@ Silver Arts: 'Silver Strings' And 'Dukes' Deliver

Dear Andy,

Thank you for embracing the arts. Here's wishing you a great year ahead!  

Warmest regards,

NAC Arts & Communities Team (20/12/2016)

Thank you all for the beautiful turnout and wonderful support!

The Plaza at the National Library wasn't a very large venue but most seats were filled when The Silver Strings and The Dukes performed on Sunday, 18th September.

There were many silver haired ladies and gentlemen since it was  a special occasion for them organised by the National Arts Council under the banner Silver Arts, Celebrating Seniors and the Arts. But there were the young ones too as many came to learn about sixties music. 

As promised fans, friends and family turned out in full force for the one hour performance by both bands. Starting sharp at 3pm, The Dukes provided an entertaining start with a lively repertoire of songs, including a Hokkien pop discussing how one could be a millionaire. Multi-talented and multi-linguist Jerry Murad belted out hit after hit sitting at his drums. 

The songs we heard: Woolly Bully, I Love A Rainy Night, Over The Rainbow, Move It, You Lied, Jipa Ban.

His group had his brother Zainal Abidin or Captain Z playing bass, with Peter Chua lead and Paul Shankar rhythm. They were good as the crowd shouted for more after only a 20 minute sprint.

Then the Silver Strings appeared with Andy Singing The Blues, followed by the Indonesian hit, Impian Semalam. Michael Bangar rocked the crowd with Hippy Hippy Shake. The international handclapping hit, Beautiful Sunday by Michael brought the house down as  the audience asked for more.

Nick Stravens with his powerful vocals pleased the crowd with CCR's Lodi and the Cliff Richard anthem, Young Ones. Rickie Chng was cool as ever belting out 60's favourites accompanying the singers.  No one in the crowd was left untouched by the music of both bands. 

"Wonderful show," said pretty Carrie, a member of the audience. "Each song brings back memories for us. Thank you very much. Hope to see more of these shows."

Like most members of the band, programme carrying ladies and gents met the boys requesting for autographs. It was fun time as we discussed pop  60's music, both local and from abroad.

Drummer and socialite John Cher was mobbed by a group of ladies and men clamouring for his autograph. Audie Ng carried the youngest fan in his arms. The child was only 4 years.

More news ahead. And more pictures as we reveal the people behind the scene.

                   Video guy Robert Lim. Many of his shoots on You Tube.

           Living legend Horace Wee, the man for guitar solos, with Andy and John.

                      Photographer Richard Toh and drummer boy John Cher.

Audie Ng and his fan base - all ladies.

Personal pictures with friends who witnessed the performances.

Mr and Mrs Mun Chor Seng. A TV News cameraman, he accompanied LKY and entourage on regional government trips.

A colleague from the 1970's said, "The Silver Arts performances are indeed a great platform for oldies to get together to relive the evergreen music n songs of the good old days n also for them to renew contacts.  It also serves to create awareness among the younger audiences.

Due credit should also be given to Pioneer contributors to our music scene. Kudos to all involved especially organisers for initiating and implementing the event."

Younger readers of this music blog.  

Joycelyn and Yen Chow, students of mine from the 1990's

Melissa, the lady behind the scene, from National Arts Council.

A note from John Cher. Thanks John.

Hi Andy, 

Thank you for the dairy of events on Sunday, 18th September 2016. I am quite amazed that you could take note of the details of the entire proceedings while you were performing yourself.

Leading to the event, I was warned about the potential bad accoustics of the Plaza at the National LIbrary. However when The Dukes commenced their sound checks, my fears were laid to rest. I was delighted to observe that it was in fact good. Especially for an open air show. Due credit must be accorded to the sound engineers. In fact a few of the people I spoke with are of the view that the sound is better than that of the quaterly Pek Kio shows!

On behalf of The Silver Strings I wish to thank and congratulate the organizers of this programme. It clearly brought a lot of joy and good cheer to everyone who attended. The one major complaint; It was far far too short!

One of the young soundmen I spoke to said he really enjoyed listening to all the old songs that his parents love, performed "live". I am of the view that the event had indeed achieved its intended goal of "CELEBRATING SENIORS & THE ARTS". It was very much YESTERDAY ONCE MORE for the audience. It is not only the music and the bands. It is also about meeting up with old friends from the golden era of SG music and sharing the stories of the personalities that emerged from the scene. What a blast!

On a personal note, thanks to Andy Lim for opening the avenue for the Silver Strings to participate in this Silver Arts Celebrations 2016. And also to Audie Ng for seeing it through to its fruition.

Andy's slogan to "pop music and not pills" is proven beyond any doubts. Natural "highs" come from music, not pills!

What a pleasure and privilege to share the beautiful Sunday afternoon with all who came to support the show! Thank you each and everyone!

Cheers everyone!

John Cher

Michael Bangar with The Silver Strings 18 Sept 2016

The Dukes @ Silver Arts Festival 18th Sept 2016

Thanks to:

Richard Toh for most of the photographs on this page.
Robert Lim and Fabian Foo (right) for the video shoots that are already on You Tube.

NAC for inviting The Silver Strings and The Dukes.
All friends, fans and family who attended the show.

SILVER STRINGS @ KALLANG WAVE MALL

'Runaway' w vocalist/keyboardist Nick. Videos by Fabian Foo.

DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE

14th May, 2016

Compered by Justin Ang and Vernon A.

With Andy, Audie, Nick, John, Rickie, Vernon A., Justin Ang, Peter n Michael.

Lead Guitarist Rickie Chng, Vocalist Andy Young

Screen Grab of Dancing Crowd

Rickie, Bass Guitarist Audie Ng and Vocalist Peter Chua

Audie, John with Rhythm Guitarist and Vocalist Michael Bangar

Drummer John Cher

Keyboardist, Vocalist Nicholas Stravens

The Silver Strings with a good crowd of enthusiasts 

"Impian Semalam"

You Tube: Impian Semalam with Andy.

Lady doing the ronggeng.

You Tube: 'I Saw Her Standing There' w Michael Bangar.

"I Saw Her Standing There"

"Proud Mary"

"Midnight In Malaya"

You Tube: 'To Love Somebody' w vocalist Peter Chua.

Posting below: Before the show

            PETER, RICKIE, AUDIE, ANDY, NICK, MIKE, JOHN.

Learn the ronggeng: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUn5V3TbN-U

Read above article from:
http://www.dinomama.com/2016/05/fairprice-walks-with-u-2016.html

Images from: A Private Collection, Google and Laurence Lim (image right). Thank you Mr Lim for taking the pictures.

Andy Sneak Peeks: Media Corp Toggle: 'Not The 5 Show' Episode 19.

  UP TO 5,300 VIEWS, 

51 CHATS, COMMENTSVIEWS, 51 CHATS

Andy Young with Silver Strings 

             Chua En Lai, Jack Neo, Ailen Tan

                   Suhaimi Yusof, Moses Lim, Simone Heng

Nick, John, Michael, Andy, En Lai (Show Host), Audie and Rickie.

BACKSTAGE @ MEDIA CORPS CHANNEL 5:

Behind the huge video cameras at Caldecott Hills last Wednesday, 13th April 2016, when the afternoon was at its hottest in Singapore at 36.7 degree C , a group of us were happily huddled in the cool comfort of one of Media Corp's colourful sound stages. 

It was a busy bee situation as the camera crew was preparing to shoot our performance on a slightly raised platform.  The floor manager was simultaneously taking and giving instructions to both the band and production crew. There was the usual sound check and dry run for a show The Silver Strings were invited to participate in.

Band members who were scattered on stage, were checking the amps and cables to make sure each piece of equipment was properly connected to their solid guitar. The sound check took some time and the rehearsals some effort.

There was keyboardist, Lobo Nick Stravens (far left) checking his electronic piano, towering dude rhythm guitarist Michael Bangar (with sun-glasses), leader and bassist Audie Ng (in checkered red) and the cool one, lead guitarist Ricky (far right), strumming to balance the volume. 

This blog's contributing writer, John Cher was lost earlier somewhere between the drums, looking for his giant chopsticks to  rock the joint but was sitting satisfied later waiting to roll. I was holding the heavy and powerful Media Corp Shure microphone and snapping some pictures. On stand-by near me was the little bottle of water. Throats parched easily under such a condition.

We're not supposed to reveal anything yet but if you had been following this blog in the last few days, you would have noticed that the Silver Strings were involved in another programme that had been recorded live for prime time on Channel Five. The last time the band was featured on TV was in Rolling Good Times with Dick Lee and Rick Astley in May, 2015.

Some of the popular stars on television and radio would be in this show which highlighted pop music from the 60's and 70's. The personalities included host Chua En Lai, actor and movie producer Jack Neo, TV host and Malay comedian Suhaimi Yusof. There were other stars.  

[17/1/2025 Fast Forward]: Wow! Now she's a celebrity author, Simone Heng was with us in the audience too in 2016, the red dress white collar lady.  She has a book called, 'Let's Talk About Loneliness'.]


The sound check I described lasted for a bit. When we had left, the stage crew welcomed the studio audience in. Performers were ushered backstage for a simple dinner and a rest before proceeding to the make-up room. 

We met more TV and movie personalities as we waited backstage. They were appearing with us on the show. There was also another pop guitar and vocal group. Hot, hot, hot. The band.

So as we leave John (left), his face heavily powdered by our pretty lady at Caldecott Hill, we say farewell until Wednesday evening 20th April, 2016, when the programme will be on air at 7.30 pm. 

Many media savvy Singaporeans know that the broadcasting studio at Caldecott Hill would move out of its present location soon. The Silver Strings and I are glad to have participated in two of the shows before its closure.

Following the teaser on Media Corp's Channel 5 Program for this week, Jack Neo, Mark Lee and the cast of the new movie Long Long Time Ago join us for a nostalgic look back at Singapore and their own lives in the 1960's and 70's. Other young celebrity guests experience the challenges of yesteryear in Singapore's last remaining kampong.

Don't miss it. Lots of surprises. And by the way, it is not The 5 Show. Don't let the logo fool you.

NB: Posted After Telecast on 20th April, 2016.

The two songs performed by SS that evening were: Walking My Baby Back Home (Dean Martin) and Mean Woman Blues (Elvis Presley). Each song lasted about two minutes as there were time constraints.


As it was the procedure we waited behind the soundstage where there was ample room for relaxation and a meeting up with the other participants Moses Lim, Jack Neo and Ailen Tan. They were friendly, warm. Picture taking, especially with Moses Lim, was done with ease and a natural calm. Mr Lim had no airs about him.

Chua En Lai (left) was just as polite backstage but kept a low profile because he was the host and had his hands full holding the show together, having had to open chat on camera with Simone Heng and Suhaimi Yusof who were co-hosting. Sweet and charming TV host Bharathi Rani, whom we met in the elevator, told the audience her kampong tales.

As with the Silver Strings camaraderie was strong with the Media Corp cast and crew. The video and sound recordings that evening ran without a hitch and the Floor Manager was a perfect gentleman, cuing us most times and helping us with stage positioning, sound check, the usual stand-by procedures in front of the floor cams.

        
Topics discussed during the actual shoot:
Kampong, Ponggol, Chua Chu Kang, Yeo Chu Kang, Tea Dances, Discos, Zoey Tay, attap houses, Long long ago

                           Toggle: Episode 19 with The Silver Strings

Disclaimer:

This article is a personal experience of my time in the studios and it has no intention of promoting any person, place or thing.

Images: A Personal Collection; Google; Media Corp.
An Original Article from Andy Lim (Young).

                                            Moses Lim with Silver Strings

Not The 5 Show with Suhaimi Yusof, 

Simone Heng [2025 celebrity author in red], 

Jack Neo, Bharathi Rani, Ailen Tan.