore Meets 50's Music: By Robert Gay

Bill Haley and his famous Kiss Curl

The man who made 'Rock Around The Clock' a top 50s hit 

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In the 1950's when Singapore was devoid of television and with a few radio stations, young boys were running around in shorts, either kicking a rubber ball or playing marbles and coloured rubber bands. 

Some, like today's blog contributor Robert Gay, turned to music and learned to play a guitar, singing his favourite pop 50s songs. Later, he gathered a few friends with the same ideals. Let's read what he says about pop music in the 50's in the area where he lived:

"Here is a short history of our music in Frankel Estate, at Singapore's East Coast.

In 1956, Willie (later Willie of London; the hairdresser) came to my house which was our meeting place and taught a few of us how to play the guitar.  We learnt a few chords. C, F, G7, F, C7, B flat and G. We learnt to play songs like “Singing The Blues”, “Red Sails In The Sunset” and “ A White Sports Coat And A Pink Carnation”!

One day Willie brought a washtub with a broomstick and a thick string attached to it [image]! It was the age of skiffle we played songs of Lonnie Donegan! We belted out “Putting on the Style” with a washtub, a stick and a string, as bass! It was fun! 

The next era was even more fun!

Bill Haley and his Comets. 

Rock Around The Clock [1955]. 

YouTube Video from: 33Evenstar.

One day my dad brought an EP [Extended Play Record] and put it on while we we sitting around chatting! My dad usually listened to classical music. He was a tenor! But the music he had put on astounded all of us! It was Bill Haley and his Comets singing, “Rock Around the Clock”. The age of rock and roll had come! 

Soon we were all singing this and, “See You Later Alligator"! Elvis had already been singing “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound dog” but to me the definite moment we embraced Rock and Roll was when we heard Bill Haley! Other singers coming on stage did not necessarily sing rock songs but we classed them as stars of the Rock and Roll era!

The primary school on Siglap Road, which was in the East Coast of Singapore too often had fun fairs where one of the features was music requests! The music could be heard over half of Frankel Estate!  I remember one occasion where “Island in the Sun” [Harry Belafonte] and “Love Letters in the Sand” [Pat Boone] competed to be the favorite all afternoon!

During that period, we used to listen to the Top Twenty from America every week. One week The Everly Brothers jumped into the scene with “Wake Up Little Susie” and “ Bye Bye Love”!  I was fascinated by their perfect harmony! “All I Have To Do Is Dream” was one of my all time favorite songs. The Everly Brothers influenced our singing tremendously. I bought every one of their albums and we sang their songs!  A pair of us, Dennis Tay and Philip Goh excelled in singing their songs.

In 1959 they won the Anglo Chinese School [ACS] Talentime contest singing, “Bird Dog”. Michael Goh, the Dean Martin of Singapore came second with “My Rifle, Pony and Me”! Later they entered the Everly Brothers contest in Singapore and tied first with another pair! This was held at the Odeon Cinema at North Bridge Road.

With guitars: Michael Goh [right] and brother.

Blogger Andy with Contestant [side]

Capitol Cinema Singapore backstage, 1959.

In the meantime I had another group that also included Dennis and Philip that sang Christian songs in churches all around the island! 

Rock and Roll introduced a new genre of music into the world! But it was not just Rock and Roll. It was a new era for pop music! and a new ear for teenagers! The war and postwar babies now in their teens became a huge market for music an fashion! Teen idols sprouted everywhere! Paul Anka with ”Diana “ was a millionaire when he was sixteen! “Rebel Without A Cause”,  Starring James Dean he typified the mood of teenagers of that time! Cinema tickets sold by the millions.

Youth in the UK during the 50's when 

the skiffle boom exploded. The Beatles

came later but started out playing skiffle.

From the record cover of a Skiffle Group in England.

Note the washtub, broomstick and string as bass.

With a washboard too.

I bought every Everly Brothers album as soon as they appeared in the shops!

The songs reflected the moods and aspirations of teenagers! It was a time for parties, funfairs, tea dances and barbecues! We sang at parties, barbecues and church outings! There was a huge demand for teens looking for action and looking to change the world!

Amidst this came the Evangelists the most famous being Billy Graham! Youth for Christ International set up in Singapore and we got involved in singing at their rallies! 

Writer: Robert Gay 

from Singapore but now

lives in England.

Anita Sarawak: Proud Mary [ABPBH '05]

YouTube Video from: Koleksi Campur Hangus 2.0

Images: 

Google

My Exclusive Condo/New Launch Condo [2016] 

A personal collection.

The changing of the social scene in the Fifties was driven by war children coming into their teens! With the music came dancing and socializing! I remember suddenly becoming more interested in girls! So I learnt to dance! 

There was a really nice girl who was friendly to us in Frankel who taught us to do the Cha Cha and Jive! Joe Loss "Wheels" was the most popular song we learnt to! Easy one two, one two three. Xavier Cugat was one of the popular bands we danced to! A group of us used to go to the beach by the Ocean Park hotel on East Coast Road! The film studio by the hotel made Malay movies! We went to listen to the live music from the hotel!

Meeting Anita Sarawak!

Ms Anita Sarawak.

It was pleasant just sitting on the beach listening to the music! One evening a beautiful lady came and chatted with us! She was Siput Sarawak [Malay movie star} and told us about her daughter Anita Sarawak [image] who was in England when she found out I was going to England for further studies!

Foolish person that I was I did not ask for her address! Years later when I saw Anita she was a big star! She sang in Las Vegas for a few years! I saw her in Singapore when she sang somewhere! Can’t remember where! Never got a chance to speak to her!

A HAPPY LUNAR NEW 2024 TO YOU!

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Andy.

Lonnie Donegan: Putting On The Style [1957] 

YouTube Video by: luvthe1950s