Old Smart Phone: Sharp Images: Andy 60's With Tan Kheng Hua, Zoey Tay

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  15 CHATS, 30 LIKES 

It is a journey and I can thank my blog for it. I kept many pictures on my little iPhone 4. Today, about 10 years later, they are still as colourful, clear and intact. Mostly family photos, I found some images I  have of our music friends and celebrities in Singapore during my exciting and rewarding adventure.

This post is another one without too many words, just some pictures. Ignore my face, just look at the celebs:

Ms Tan Kheng Hua who scored the latest hit in 

Hollywood, acting with 'Crazy Rich Asians'.

We did a documentary where she hosted oldie goodies.

Now here's a lady who's on Chinese TV 

@ MediaCorp, Ms Zoey Tay while on the set at 

KTPH shooting, 'You Can Be An Angel Too'.

  

With Tee Peng [guitarist], Henry Chua [Quests] and 

Larry Lai [Rediffusion] @ Tan Soo Khoon's CNY dinner.

*'Photograph' By Ringo Starr

YouTube Video by: richbuskin

*1973 song from Starr's third studio album,

co-written by George Harrison.

Big hit in 10 countries including #1 

in US, Canada, Australia.

With archeologist, Lim Chen Sian and Josh during

       the opening ceremony of MediaCorp's documentary, 

 'Treasure Hunt' at Stamford Museum.

Former Parliamentary Speaker, Tan Soo Khoon 

sings Elvis well.  At OLPS, before he went on stage.

With recording artiste Barry Walker and wife from England, 

on his visit in Singapore. Barry was with The Figures.

Camera crew @ Opera Estate garden during

a documentary shoot about SG music from the past.

With my first group when I started the blog and did 

a few documentaries with owner director, Ms Chang Soh Kiak

of 'Shooting In Pictures'. The group includes Peter Chan [pianist], Philip Chew [Mr Joo Chiat], Dick Yip [ukulele], and Lam Choon See [author].

Images: A Personal Collection.

Andy 60s Music Blog Hits 3.65 Million Plus Views

                                              

This blog has surpassed 3.65+ Million Views. 

It increases to about 100,000 views every 50 days. Slow in today's media world but not bad for a music history blog. Thanks for the amazing congratulatory messages below.

Thanks to all readers, contributing writers,

followers, fans and friends for the support.

5th July, 2024.

Blog is:

1] Number 2 on the top 15 'Best Music Blogs in Singapore'.

2] Number 21 on the top '50 Best Music Blogs in SE Asia'.

3] Read by 204 countries under 'Flag Counter' App

4] Read by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

5] Archived by National Library Board Singapore.

6] Mentioned on VintageRadio. Brian Richmond: 

'Music n Me' interview.

Click 'Comments' below this article to see 

the lovely folks who wrote in...

We Are The Champions: Queen [Live].

YouTube Video from: Queen Official Video.

This posting has been updated on 5th July 2024

Singapore 60's Music Blog Is 15 Years Old: 新加坡 60 年代的音乐博客已经 15 岁了

START YOUR JOURNEY:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2008/11/rex-cinema-paul-anka-contest-fun-part-1.html

OR CLICK:

 

[1] IMAGES ON RIGHT COLUMN OF PAGE >>

OR

[2] 'LABELS' BELOW.

CHEERS!

Andy Meets 'Vintage Showcase' Brian Richmond With Vernetta Lopez, Denise Tan

Andy with Brian Richmond and Vernetta Lopez 

at the 90.5 fm station @ Mediacorp studio in Singapore.

UP TO 4,500 VIEWS

You can keep the good times rolling and 60s music spinning by listening in to The Vintage Showcase on Gold 90.5FM, aired every Sunday from 8 in the morning to 12 noon where experienced, versatile and popular disc jockey Brian Richmond holds the reins. 

Brian hosts

Some of the features incorporated in the programme will include Brian's Top 20 and Singapore Trivia where listeners interact with the host. There is also a special request segment where a listener will share his memories which go with a special song.

Other music capsules will include, Singapore Snapshots, Moments In Singapore History and Reminiscing With.  The last one has special guests each week to share a specific memory of their past.  Brian had telephoned me two weeks ago inviting me to participate in this segment of his pop radio broadcast. 

Sound Engineer Wayne

He was a gentleman all the way, waiting for me at the reception desk at Caldecott Hill where a hundred and one busy celebrity folks go about their business. His was the usual, casual hello with a firm handshake. Then, "You still remind me of Goh Chok Tong." Ayoh!

Before we started the recording he introduced me to Wayne, the sound engineer, who dabbles with the technicalities of the programme. 

The actual session didn't last too long so afterwards it was a short tour of Media Corp @ Caldecott Hill and meeting well-known DJs Vanetta Lopez (Gold Breakfast Show) and Denise Tan (Lunchtime Jukebox), both hosts on the same station.  Great folks they are and these two ladies are as pretty in person as their voices are on air.

I won't explain what the segment on his showcase is all about but if you have been a regular listener you are probably familiar with it.  If you aren't, then all the more why you should wake up a bit early on Sunday and listen in.

With DJ Denise Tan.

Thank you Brian for holding the microphone, Wayne for making my recorded voice sound better, Vernetta for taking the pics and Denise for the picture pose.

On the way out, I couldn't find my car in the designated maze and got the help of a Media Corp security guard.  Lucky. All these people, really well-tuned... 

"Gold ninety point five fm. Classic hits all day." Don't forget. Sunday mornings!

This blog article is a repost from 2014, just 8 years ago😉.

Images: A Personal Collection.

Tan Kheng Hua: Drama 101: Learning How To Act At Desker Road

Produced by The Moving Visuals Co. for Mediacorp  Okto

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    16 COMMENTS     

An Updated Post From 2012

Our Past Is Our Present:

Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? could we?

A Documentary:

It was fun when I had to stand in front of the video cameras again and discuss things 60s, this time around with veteran Singapore actor and pole dancing extraordinaire Tan Kheng Hua (image above). We were not discussing Grease the movie, but grease on the head, namely Brylcreem the crowning glory of local boys from the 60s.


Brylcreem Ad in the 60s (Google)

Grease, Guitars and Girls:

Daphne Koh, producer for Memento Singapore, who read this blog invited me for an interview for a documentary to be made by The Moving Visuals Company a local film house.  We met at Burger King in Novena Square and talked the morning away about local 60s band boys and their interest in guitars, girlfriends and grease.

The Interview:

We discussed at length the popularity of Brylcreem, Tancho Pomade and Yardley of London and how a combination of the three slicky stuff  kept the band boys' hair in place weathering all storms. Actually the cream was more to keep their hair tidy when they appeared for stage performances. They also wanted to look good in front of  their girl friends. The topic on hair cream and other Singapore 60s memorabilia featured in a four-part documentary that will be televised again soon.

The Shoot with Kheng Hua:

As usual my nerves got the better of me when I faced the cameras at Petain Road with its row of peranakan terrace homes. But with experienced Kheng Hua beside me I felt comfortable as she led me with her giggles and laughter.  We started off camera by discussing 60s music and when I was more relaxed this charming host of the series took command of the scene shots with her constant chatter, eloquence and natural ease.

Produced by The Moving Visuals Co. for Mediacorp Okto.

We won the day and as we glided to Desker Road (image above) looking for the **Indian (mamak) shop where the grease was on sale, we were already good friends.  In fact, my gracious lady-in-charge was even in control of the camera crew, instructing them all the way with strict tenderness and calm.

Drama 101:

With professionals around nothing can go wrong, so they say. Nothing went wrong but a large truck nearly spoilt our schedule when the driver decided to park it right in front of our shoot as he went for his breakfast.  Rather than wait for him to reappear our party changed venue as I gave my soliloquy about Elvis' hairstyle before the cams. Yikes!

I learnt a bit of Drama 101 at the University in Canada a long time ago but I think Kheng Hua taught me more. She's definitely just as great a teacher as she is an actor.

Shooting 'Momento Singapore' at Petain Road 

For the uninitiated:

**Indian (Mamak) or mini-sundry shops are a thing of the past in Singapore and used to be scattered all over the island.  There are possibly about four shops left today and this Desker Road shop is one.

They sell small items from sweetmeats, snacks and stationery to drinks, cigarettes, newspapers and of course, hair-cream. If you're lucky you might even see a bunch of bananas hanging from the ceiling. All you need to do is pluck one and pay the Indian shopkeeper 5 cents. In the 60s that is...

(Partial Lyrics: 'The Way We Were' Songwriters: Alan n Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch).

About film house: http://movingvisuals.wordpress.com/

The Way We Were: Barbra Streisand.

YouTube Video by S. Ver.

Image 1, 3 from: 'Memento Singapore', a documentary.
Image 2 from: Google Images
Image 4 and Original Article from: Andy Lim Collection.

Webber/Rice: 'Any Dream Will Do' Is A 1968 Song

Jason Donovan

UP TO 1,000 VIEWS

SONGS I LOVE: 

This song was featured in the recent interview Andy had with Brian Richmond on Feb. 2022]. It is two of his grandchildren's favourite tune. 

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2022/01/vintageradiosg-brian-richmond.html

The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber production that came to Singapore showcased his internationally acclaimed compositions, especially one from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. It is called Any Dream Will Do, composed together with Tim Rice. I saw the musical at the #Kallang Theatre when the *RUG performed here some years ago but didn't realise that the song was written in 1968.

It is a full two hour musical today but was originally a fifteen minute performance at Collete Court School in London in the late 60s. The song was first recorded on vinyl by Joe Cuddy (image 2) and it became a number one hit in Ireland in 1974. I haven't heard of Joe Cuddy before listening to this particular song.

Any Dream has been sung by Donny Osmond, Andy Gibb and others but associated with Jason Donovan after it was released as a single in 1991. The singer played Joseph in the West End stage production at London Palladium. This beautiful and haunting song was on the UK singles chart for only two weeks. It's strange that a song of this quality and stature lasted for such a short time.

It is also true that the version by Donovan is not listed under 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, edited by Robert Dimery. Do you like this song? Tell us. 

*Really Useful Group. 

** The two Donovans: 

Jason Donovan [image 1] is an Australian singer born in 1968, while Donovan Philip Leitch is a Scottish singer born in 1946 with 60s hits, Atlanta, Jennifer Juniper, Mellow Yellow, etc. 

Jason Donovan's version of the song.

YouTubeVideo from: Starman.

Thank You.

#The Kallang Theatre, with its near 1,800 seats, re-opened in 1986 and the Houston Ballet took to the stage in its inaugural performance of Swan Lake. The theatre hosted musicals like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , Chicago the Musical and Miss Saigon.

Original article: Andy Lim.

We're All Alone: Rita Coolidge YouTube by: fouchejose - For S. Wei @ Vintage Radio.SG

Singapore 60s Music Andy's Blog Is Number 2 From Thousands On Web

2nd BEST MUSIC BLOG OUT OF 15 

SELECTED FROM THOUSANDS ON THE NET.

Date = 2. 2. 22

Blog = #2 

CNY = 2nd Day

= 222222

2,800,000+ [2.8 million+  views now]

Discovered on 2.2.22, in a 28th January, 2022 Feedspot, an internet article, this music blog was ranked number two on a list of the top 15 music blogs in Singapore. 

Thanks to the staff of blog.feedspot.com

Quoting from the above source, "...the best Singapore music blogs from thousands of blogs on the web, ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority and freshness."

The Top 15 Singapore Music Blogs and Websites:

1.   Life In Arpeggio Blog.

2.   Singapore 60s Music. (This blog.)

3.   Aureus Academy Blog.

4.   Swee Lee Blog.

5.   D-Flat Studios Blog.

6.   Channel News Asia >> Music

7.   Chamber Music and Arts Singapore Blog.

8.   Esquire Singapore >> Music.

and 7 others. 

Please click connection below to read:

https://blog.feedspot.com/singapore_music_blogs/

Thank you all readers, followers, writers and friends for the support.

'Congratulations' by Cliff Richard

YouTube Video from: rich963.

Doris Day, Gordon McRae: Tea For Two 

Movie: Tea For Two [1950]

YouTube Video from Night Owl TV

Images: Google.

Source: blog.feedspot.com

Behind The Cameras: Rolling Good Times, Rick Astley, Jack Neo, Dick Lee, Brian Richmond, Tan Kheng Hua, Syahidah OthmanWith Andy Young

For easy access, the reader can click to any of the connections below and watch or read the TV shows, radio programs, and documentaries I have appeared in with the following artistes: 

DOCUMENTARIES AND SHOWS ON SINGAPORE TV WITH MEDIA CORPS

1 RICK ASTLEY,  Dick Lee and Silver Strings In 'Rolling Good Times'. TV Channel 5.

2 TAN  Kheng Hua Actress: Grease, Hair: 'Looking for Brylcreem' - Documentary. OCTO Channel.

3 Adrian Tan, Conductor: Singapore Wind Symphony playing, 'You're The Boy' Esplanade Theatre.

4 Jack Neo, Ailen Tan, Chua En Lai and Silver Strings in 'Not The 5 Show'. TV Channel 5.

5 Brian Richmond: 'Sunday With Brian, Vintage Showcase' - Interview. Radio 90.5.

6 Anita Kapoor, Lim Chen Sian: 'Treasure Hunt' Andy's Vinyl Collection - Documentary. CNA 106.

7 CHANG Soh Kiak Producer: 'Foodage' And 60s Music. Documentary. OCTO Channel. 

8 Syahidah Othman Producer: '50 Years Of Singapore Music' - John Leong - Documentary. CNA 106. WILD RICE PRODUCTION.

9 Marissa Lim, Film Crew of 'Play Nation' With Andy Young - Documentary. OCTO Channel.

Thanks to SILVER STRINGS with AUDIE NG [BAND LEADER], RICKIE CHNG, MICHAEL BANGAR, NICK STRAVENS, JOHN CHER accompanying band on two shows.

Connect. Click to read.

Rick Astley and Dick Lee In Rolling Good Times
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2015/04/rolling-good-times-again-with-silver.html


Adrian Tan, Conductor: Singapore Wind Symphony playing, You're The Boy
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2015/07/youre-boy-n-shanty-played-by-wind.html

Jack Neo, Ailen Tan, Chua En Lai and Silver Strings in Not The 5 Show
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2016/04/sneak-peak-andy-media-corp-caldecott.html



Brian Richmond: Sunday With Brian, Vintage Showcase
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2014/10/on-vintage-showcase-with-brian-richmond.html


Anita Kapoor, Lim Chen Sian: Treasure Hunt: Andy's Vinyl Collection
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2014/03/treasure-hunt-bit-of-history-in-our_10.html

      ANITA KAPOOR                    TAN KHENG HUA    SYAHIDAH OTHMAN

Film Crew of Play Nation With Andy Young
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2014/01/changing-recreational-landscrape-nation.html

Tan Kheng Hua Actress: Grease, Hair: Looking for Brylcreem
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2012/09/when-grease-was-king-photo-shoot-with.html

Chang Soh Kiak Producer: Foodage And The Queens Cinema @ Geylang
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2011/08/bottled-drinks-cool-heat-generated-by.html

      RICK ASTLEY                             JACK NEO              DICK LEE 

Syahidah Othman CNA: 50 Years Of Singapore Music
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2015/03/channel-news-asia-50-years-of-singapore.html

Images: A Private Collection, Media Corps, Google.

Syahidah Othman (TV Producer)

Ms Dawn Tan: Meeting CNA's Nightly News Anchor

                                  Dawn Karen Tan Senior Producer/Presenter @ Mediacorp.

 UP TO 20,000 VIEWS. 

40 CHATS, COMMENTS 

"The best news anchor I've watched and listened to all these 50 years since Tan See Lai - Andy Young."

It was a chance meeting today encountering the sweetest lady from Singapore's top news channel. So it was a Hullo and, 'My wife and I watch you nightly on Channel 106 CNA's 10 pm news.'

Statuesque, Ms. Tan was in a resplendent red dress, one that suited her pleasant, strong but modest personality. She was looking lost and using her mobile phone but I couldn't help her to find her way since I was not familiar with Star Vista because the last time I visited the place it was to watch *Tony Bennett in 2013, about four years ago. 

I met her outside the food court and we managed a Selfie together which she so willingly obliged. Yes, I was focusing at the control button of the iPhone rather than at the camera lens [image -right].

But she looks great don't you think?

Thank you, Ms. Tan. 

The comment I made above on her Facebook on 2nd March 2017. This image is beautiful. The first thought that comes to mind, "Finally, the long-awaited side view of the Mona Lisa." And that's the truth.

'Mona Lisa' by Nat Cole. YouTube Video

by The Unforgettables Tv.

Latest news from Dawn Tan:

"The main character of the documentary showed great courage agreeing to go on this journey to search for the truth with me about the collection of Chinese bronzes his father left to him. It remains my hope that in agreeing to tell the world, it has lightened his burden a little. I think we can all identify, even in a small way, with having a dream come true." 

Bronze - A Forgotten Treasure. 

According to Dawn, it's her first documentary as host, etc. 
Congratulations.

From her Facebook post during her trip to the US covering the Trump/Biden Election 2020 November. Thanks Dawn. 

Dawn Karen Tan CNA on duty in the US in November 2020 after the Trump/Biden Election.

Images from Dawn Tan Facebook and GOOGLE.

"Barringtonia asiatica, also known as fish poison tree, putat or sea poison tree, is a species of Barringtonia native to mangrove habitats from islands of the Indian Ocean in the west to tropical Asia and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Beautiful but deadly. The whole tree - flowers, leaves, bark - are poisonous."

April 2025

From Dawn Tan's FB page:

Andy Young

Hello Dawn! That's a distance! Wow! BTW when are you ever going on air again? I mean, on CNA?

Author

Dawn Karen Tan

Andy Young Hello! You may see or hear me now and again on CNA but I do more work behind the scenes now! 😁

Andy Young

Dawn Karen Tan yes, that's the way it goes. When you're in charge, they put you behind the scene. Hope to see you on screen again soon. Stay safe.

Andy 60s Music Blog Helps Students & Communities

Pix is for illustration only.

College students

I've been helping college students with their term papers since 2009 when younger readers write to me asking for help about Singapore music in the 60's. Two professors had also contacted me regarding documented materials and information.

I will usually meet them at a fast food outlet and chat with them for about two hours. The students are mostly tertiary ones from the universities and polytechnics. Most of the term papers they are writing pertain to the history of local popular culture in Singapore. 

Media

Some producers and film makers from radio, TV, production houses and local/foreign newspapers, write to me requesting for permission to document and film my  small record collection of local music and my hands-on experience as a 1960's band boy (it was a short stint). 

The band and I had appeared twice on Channel 5 prime time slots during, Rolling Good Times (2015) and Not The 5 Show (2016), both of which drew quite large home audiences.  Brian Richmond interviewed me for five slots on his Sunday With Brian radio show.  

In 2016, I had been invited by two producers to appear in another television series about Singapore in the past but had since passed it on to others because of family commitments.

The Singapore You Tube sensation, Shirley Nair's, You're The Boy, which drew three quarters of a million viewers (750,000+), acquired some content and members of the band from this blog. Laurence Lim, a singer with The Trebles group from the 60's appeared as a 'grandfather' on the video.

Arts Organisations

Arts groups and related organisations had also commented on the blog and invited me to talk at workshops and in staging street gigs and in-door concerts, but I left this specialty to the event experts that are around after briefing them on the types of music and performances required for the events.  In related activities the band had performed at the Esplanade, the RELC International Hotel at Orchard and other venues.

Blog Statistics

The statistics available regarding this blog has not been enhanced in any way, not with purchased statistics from any source, nor with Google+. X [former Twitter], is a natural exposure where people interested in Singapore 60's music have written in. 

Why?

This posting is not a show of feat but to remind us Singaporeans, that even without much fanfare we should try to help our country men and women in some way, even if it is an insignificant one.

My reward? A young writer I met at an interview once told me, "Mr Lim, every time we look for information regarding local music of the past, we are directed back to your blog!" Can I ask for more?

You can find most of the above stories on this blog if you browse through the postings. Or click Labels below.

Yeah, for local 60's music.

To connect:
Use Comment below, leave your email address; reply will be confidential.

********************

UP TO 1,700 VIEWS

Letters from students and others:

Hi Andy,

(1) I am M and I am a student from... Singapore. I am currently doing research on the 1970's long hair ban in Singapore and I am looking to speak to individuals whom have personal experience with the regulation. I am particularly interested in individuals whom were involved in the music scene too... M.

(2) I would love to meet and interview you to learn more and recover the music scene in Singapore during the 1960's. I understand that album sleeves are a niche topic, nevertheless, the historical context you are familiar with is very helpful to me to remap how the production of local music and the socio-cultural atmosphere of that time... B.

(3) Hi all, I am in search of possible audio interview of Yardbirds with late legendary Tan Swee Leong at the MacDonald House just prior to their Jan. 18, 1967 concert at the National Theatre, many photos have been found on line from various sources... Anon.

(4) Happening every... we look to celebrate 60's music with a twist. With a live DJ on the decks, we mix 60's music with lounge beats as we look to create a cozy atmosphere for dining. Is there any way that I can contact you in private, and if possible invite you down for a session, so we can gather feedback? I believe this is an untapped field in Singapore, and we will be honored to get your opinion on this... X.

(5) I'm Ms S. from S. Publishing, an educational publisher in Singapore.  We would like to use a hi-res image of Silver Strings playing at the National Theatre in our music textbook... 

(6) Can you contact me? I'm doing research on TV history series for Singapore which covers pop culture. Would like to tell you more about it privately. Not sure whether you'll have access to my email when I post this. But I'll check back for your response. And see how we can touch base - CL. 

(7) In any case, it would be a pleasure to have a chat with you! I am free any weekday and the timings you mentioned are fine. Which day would be most convenient for you? C.

(8) Hope you had a fine weekend. My name is R., and I am writing from SG-based production outfit Peddling Pictures. We are researching for an upcoming documentary programme for CNA. Would you be available for a research call, about Daisy Devan? At your best convenience. Thank you so much and I hope to hear from you soon. R.

Just a few of many letters to this blog for Singapore 60's music information assistance, etc.