A Happy New Year From Singapore 60s Music

Participants & Supporters Of Local 60s Music

From Left: Jerry Fernandez is vocalist of the Neu Faces and has an events company, Veronica Young is Singapore's Millie Small, Ronnie See is leader, vocalist and rhythm guitarist from The Burns, Audie Ng is leader and bassist of The Silver Strings.

Back Row: Paul and Maria are back-up singers, Andy is a bystander, Victor Lam is percussionist with The Burns and Ging plays lead guitar.
Image: From Veronica Young Collection/Venue: Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore, 2009.

60s Music Appreciated. Thank You Dad!

August 7th 2009.

From the website of DHARMALOTUS:

"Let's just say I've been so engrossed in pursuing contemporary Singaporean acts that I haven't really paid sufficient attention to Singapore's pioneers of our local music scene. I guess it doesn't help that these folks besides The Quests were not as active till more recently and somehow publicity is a little lacking...

It was indeed humbling and a little overwhelming to meet Andy Young, The Silver Strings, Ronnie & The Burns, Rahimah Rahim and... even Veronica Young in person.

I've to thank my dad for all this really. Not only did he get me tickets, but if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have gotten a chance to have more in-depth conversations with these musicians who rock harder than us despite their other commitments."

(Comments were made after the Orchid Country Club Concert on 24th July, 2009. Thank you Dharmalotus.)

Image/article: http://dharmalotus.multiply.com/journal/item

The Silver Strings Family At Orchid Country

Andy Young and The Silver Strings (image). Audie (right) is with his original Fender bass from the 60s.
Image: Veronica Young Collection.

Naomi & Boys Bass Guitarist With Beatles

July 24th, 2009: During the Those Were The Days gig at Orchid Country Club, former bassist for Naomi & The Boys, Moses Tay, had a photograph taken with The Beatles Unlimited backstage. Tay joined The Boys after former bassist Henry Richards left the band in 1965.

Moses Tay was playing at a private club recently. He completed his contract and is currently available. Do you need a bassist?

Another manhunt completed.

Image: Veronica Young Collection.

Original article: Andy Lim

Hippy Hippy Shake Veronica & Silver Strings

Veronica Young with The Silver Strings doing the hottest song in her repertoire, Hippy Hippy Shake, made famous by The Swinging Blue Jeans in 1963/1964 and composed by Chan Romero in 1959.

It's a beautiful, clear and colourful shot of the boys and Veronica, taken with a little camera from the left balcony of Orchid Ballroom.

Image: Veronica Young Collection.

Cliff Richard Please Don't Tease Ronnie & Burns

Ronnie & The New Burns appeared on the Orchid CC stage, neat, stylish and resplendent. Singing and strumming the top hits of the 60s Ronnie (leader, vocalist, rhythm), accompanied by Victor Lam (drums), George Chew (lead) and Simon (bass), entertained the audience.

He went on through the evening, with his faultless singing and perfect rhythm. On the first night of the show, Jerry Fernandez' introduced that "Ronnie was once with The Stylers" (popular 60s guitar group).

With a wide repertoire, they sang and played, Travelling Man (Ricky Nelson), Please Don't Tease. The Young Ones (Cliff Richard) and Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison). They brought the house down with Hey, Paula (Paul & Paula) when Ronnie sang a duet with beautiful Filipino singer Maria. It was a class act indeed!

Image: Roger Poh Collection.

Original article: Andy Lim.

Singapore National Heritage 'Those Were The Days...' Watching The Beatles Of Malaysia Rock With 60s Music. No Elvis Presley songs! Why?

The above audience could feel the pulse of the rhythmic beat of The Silver Strings, Ronnie and The Burns and The Beatles Unlimited from Austria when these three bands performed on the 23rd and 24th July 2009 for a Pop 60s Rock Music concert.

They seemed quiet but when the bands rocked the house down, these same people danced and shimmied to the sound of the bands. It was an active and cooperative crowd as they clapped, cheered and sang with the band and singers on stage.

Thank you for attending the concert. The organisers and performers are very grateful to members of the public, supporters, friends and families who came to see us that night.

(Andy is also grateful to people who wish him well those two evenings in the outer hall of the ballroom.)

Image: Veronica Young Collection.

Original article: Andy Lim

Millie Small? Connie Francis? Veronica Young! Silver Threads And Golden Needles

 I knew Veronica as Veronica Soon and met her when we were both doing a show at the Garrick Cinema to promote a moview. Veron is well known both as Singapore's Connie Francis because of her powerhouse vocals. She is officially Singapore's Millie Small having won the title in the mid-sixties with the Silver Strings accompanying her at the Sky Cinema. She is still singing to day but has migrated to France from Singapore after she got married.

Photographs are still coming in. So be patient. Veronica Young (jmage) during rehearsals at the recording studio. It was a hard day's night as The Silver Strings accompanied everyone during the practices for about 7 to 8 nights at a stretch.

Veronica had to fly in from France, Mike from Melbourne and Herb from Cairns. But when everyone got together there were about 25 songs to rehearse, co-ordinate and perform. Within a small studio, the sound of the guitars, drums and keyboard can be deafening. Ear plugs are a must but how many musicians have them on?

Unless there is a love for the game and the music...

Image/Original article: Andy Lim.

The Beatles Look & Singalike From Austria

For the first time in more than 50 years, I heard the strains of God Save The Queen in Singapore. No urge to stand though but as I looked at the screens on the walls of the Orchid Ballroom, I couldn't see the fluttering Union Jack (British flag) projected anywhere.

But with the fanfare and like Elvis Presley's, Space Odyssey introduction, The Beatles Unlimited came on stage with much pomp and pageantry as the British national anthem was being played.

Trivia. Which 'Beatle' is the above gentleman supposed to be? Answer anyone?

Image: Roger Poh Collection

Original Article: Andy Lim

60s Rock Music Concert Souvenir Programme

In case you missed the show, the above image is the programme booklet for the two nights, where details of the artistes that participated are documented. It is well designed and worth the while to collect as a souvenir. There are many people who keep programmes, magazine pages, newspaper cuttings, posters and advertisements as memorabilia to remind them of past events.

This blogger has a good friend who keeps such bric-a-brac. Singapore 60s band members and singers were surprised at the amount of photographs he keeps and the signatures he collected, when he showed them his files and albums during the local gigs in town. This gentleman and many other pop 60s enthusiasts have been collecting them since.

Don't throw them away. Could prove priceless some day. The National Heritage Board has an interesting collection of these programmes and souvenirs. Well, in case you need one...

Image/Article: Andy Lim

Gadis Indonesia You Mean Everything To Me Neil Sedaka Where The Boys Are Connie Francis

The roving eye spies a beautiful damsel but she is not in distress. Was she going to the show or just waiting for her beau to take her to dinner at the restaurant? Apparently she is one of the dancers in an Indonesian Cultural Group that appeared in another venue in Singapore. But was she whistling a 60s tune? Note: Above songs by Veronica Young at Orchid CC.

Image: Practically begged Roger Poh for this, his special Collection!

Shadows' Apache/Foot Tapper - The New Burns VICTOR & SIMON - Backstage With Andy

The New Burns, Victor Lam and Simon Tay. Victor was the percussionist for recording artistes, The Mysterians in the 60s. All four Mysterians had masks on and appeared incognito for all their appearances.

Victor (left), is a vinyl enthusiast and has a vast collection of records in his possession. Having seen him during practice sessions and on stage, Victor has not lost his touch. Pretty Woman needs pretty fancy drumming. And he is good!

Simon Tay is a man in the finance industry. Quiet and a serious musician, he also plays the hawaiian guitar extremely well and belongs to another band that plays 50s and 60s jazz pieces.

With their popularity soaring, The Burns will be more in the limelight. They might even be interviewed by prominent writers and experts of Singapore 60s music. All the best to Victor and Simon.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim

Rolling Stones: Satisfaction, Village People: YMCA, Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs: Wooley Bully, Mony Mony, That's The Way I Like It, You Really Got Me!

Checking the sound system is a must before the big concert. Mike & Herb with the Silver Strings testing the microphones, amplifiers and guitars at the gig. Because of The Beatles Unlimited appearance, the two brothers had a new repertoire of songs but they sang their own originals too.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection

The Beatles Unlimited Hey Jude I Wanna Hold Your Hand Please Please Me In Singapore

Without Beatle jackets and even in the cold, cold Orchid Ballroom, the Beatles Unlimited from Austria and the audience felt the heat, as the group pounded their guitars and screamed, I Saw Her Standing There, She Loves You, Hard Day's Night and other hits by the fab four.

They definitely sing like the Beatles and cockneyed their way with cheeky quirps. It was a great performance, as everyone enjoyed these impersonators with their mop tops complete with authentic Beatle guitars.

But they're really wonderful human beings and after meeting them personally. It's a pleasure to have made friends with the four fabs who came all the way from Austria to entertain Singapore 60s music enthusiasts.

Image: Roger Poh Collection

Original article: Andy Lim

Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman/Ronnie & Burns

After practices: a picture with Ronnie See, left, band leader, vocalist, rhythm guitarist and Victor Lam , percussionist (seated). Simon Tay, left, bassist, standing and George Oh, lead guitarist.

Ronnie & His Burns brought the house down with Roy Orbinson's Pretty Woman, Cliff Richard's, Young Ones and The Shadow's Apache.

Image: Andy Lim Collection

Ricky Nelson Travelling Man Elvis Mystery Train

Mr Roger Poh, who helped with these recent pictures taken at the Orchid Country Club. Mr Poh is a travelling man, having visited places way beyond the guided trails organised by tour groups. He roughs it out on trains and boats and planes.
Image: Roger Poh Collection.

Dean Martin's Sway & Malay Heritage/Sriwana Juniors Backstage With Andy Chatting Up Rahimah Rahim's Group

These are the little ones who accompanied Rahimah Rahim on stage dancing to Sway and marimbah sounds and rhythm. They were a delight, boys and girls from primary schools in Singapore, who spend their time fruitfully learning to dance to traditional and pop music with the Sriwana Dance Society, a group that is synonymous with Singapore's malay heritage since the 50s and 6os.

When Andy asked if they love A. Ramli or The Beatles, they answered, "Both!" They are familiar with 60s music. Smart too!

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

Rahimah Rahim Sings Teresa Teng & Dean Martin - Backstage With Andy

Dean Martin made it a hit in the 50s and 60s and Michael Buble's revival made it an international hit all over again.

When Rahimah Rahim performed this song, the audienced clapped throughout. And when the accompanying children danced with her, the audience roared.

As marimba rhythm started to play, Rahimah delivered Sway like no other. Teresa Teng was not forgotten when Rahimah sang the Chinese version of Dayong Sampan and the large Friday crowd appreciated it just as much.

Backstage, Rahimah obliged a picture with Andy as she waited her turn to sing. Image was taken on the 23rd July, first night at the Orchid Country Club Concert in Singapore.

She has always been in the entertainment business; her father was Singapore's Nat King Cole. He was Rahim Hamid who performed all over Singapore during the 50s and 60s. Close your eyes when he sings and you think you're listening to Nat himself.

Rahimah does the same as she can always transport you to another time and place when she sings in Malay, Chinese and English. I understand she sings in some other languages too.

Image/Original Article: Andy Lim

881 Movie Actress And Ger-tai Singer Karen Lim

Petite Karen Lim, vocalizing her 60s Hokkien and Mandarin melodies, wooed the audience with her beauty, wit and natural charm when she was on the Orchid Country Club stage. 

A concert was staged there with the Silver Strings,  Andy, Mike and Herb, Veronica Young, Rahimah Rahim, Ronnie, and The Burns with the Beatles Unlimited as the highlight that evening. 'Those Were The Days' announced the huge banner outside the Club's lobby.

Singing three Chinese songs, Karen danced and teased her way through an exceptionally comic performance, accompanied by two 60s A-Go-Go dancers in colorful costumes. 60s Chinese music by a 21st Century star. That went a long way.

She was a delight with her banter and routine when she practically dragged a shy, member of the audience on stage and teased him with her songs. 

She was pleasant and restful backstage after the show and agreed to pose for the picture. She did not talk to anyone and hurried off after a quick change, ready for another show at another concert. She was a professional alright. Meeting Karen was a delight!

Grand Finale of 'Those Were The Days' Concert with Andy, Ronnie, the late rhythm guitarist, Bobo, Audie, and Jerry. 

Image/Original article: Andy Lim Collection.