SINGAPORE 60's: ANDY's POP MUSIC INFLUENCE IS A PERSONAL MUSIC, MEMORY TRAIL. BLOGGER DOES NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO VIDEOS, AUDIO TRACKS AND IMAGES. THEY ARE UPLOADED FOR FUN, EDUCATIONAL, ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES AND HAVE BEEN CREDITED. BLOG IS NOT SPONSORED NOR ADVERTORIAL IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. INFORM BLOGGER OF COPYRIGHT ISSUES AND POST WILL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT COPY THE POSTS; GET PERMISSION N CREDIT ME IF YOU DO. ANDY LIM LA (NOVEMBER, 2008) -
(新加坡六十年代安迪的流行音乐影响力), SUDI MAMPIR !
Showing posts with label Australian Influence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australian Influence. Show all posts
Andrew OhWhy is it only after you’ve gone, everyone wants to know more. Searching to all reaches of the internet and lamenting for a loss that perhaps we should have appreciated and recognised more when someone was still alive.
I lost another old friend today. Andrew Oh, an extraordinary saxophone and flute player passed away from a heart attack in Sydney this morning the 28th of April 2023 whilst going for a cup of coffee. He was also dubbed the “Kenny G” of Australia. We last met for lunch at New Town, Sydney when I was attending my son’s graduation and have kept in touch.
An affable person, who went to St. Patrick’s school in Singapore and was in the school band. During those heady days in the late 60s he played for a number of bands like, The Establishment and in my memory a stint at the Rasa Sayang room in the Tropicana at Scott’s Road. He later left our shores and worked with Anders Nelsson’s band in Hong Kong before making Australia his home.
He once told me that I was his inspiration to become a good musician when he used to watch me play when he was just starting out and opened his mind to modern sounds when he heard my early efforts at amplifying my saxophone, flute and adding effects. His continuous search for new ideas and confidence left him at times frustrated and he confided to me on some occasions. Why did some established musicians keep playing the same old material?
Performing once in Japan, he was very flustered when his band’s vocalist refused to perform because Alicia Keyes was sitting at the corner of the club. He couldn’t understand the lack of confidence.
As he was annoyed, when he had a gig for a few nights at the now defunct Jazz at South Bridge - Singapore. He had sent his material in advance for the local backing musicians. When he arrived he found they had not bothered to prepare for his sets.
Despite his huge reputation in Australia, between performances and recording sessions, he supplemented his income giving lessons. As we all know, a musician’s career does not guarantee a luxurious life and Andrew was a professional in the best of traditions.
Most local “authorities and experts” wouldn’t realise the talent that has been lost and left the country. Of course talent can’t be recognised if you only know what’s within your little box! Disillusioned by the lack of support and opportunities. Andrew was one of those talents.
We will miss you Andrew. Rest In Peace. The angels are going to love your music.
PS: He joins another illustrious pianist and music arranger Michael Tseng originally from Singapore, who passed away in Sydney earlier this January. Michael was a founder member of Australia’s pioneer rock ‘n roll band fronted by the late singer Johnny O’Keefe. He’s in Australia’s Rock Hall of Fame.
He was a true blue Singaporean but left our shores for Sydney Australia, and, quoting Gail Brennan from The Sydney Morning Herald, "A great deal better than the trillion selling Kenny G. Andrew Oh is an outstanding player at an international level."
Anders Nelsson, from his Facebook page: "I'm devastated to hear that one of my best friends... passed away... Rest In Peace dear Andrew!" An ex-saxophonist with The Establishment Mr. Oh became one with Nelsson's Gingerbread.
Sean Whittington: The Sunday Mail remarked, "Move over Kenny G, there's a new star saxophonist on the block - and he lives down under!"
Mr Oh had performed with international stars like Al Jarreau, The Bee Gees, Cher, Elaine Paige, John Denver, Roberta Flack, Sammy Davis Jr., Tommy Emmanuel, The Supremes and other great names.
RIP Mr Andrew Oh. Condolences to your immediate family.
Cedric Collars is, like his name, unique; he's also talented. He's a friend but like many people who use the media frequently, a friend today can be someone you may have never met. Yes, I've yet to meet Cedric; he lives in Perth but was from a street in Singapore. He's written another article earlier for the blog and made useful comments regarding the 60's music scene. Here's Cedric again because I asked him for another music tale.
Not too long ago he met a singer and she was from one of the most famous bands in the world. Thanks Cedric for your story. Please read on:
Cedric and Stephanie Collars with his Yamaha Tyros 5 keyboard in Canada.
Sandra and Osvaldo: Cedric's sister and her husband. They are the musical duo in Vancouver.
The Enlightenment and Healing Power of Music:
“Music is a world within itself
With a language we all understand
With an equal opportunity
For all to sing, dance and clap their hands"
(So says the lyrics of Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder.)
You asked for something funny, sad, embarrassing, happy, dramatic or anything that happened backstage or on-stage and I thought that this story of mine was a mixture of all these things and maybe a bit of inspiration thrown in for good measure.
It began in 1977 when I left the RSAF and music in Singapore to pursue my engineering education overseas in Scotland. On completion of my studies, I went headlong into a career in aviation.
Fast forward to 2011 and I was asked by my sister to visit her in Vancouver, Canada. It so happened that my sister and her husband were performing at night clubs and nursing homes as a duet, she on the Yamaha keyboards, he on the electric guitar and they had a Filipino male singer who occasionally sang with them.
Prior to my trip, I was intending to retire from front-line work to teach at a technical college in my engineering discipline. This trip was when my musical awakening began.
The first nursing home I visited with my sister; I was invited to sing for them. While I was getting set-up, I noticed an elderly lady sitting and just staring at me and looking rather unfriendly. I asked the nursing staff if it was alright for me to sing and they all told me that the lady has been a resident for about 6 months and is very unsociable. She never talks or socializes with any of the residents. She comes out for her meals and then returns to her room.
When the music started and I began to sing, she got up and started dancing with her walking frame and as I was ending my song – Arrivederci Roma, she grabbed my hand and asked for another song. I spoke to her and the sang – Besame Mucho to which she was as happy as ever.
When the gig was over, she asked me to come back and sing for her. I had to tell her that I was from Australia and was returning back home. At this time the care-givers were also stunned as she had opened up and was socializing – a happy and smiling person!!!
Well, music had the healing power that touched her mind and opened up happy times which she lost in the fogs of her mind.
On my return to Australia I left the music behind and carried on my aviation front line work and it was about a couple of years later when I was asked by my sister to help them with my singing as their regular singer was going overseas on a trip.
Eve Duke: Pianist and singer with the Duke Ellington band. She's about 91.
I took the trip to Vancouver and again helped them this time playing the Yamaha Tyros 5 keyboards and singing as well.
It was this time when the enlightening took place!!!
One of the gigs was at a Vancouver St Vincent – Langara Residence care home. I sang many jazz standards, pop and country songs and also got on the keyboards doing some R&B and Boogie beats with big-band sounds.
Throughout the concert, I noticed an elderly well-dressed lady who occasionally closed her eyes, was mouthing the words and drifting into the song I was singing.
When the concert ended, I walked over to her and introduced myself. She complimented me by saying:
"You sound just like Perry Como but like Frank Sinatra when you sing his songs. I have met them both and what I say is true.”
She also told me that I had the gift of music which she saw only once another time in her life. She introduced herself as Eve Duke and that she was the pianist and singer with the Duke Ellington Band. She said she would very much like to play the piano but her hands are shaking now and she is unable to sing anymore.
I helped her over to the Yamaha Tyros 5 keyboards and together we played some jazz songs and surprisingly her hands had stopped shaking and she was in her elements.
She had indeed risen up to the challenge and had come alive again and together we had a very memorable time.
Her final comments to me was “You made a very old lady feel young and alive again. You have the magic, son... You have the magic.”
On the way home we had a good laugh over her words and her living in the world of “Duke Ellington.” I passed off her comments as “a senior moment of dementia” and never thought much of it again.
Cedric Collars was in the presence of Music Royalty. Eve Duke sings 'Sophisticated Lady'. By courtesy of david hertzberg from YouTube. Thank you sir. An uncut concert arrangement from 1950. Yvonne Lanauze is Eve Duke.
A few days later, when I was searching the internet, I thought about Eve Duke and decided to search about her. Her real name is Yvonne Lanauze and she REALLY WAS the singer and pianist with the legendary Duke Ellington Band.
She sang Sophisticated Lady and Mood Indigo on a recording and can still be heard even today.
Yes, I was in the presence of Music Royalty and I didn’t even know it. She was indeed Duke Ellington’s pianist and here I was showing her my tricks when she could easily have laughed me away. Her final words to me did leave me thinking of my retirement future. I knew that “son you have magic” meant that music was the path I had to follow and make the seniors, with and without dementia, feel whole and alive again.
Just as a passing note, she now plays and entertains the seniors at her nursing home. She has become alive again!!!
What I did for her was something I felt she needed and that I could manage with my limited Tyros 5 keyboard experience. I left her feeling elated and in doing so I felt I had used my God-given talent to make a senior citizen alive again.
In conclusion, after retiring from aviation, I pursued my hidden musical gift and after much practicing I’m now doing it as a volunteer at nursing homes, spreading the magic of music – a therapy of living life that the fogs of dementia and age has enveloped the brain.
Yes, I’m doing what they sing “Grey skies are going to clear up... Put on a happy face!”
This is my journey to finding the true value and healing potential of the power of music – vocal and instrumental.
Here is the wrap-up of all that was requested in the brief you laid out for me. Hope it is inspiring enough.
Regards,
Cedric Collars
Perth, Australia.
Please provide some comments if you wish.
Article by Cedric Collars has been copyrighted for a book publication.
Images: Google and A Personal Collection from Cedric Collars. Copyrights Reserved.
The New World I remember hearing the song ‘Try To Remember’ by this vocal trio on the radio, and it was quite a hit in Australia in 1969 (or at least Sydney, where I lived back then). Apart from that, I know virtually nothing about the group. From what I have read they formed in Brisbane in 1967 and moved to the UK after ‘Try To Remember’ was a hit in Australia. They released several records there with some early success, especially ‘Tom Tom Turnaround’, but after 1974 they seem to have just disappeared.
That wasn’t true, of course, and you can find plenty of videos on YouTube of the group still performing up to fairly recent times. At The Wheeltappers, Sister Jane, Living Next Door To Alice, Cowboy Convention and The Honey Wind Blows are some of the songs they have performed on stage.
The New World Trio
🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷 🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷
Col Joye and the Joy Boys Col Joye was one of the early rock ’n’ rollers of Australia, along with legendary artists like Johnny O’Keefe. The song ‘(Rockin’ Rollin’) Clementine’ dates from 1959 and is a variation of the old California gold rush song, updated to make Clementine a-rockin' rollin’ chick (as it says in the lyrics). Col Joye and the Joy Boys continued to have pop-hits into the early 1960s. Although he continued to perform on TV and on the road, the hits dried up for Col and his band, although he had a comeback in 1973 with the country-style song ‘Heaven Is My Woman’s Love’. Youngsters of my generation would sing along to that song with the altered lyrics ‘Devon Is My Woman’s Lunch’. Well, Devon was a pretty common sandwich filling in those days.
Col’s brother Kevin had started the original band and they later formed a successful entertainment management, publishing and recording company that continued into the 2000s, but the brothers then had a falling out over money. Very sad. Col was still performing until a few years ago, but I can’t find any notice of what he has been up to in the last few years. There are many websites that can give you more information about 1960s Australian singers and bands. One good one is Milesagohttp://www.milesago.com/
Also, you can find songs by all of the artists featured here on youtube.
Col Joye and The Joye Boys
Article by: Dr Steven Farram (image right).
Images: Google. This article is the last in the series. We hope these write-ups have provided some interest to Singaporeans and other readers about Australian pop music. Although the two countries are so close, many of us are unaware of the musical talents of Australians, except of course knowing a folk song like Waltzing Matilda. In fact, many top international pop singers come from Australia. Do you know who they are? (Andy Young).
The 60's music get-together with (below clockwise): Little Ong, Zainal Abidin, Michael Bangar, Pete Hakonen (Helsinki), Jerry Fernandez, Steven Farram (Darwin, Aus.) John Cher, Horace Wee, Andy Young.
2,100+ VIEWERS FOR THIS POST TODAY 22.4.2018 Johnny Young Speaking of Perth … that was home for a young Johnny Young before he broke into the pop star world with his single ‘Step Back’/‘Cara-Lyn’ in 1966 (both on the E.P. I brought to Singapore).
‘Step Back’ was written by Stevie Wright and George Young of the Easybeats. The story goes that when the band was performing in Perth, Johnny pestered Stevie and George for a song that he could record and they handed him ‘Step Back’. Whose idea it was to record ‘Cara-Lyn’ by US band The Strangeloves is less clear to me. Anyway, it’s a good version.
Both songs did well and according to what I have read, another Perth youngster with pop star aspirations was watching Johnny Young’s career starting to take off and thought to himself that if Johnny Young can do it so could he. His name was Bon Scott, who achieved far greater fame when he fronted AC/DC.
Johnny Young, meantime, was a genuine pop star in Australia, but like many of his peers he thought he should go to England. After some initial success in 1967, it was clear Johnny wasn’t going to be a hit in the UK and he returned to Australia in 1968. Johnny then took on a new role as a songwriter. His first big hit was the Russel Morris psychedelic monster ‘The Real Thing’, which he followed up with ‘Part Three Into Paper Walls’. He wrote more songs for Russel Morris and others, but then started looking into other avenues of work. He already had radio and TV experience and fell easily into DJ work and as a television compere.
In 1971 he started to compere on a program called Young Talent Time, which featured the work of young performers, some children and some teenagers. A number of them became genuine pop stars later on. Because the show lasted for nearly twenty years, most people mainly identify Young with it, but he had a lot more experience and talent than many people appreciate. He went back to performing when Young Talent Time finished up and he’s still doing it today. Article: Dr Steven Farram (right), from Darwin U, Western Australia. Read Steve's articles by clicking his name under Labels below. News Flash: This blog's monthly page views have nearly come up to 40,000 readers which is a record high. Thanks to my readers.
When I was in Singapore recently, I brought Andy a number of Australian 1960's pop singles and EPs. Andy wrote about those records in a recent post on this blog:
Andy finished up that post by saying ‘I am not an expert with 60s Australian pops so I have left Steve to elaborate on the records he provided’. Well, I’m not an expert either, but I am a fan. I was born in 1961, so I was pretty young when most of these records were released, but I do remember hearing most of them on the radio and all of them were very popular, so they were playing a lot.
I am also a collector and I buy 1960's records whenever I come across them. Because those records were so popular, I found I had doubles of them in my collection and so I was able to give copies to Andy. Anyway, here is a bit of what I know about each of the artists that featured on those discs.
Ray Brown and the Whispers Ray Brown and the Whispers was a Sydney-based outfit. They had a large number of hit singles in the mid-60s. They also released a number of LPs. Unlike, say, the Easybeats or the Bee Gees, they didn’t write their own material and most of their songs were copies of ones that had already been hit songs in the USA, although some of them were quite obscure. Also, Ray and the Whispers often presented them in totally new arrangements and really made them their own. Ray left the band in late 1966, formed a few short-lived groups and then left for America. He returned to Australia at the end of the sixties as a country-rock performer. I’ll admit I do not recall any of Ray’s later recordings. By all accounts, they are quite accomplished but had little commercial success. Ray Brown died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1996.
Normie Rowe Normie was the undisputed King of Pop in Australia from 1965 to 1967. He had numerous hit singles and several albums. Normie’s face was everywhere, even in Singapore. If anybody has a copy of Lara and the Trailers first EP (This Is My Song, Love Potion No. 9, etc.) you can see Lara on the back cover standing in front of a photograph of Normie Rowe. Were his records ever released in Singapore? Normie went to England in 1966 and recorded a number of records there, including the one I gave Andy. The records were hits in Australia, but he didn’t set the UK alight.
Lara on the back cover of a Trailers EP standing in front of a photograph of Normie Rowe.
Normie’s reign came to an end when he was conscripted into the Australian army to serve in Vietnam. When he returned to Australia in 1970 he was unable to recapture the old momentum, but he continued on and became a more all-around performer, appearing in clubs, TV and variety programs. He also took to the stage and screen. I just checked Normie’s website and it seems he spent most of 2017 playing shows all across the east coast of Australia and over to Perth. He never made it near Darwin though.
'Shakin All Over' with Normie Rowe: Video by MrPurser. Thank you.
Image: Google.
Article: Dr Steven Farram Copyrights Reserved.
The 60's music get-together with (clockwise): Little Ong, Zainal Abidin, Michael Bangar, Pete Hakonen (Helsinki), Jerry Fernandez, Steven Farram (Darwin, Aus.) John Cher, Horace Wee, Andy Young.
Ray Brown and The Whispers: (L-R) John Manners, Pat Jeffrey (seated), Lawrie Barclay, Ray Brown, Al Jackson (line up: 1964). 2,400 VIEWERS When 60's Music Friends Had A Get-Together In Singapore (2): When Dr Steven Farram (Darwin U, Australia) came to visit Singapore recently, it wasn't the first time. He's familiar with a lot of Singaporean activities, its culture and history, especially with the local music 60's scene. I first met him ten years ago when he introduced himself, all wet and hot, after rockin' and rollin' to Mike and Herb's (Beatles of Malaysia) stage performance in 2008 at the Vivo City Roof Top. We became good friends and he never failed to write an article for the blog when I made the request. Steve wanted to interview some band boys so I managed the help of Mr Michael Bangar (professional guitarist playing rhythm for Silver Strings) to speak to him. We had our first session and a few days later, a larger group came.
With Andy: Michael Bangar and Steven Farram during the interview @ a food court. Our 2nd session ended after Steve interviewed guitar legend Horace Wee, bassist Zainal Abidin, drummer John Cher and singer/DJ Jerry Fernandez (images below). It was a successful meet when Mr Bangar provided Dr Farram with the necessary information he needed. The interview and informal chit-chat over coffee lasted nearly four hours. The lecturer was satisfied with the outcome. Steve brought with him some vinyl records. I list the artistes and songs covered on both Side A and B. All artistes were from Australia:
Ray Brown and the Whispers:
Now Is The Time In The Midnight Hour (YouTube Video above) Pride Say It Again 20 Miles Devoted To You Go To Him Fool Fool Fool
Normie Rowe: Ain't Nobody Home Ooh La La Johnny Young (image)Let It Be Me Step Back The New World:Try To Remember The World I Used To Know Col Joye and the Joy Boys:(Rockin' Rollin') - Clementine Fools Like Me
Clockwise from left: Zainal Abidin (Dukes), Michael Bangar (Silver Strings); Pete Hanoken (CD Producer, Helsinki); Jerry Fernandez (Neu Faces); Andy Young (host); John Cher (Writer, Silver Strings); Horace Wee (Guitar Legend, Radio/TV Singapore); Steve Farram (Lecturer, Darwin U, Australia). Here's a list of Australian pop stars on the international scene that I am familiar with: Slim Dusty, John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Rick Price, Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, Rick Springfield, Tina Arena, Tommy Emmanuel, Johnny O'Keefe, The Seekers, Men At Work, The Easybeats (YouTube video below), Air Supply, AC/DC INXS, Little River Band, Savage Garden, Keith Urban, Helen Reddy and of course, The Bee Gees. And the names go on...
It's time we have some writing about pops Down Under since we're neighbours but I am not an expert with 60's Australian pops so I have left Steve to elaborate on the records he provided. But that's Part 3 in this series.
RICK SPRINGFIELD, HELEN REDDY, LITTLE RIVER BAND, OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN
Images: Steven Farram, Personal Collection. YouTube Videos.
Wes Cossacks Singapore band covered Sorry under a Singapore label. Video from The Garage 1966. Thank you.
