Irene Ryder (黎愛蓮) Ryding Hong Kong Pops 60s Part 1

Hong Kong Island Memories

Hong Kong island has brought back pleasant memories of Tsim Sha Tsui's shopping district and the hunting around for old vinyl records.  Here's one HK pop artiste I used to listen to in between the Indonesian groups and Singapore ones.

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Dedication to Her Songs:

What impressed me about this particular lady after listening to her both on vinyl records and CDs was her dedication to the numbers she sang. Whether it was an appeal about Nobody's Child or a teenage angst where she found, Lipstick On (Your) Collar, she delivered them with sincerity and feeling.  

Eurasian Good Looks:

Those years, some Asian artistes simply made covers of western hit songs to sell and she was one of many singers. But with her youth, Eurasian good looks and singing grace she was different and stood out from the crowd, as she was able to charm her record buyers and her audiences with these assets.

English Diction:

Irene Ryder or Li Ai Lian (黎愛蓮), a Eurasian born in Hong Kong in 1949, had an English father and Chinese mother.  She was able to interpret her songs and her English diction was above par, perhaps better than some Asian lady singers in the 60s and 70s. Irene speaks Cantonese very well too.

A-Go-Go-Queen:

In 1966 she acquired the unofficial title of A-Go-Go-Queen from a dance talent contest where she earned her fame. After the contest, Irene and her dance partner were invited to perform in Singapore and Malaysia and promote the dance craze, doing seven to eight shows daily.

Vic Cristobel:

With this exposure, she was approached by music arranger and producer, Vic Cristobal of EMI Records who started her singing career in 1967.  The first single she pressed was a cover of Lulu's, To Sir With Love. She became the top singer in the territory three months after her song was released.


Osaka Exposition 1970:

The single was called *Baby Baby (video above) and it was this recording in 1968 that established her fame as a singer.   She was the only female singer chosen to represent Hong Kong at the 1970 World Exposition in Osaka Japan.  

Bruce Lee

Part 2 Next Week:

(Read Part 2 when she had to end her singing career.)

Images/Video: Google, Uncle Ray 101CD Box and YouTube (Shatinterry).

Information: from Shatinterry (YouTube), Wikipedia and Websites.

Bruce Lee's Brother:

Among the other singles that she recorded was a duet with Robert Lee, a former member of Hong Kong's beat band The Thunderbirds. and the younger brother of martial arts star Bruce Lee. Robert also has a recording about his famous brother called, The Ballad of Bruce Lee.

1972: Singapore Bruce Lee Beats Thugs At Cinema

(The above video is a masterpiece, creatively crafted by Shane Woodbury showing Bruce Lee at his peak. Watch it in full.)

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When martial-arts mania flexed its muscles and extended its flying kicks in Singapore 70s, "Kato" or "Big Boss" Bruce Lee became a cult hero on the big screen and "Grasshopper" David Carradine became one on the goggle box. I remember watching these two actors who had by then a large international following. 


1. Carl Douglas Album Cover

Every other day some exponent of TKD, karate or whatever else was chopping bricks, slicing wooden boards on TV or at the Community Centres in Singapore.  The mass hysteria even produced a single called Kung Fu Fighting (not Kung Fu Panda) by Carl Douglas that sold eleven million copies in 1974 (plenty in those days).

So everyone listen up, for here's a story about what happened at a cinema in Singapore in 1972 when fists of fury found their target on blackmarket ticket thugs.


2. Poster of Bruce Lee's movie in the 1970s.

The writer is a friend of James Kwok who is with our FOYers Group:

Hi Andy,

It would be nice like they say to *talk cock (pardon my language) and reminisce over the good old days, especially those days when T-Dances were so popular! One of my most unforgettable memories, and believe me, there're quite a few, was an incident at **The Orchard Theatre, which I would like to share with you.

3. David Carradine on the goggle box.

I vividly recalled, it was the first screening of Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury and the queue for tickets was almost a kilometer long.  I was in the queue, like all law-abiding citizens, when I noticed a gang of black-market thugs jumping the queue in front, shoving, and threatening those who dared to voice out.

I overheard one lady screaming, "Where's the police?" and was immediately told off by one of the gang members. That was when I sprung into action. Nobody realised that I was an arm-pai or mata-mata (plain-clothes cop).  With my revolver at my side (I was in plainclothes), and fresh from receiving a black belt in TKD (Tae Kwon Do from one of my Korean Masters at the then, Gay World), I started pulling these thugs out from the line.

They were too shocked by my action to retaliate, and before they were aware of what was going on, two of then were on the floor after having received my TKD kicks while the others took off!

4. An artist's impression of TKD which need not necessarily be violent.

I was pleasantly surprised when most of the fans in the queue started to clap and shouted their approval after what I did. How about that!  Pity it was not reported in the local media then.  Anyway, that was a REAL Bruce Lee's preview-lah and I did not even realise my action then. A mata-mata was in action to defend members of the public.

So many stories to recap Bruddher, and this is just one.  I simply love those good old days and can never, never, forget that, no matter where we are to-day.

Till we meet over our teh-tarik, and maybe, roti prata again.

God Bless,

Guru Happy.

About the writer:

Guru Happy lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada and is in the Police Harley Davidson (the latest Police Escort Bike) as their Fleet Co-ordinator, after retiring from the RCMP (the Federal Police).  He was with the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to supervise the fleet for the 2010 Winter Olympics. 

He was the first, and only former Singaporean - an honour he is proud of - to be involved with the security for the Olympics which was a once in a lifetime dream.  He was entrusted not only with the arrangements for the local VVIPs, but also the US President, working along with the US Secret Service Agents. 

5. Letter writer Guru Happy with his Harley Davidson.

Like the saying goes, "Once a cop, always a cop" no matter where you are.  Happy promises more stories on this blog soon.

Original article/image 5:  Guru Happy Copyrights Reserved.

You Tube video from: Shane Woodbury.

Images 1, 2, 3, 4: from Google.

*Frivolous chatter. Perhaps coffeeshop talk.

**Orchard Cinema, Grange Road (1965-1995)

In 1965 when Singapore gained independence, Cathay Organisation opened their second cinema after Cathay. It is the Orchard Cinema (国宾戏院) at Grange Road.  It was closed in 1995 for renovation and re-established itself as Orchard Cineleisure today.

Today: February: 2023.

It's best to mask up like Kato, or you'll be in trouble, not with the law but with your health. Covid Nineteen and family are still around...

Bruce Lee as Kato in The Green Hornet. 

Better mask up, Covid or otherwise!!!

Shades Of Kung Fu Chinatown Rock: Chinese New Year 1979: The X'periment! Living In The Past?

Ang Pow:

Well, here it is, my own copy of Chinatown Rock (images:3,4) by X'periment. It's my ang-pow (red-packet) or Chinese New Year gift for everyone. I googled for the covers but couldn't find the images. I guess this record is going into extinction, so if you have a copy, keep it. The songs are gem-stones today.

Mervyn Nonis:

It is a Singapore WEA (Warner/Elektra/Atlantic) record pressed in 1979. Eight of the songs are originals by Mervyn Nonis and the Xperiment. It is produced and engineered by Stephen Israel and Lim Gek San.

K.V. John:

Personal Manager is K.V. John, who was a great compere in the 60s and 70s with his Spot Dances and Musical Chairs. John was also a comic on stage with a very pleasant personality. Does anyone know where he is now?

Original Songs:

So for those interested, Side One has: Chinatown Rock, Here Comes That Feeling, Come And Rest On Love, Living In The Past and *Fun, Fun, Fun. Side Two carries: Different Sound, Waiting, *Hedonism Is Fun, Geraldine and Baila. (Except for the two with astericks, the rest are originals.) Some songs are on You Tube provided by MrRainbow64. THANKS VERY MUCH, SIR.

Interviews:

I am waiting to interview Mervyn Nonis. Called him some months ago but couldn't make it to meet him. If you have any idea where the other members of X'periment are please let me know. I'd be glad to make an appointment to chat and write about them. Better still, if you can, do a write-up on the Comment page. Thanks.

Greetings:

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE RABBIT EVERYONE. DON'T FORGET TO VISIT CHINATOWN! IT ROCKS!

"The X'periment, with lead vocalist Joe Chandran, performed to full houses at the Lost Horizon, Shangrila-La Hotel during the 70s. Three of their most popular original songs which were composed by members of the group were Living In The Past, Waiting and Geraldine.

I frequented the Lost Horizon with my colleagues regularly after work and hang-out there until the early hours of the morning. We will then adjourn to joints like the Tivoli Coffee House, Chatterbox at the Mandarin Hotel etc. till the first SBS Bus rolls into Orchard Road. Those were fun days when the routine was repeated almost daily. We worked hard and play hard as well ! (Mr Rainbow64)."
Above quote taken from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d47aeaNZ08k

Cover Images/Original article: Andy Lim.

B/W Image 1: http://www.chinatownology.com/

Image 2: http://www.blogtoexpress.blogspot.com/