HH Chew and his wife knew Skeeter Davis well.
The above picture was taken in her room
at the Mandarin Orchard, Singapore, in the mid-90s.
UP TO 550 VIEWS,
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He is the quiet one, always polite, never a show-off and a good friend. But looking at the pictures one realises that HH has many stories to tell, sophisticated and unassuming that he is. A man of few words, here's one.
HH Chew today at the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Thank you Hee Hong.
Dear Andy,
"I met her three times. We first met after her performance at Matthew's in Orchard Tower. Freddy Fender was performing there too. She took my offer to take her back to her hotel at the Ladyhill, opposite the Shangri-La. She stayed at the Ming Court Hotel and Mandarin Hotel for her two subsequent visits and concerts. We exchanged letters, cards and I received an autographed CD too.
I took her for a vegetarian meal as she was on this special diet. I found out that she had two failed marriages. When I first met her she was married to Joey Spampinato but they divorced in 1996, after nine years of marriage. She explained how she only had her dog for company and was then residing in Tennessee."
[Author: HH Chew].
HH and Ms Davis became good friends and kept in touch but she became unwell and although she had the utmost faith that she would make it through, she passed away in 2004 due to breast cancer.
From everyone who has read this blog post: Rest In Peace, Skeeter Davis.
Skeeter Davis "The End of the World"
YouTube Video from: KingOvHell
Above is a letter from Ms Davis
to HH and his wife.
Author HH Chew with Ms. Skeeter Davis
Skeeter Davis, Floyd Cramer: My Last Date
YouTube Video from: academic51
@ Vine Street, Hollywood Boulevard, California.
The star beside him is top Musicals' singer
Julie Andrews from movie: 'The Sound of Music'.
Images above are
Copyrights Reserved.
six male pop singers, answering their lovelorn letters.
From the FB post of Stephen Han.
If you take information from this article for your own use,
at least credit me because copying is stealing.
Andy.
Listened to Skeeter in the 60s and really like her voice. Also listened many times to the album she recorded with Bobby Bare. Many good songs in that album. Lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ron for being the first to comment.
ReplyDeleteRon was a member of the MELTONES guitar group.
He's also the brother of one of THE CRESCENDOS.
Angela Leow
ReplyDeleteHere's the Answer is one of my favourite albums (especially the song, He'll Have to Stay)
Andy Young
Angela Leow HI Thanks for the comment. You sing just as well as Ms Davis. Cheers.
Andy Young
Thanks STEPHEN and ALPHONSO [The Boys] for being one of the first 3 with Angela to LIKE this post.
Whoa bro' Andy,
ReplyDeleteYet another interesting article.
Your blog's getting more and more interesting with such personal stories!
Hope more folks out there will emerge from the woodwork and share their own stories on your blog.
Thanks to HH for sharing his.
Wow!
ReplyDeleteOne of my most humble friends, Hee Hong - didn't know he is a sincere and good old friend of world famous Skeeter Davis.
Do check which other famous international singers he is equally close to.
FYI
ReplyDeleteI saw SKEETER DAVIS performing at Matthews Club in Orchard Towers cos I was there to negotiate with Matthew servicing him a Filipino Country and Western band called Southern Comfort but he rejected the offer and I sold the band to Peyton Place in the same building; it was packed nightly.
[this comment has been edited.]
Angela Leow
ReplyDeleteAndy, you are so, so kind. Not even in my next life will I be able to hold a candle to Skeeter. She's the Queen of country music
ReplyDeleteFred Ching
Thanks to HH Chew for sharing! Brother Andy, on 3 January 1985, a crowd of excited fans packed into the 7th floor of Orchard Tower for a very special event. Together with my Japanese working colleagues, we had a blast hearing Skeeter Davis live @Matthew’s.. Home of the Singapore’s Cowboy.
Still recall this magical evening where Skeeter’s voice was still excellent, beyond amazing. Song after song were memories of what this famous singer and songwriter gave to me in my youth. This show was everything I had hope.. the venue was the best and she magnificently owns the stage.
Sounding better than ever as the evening went on, still remember she bounced back onto the stage with her musicians and back up singers , belting out more hits with so much feelings and soul to the appreciative audience who punctuated her performance with roaring screams of approval. The late singer and songwriter may no longer be with us, but she live on in the hearts and memories of her countless world-wide fans.
❤️🌹❤️..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvLfMeM1AB0
Andy Young
ReplyDeleteFred Ching HEY, THANKS! You made HH Chew's story livelier and the readers could feel the roar of that evening at Matthew's. We're back in the 80's.
And thanks to all the above early blog readers again for the comments and congratulatory messages for Mr Chew, his first ever venture on this blog.
Many thanks, Andy.
ReplyDeleteWarmest wishes to you and your beloved family for
A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS LUNAR NEW YEAR
for continued good health happiness and
may You have all that your heart desires always.
GONG XI FA CAI !
Andy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a small tiny world!
He writes well and sings well.
A man of multiple talents!
Yet a nice humble guy.
great article like always Andy n thanks for sharing. Skeeter’s memorable voice is like Karen Carpenter so velcet n soothing.
ReplyDeleteHEE HONG is a good friend and a sincere person.
ReplyDeleteHe is a walking encyclopaedia on music, well versed with songs from yesteryears.
Fred Ching
ReplyDeleteStephen Han
Alphonso Soosay
Colin Colin
Yip Dick
Patrick Chng
Somkid Lakhawat
Poh Huat Tng
Ben van der Laan-Hatikustia
Davy Chan
Peter Cheong
THANKS TO ALL THE ABOVE FOR LIKING N LOVING THIS POST
Peter Cheong
ReplyDeleteI have the answers decades ago.
[photo of the SKEETER DAVIS ALBUM amidst a record collection.]
Andy Young
Peter Cheong ahh, that's nice! Thanks my friend for the photograph. Stylish.