Meeting Beach Boys n Wynton Marsalis In Singapore: Cindy Lai

YouTube video below with Eric Clapton

UP TO 200 VIEWS, 15+ CHATS & COMMENTS

This article has never been posted but written on May 4th, 2014.

Visits by the group and trumpeter could have happened in the 80s as no dates were mentioned in the articles.

I hope you read the previous post where I introduced my former neighbour, entrepreneur, fashion designer and health guru Cindy Lai, who took us back to London's Carnaby Street in the 70s and re-introduced us to Gilbert O'Sullivan's Clair, one of my favourite pieces.

When I asked her to be a regular guest blogger busy Cindy cheerfully agreed and promised to walk her memory trail with us whenever she's free.  Here are the latest, where she met up with a famous 60s boy band and a renowned trumpeteer...

                    The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations: You Tube Video by Larry Jonik.

Hi Andy,

When the Beach Boys came to town, my classmates and I somehow got the news and went to visit at The Goodwood Hotel where they were staying. (It was so long ago, I stand corrected about the venue). 

We caught them at the pool. As fans and crazy young teenagers, we got close for autographs. Guess what, I pulled his hair (the tall blonde) & stuck it to my autograph album. For years after, it was my show and tell piece of memorabilia.  

Here's a picture, I remember he was the tall blonde, the one on the extreme right with the guitar.  That autograph book long vanished, have no idea where it went. I don't even remember which year. The scenarios remained in my mind, that's all. 
 
Perhaps another meet up that doesn't need evidence would be better. This takes me to another event.  Just sharing here. I went to Wynton Marsalis' concert at The Westin. I had planned precisely to get his autograph no matter what. I was thrilled when I succeeded. He wrote my name with best wishes and signature. 

Later I went to the wash room, left it on the back shelf of the toilet and walked out. When I realised, I rushed back for it after like fifteen minutes; it was gone. This one was a huge shame indeed.

Cheers,
Cindy. 

Images: Google.

The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in 1961 in California by Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine. Since then, the band has undergone many variations in composition, being represented by fill-ins onstage as often as not.

Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is a trumpeter, composer, music educator and Artistic Director of Jazz @ Lincoln Center in New York City, United States.  He has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences and has been awarded nine Grammys in both genres, and one jazz recording of his was the first of its kind to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton 

with Corinne Corinna: 

YouTube Video from: EClapton Addict

Cindy Lai wrote the above article. She had gone 

to London to be trained as a fashion designer 

and had a boutique in Singapore.

Andy 60's Music Meets Old Neighbour Cindy, Carnaby Street And "Clair"

Cindy was my neighbour from the 60's who found and contacted me after spotting me on TV.  The show could have been a documentary in which I was featured or a variety show on Channel 5 but we exchanged information as we had not met since our childhood years.  

When she told me she is involved in live theatre, loves pop music, and had lived and studied in the UK for some time, I thought it was best if I asked her to write and tell me more about her adventures there.  She replied:

Our Lady In Spain

"Gorgeous girls strutting along the streets with knee high boots, ultra short hot pants with velvet berets, the radio played Knock Three Times, (I tapped my feet each and every time) Clair, Vincent, Maggie May over and over again.

Cindy Lai

Passing by boutiques along Carnaby Street, the blasting lyrics and story telling of these great music hit you. Everybody was in love and seemed happy. There was never a dull moment. Those were the oldies but goodies! Retro will always be the in thing."  

  

She never told me but the songs she quoted suggested that she could have been there in the early 1970s since Tony Orlando, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Don McLean and Rod Stewart were chart busting songsters those years.

"These iconic names had lured me, The Beatles, Twiggy, BIBA, Kings Road Chelsea, Portobello Market..." 

She has 3 blogs and they reveal more about her as she explains why she was attracted to Big Ben's chimes.  Cindy had gone to London to be trained as a fashion designer and has been in the business since.  She has a boutique called, Cindy Hales in Singapore.

Gilbert O'Sullivan 'Clair' 

YouTube Video by: SO NOME DE MULHER.

She is resident costumier with Players Theatre since 2003.  "Being a qualified school teacher, my passion remains in coaching both children and adults in the aesthetic skills incorporating traditional techniques and advance technology."

Every few years she seems to be re-inventing herself, so from fashion design she's now into traditional Chinese herbs.  She's also a UK certified Aromatherapist, creating music for your nose.

If I remember correctly her father had a prominent tailor shop across the road from my home and was a well-known Qi Kung master. Following dad's footsteps I guess?

NB:

The song 'Clair' by Gilbert O'Sullivan is symbolic of songs those years in the new 70's as mentioned. I guess it's a lovable melody with cute lyrics and think of it as an innocent and adorable one about a cute child.

Images: Google and Cindy Hales.

Above: Luna Id's production of The Physicists which played at The Durrenmatt Festival  and won Production of The Year at the 2005 LIFE! Theatre Awards.  Cindy designed the costumes.

Cindy Lai's father who was a Qi Kung exponent

[This posting is not an advertisement and does not promote any product.]