Ivor Lesslar: A Tall Dark Handsome SG Guitar Hero

Ivor with his iconic hat playing at the Esplanade.

This video is the work of ROBERTO LIM, passionate in his ways to film 

many of the Singapore music scenes you see on YouTube. 

Like Ivor, Roberto is another unsung hero. Thank you sir.

(1) Ivor  Lesslar is second from left,

and left in the 3rd picture.

IVOR LESSLAR by Mike Bangar (unedited.)

🎸🎹🥁🎷🎺

Hi Blog Readers !

Time is slipping away so fast. Singapore's Golden Era Of Pop Music (post WW2 up till now) is also slowly but surely fading into our musical history. And now made worse by Corvid-19. 

Many many years have gone by and taken along with them quite a few of our Music Legends.  Keyboardists, Percussionists, Horn Players, Bassists, Guitarists, etc.

Time for an Article Special on Musician Extraordinaire  Ivor Lesslar: multi - instrumentalist, & a multi - talented gentleman,  vocalist, band mate of many years & long time friend of ours.

An Unsung Hero From That Golden Era.

A self taught music man, he started his early years paying his dues and was lead guitarist for Singapore’s 60s recording band ‘Cells Unlimited’.

After the group broke up, he moved on to Bangkok, Thailand, making music there for quite a few years. While he was there he played with bands and musicians, doing club work & events.

Upon Ivor's  return to  Singapore, after spending some years gigging around Thailand  (previously known as Siam), he brought along with him some  years of experience playing music of other genres  He comfortably just grooved his way into our nightclub music scene. 

Home here, he spent a few years in the Country & Western music scene working, in clubs like Boots & Saddle at Sembawang, Ginivys & Peyton Place  along Orchard Road. The next number of  years, he worked at various clubs along the Orchard Road stretch,  performing various genres of music. During this  period he became a family man with a wife and two sons.

Then by the mid 80's, our music scene took a change when clubs started hiring foreign bands, ie mostly Filipino acts. After a few more years gigging in pubs & clubs with  duos, trios & quartets, Ivor got into the budding function circuit.

A free-lance musician by now, he played with any band and  any musical set up when his services was called upon. Regular Electric Bands, String Duos, Trios, quartets as well as Strolling Bands: stationary at a fixed point or going round from table to table. With so many decades of music making behind him, he just fitted into any music line-up with ease, most times with hardly any rehearsal. Besides doing a great job on guitar, he plays keyboards and drums.

Up till the present time and by now a grandad, he still performs free lance gigs.

For a long time, Ivor does regular gigs with the band with multiple names: Tropical Cats / Los Tropi-Gatos, Transit, Mixed Combination, New Notes, Limited Edition.😉

In the band line up : hornsman Jerry Murad, drummer Ramon Francis, bassist Jeffery Pinto (bassist Stephen De Souza - substitute bassist) and rhythmist Michael Bangar. All band members do frontline vocals and vocal harmony. 

Ivor Lesslar: An Excellent Man Of His Craft. From a musical era, neglected and fogotten by today's mainstream.

Salutè ! Our Buddy In Music.

He who stands tallest; that's Ivor Lesslar at his youngest with pop band 'Cells Unlimited' with their hit vinyl.

First picture below is Ivor with his hat. 2nd pix - extreme left; 3rd pix: third left.

(The above posting is by Michael Bangar. I must thank him again for so willingly imparting his historical expertise about Singapore's music industry. Ivor Lesslar is a good friend and has appeared many times with their different groups that includes Michael. 

I have often seen Ivor play at the Catholic Church on Siglap Hill and if you close your eyes, you'd probably think you are listening to Hank Marvin live with a church filled Shadows hits. It's my own opinion, but like Michael explained, he's definitely one of the best lead guitarists in town.

He is easily recognised. Tall, dark and handsome; he beats them all in height and a superb handling of his solid guitar.

Many thanks to Ivor for agreeing to this post. He's a quiet man and never looks for publicity. He just plays his best and it took some persuasion to print this article.

We went out together once; Ivor doesn't talk much. He lets his fingers do the talking; his guitar replies.)

If you've heard Ivor play, come on, give him a pat on the back and reply!

More about Ivor:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2022/05/singapore-musician-ivor-lesslar.html

Article and Images (specially formatted) have been copyrighted by Mchael Bangar.

John Cher's Tribute To Musician Donald Thaver

                
Stories of Singapore's Musicians Yesterday and Today:

Memories Of The Last Visit And Last Farewell.

Friday, 30th September 2016:

Ivor Lesslar and I paid a visit to Donald Thaver's home. It was a rainy day when we arrived, Donald was seated on his sofa fronting the main door.  He was expecting us. He had not been well at all. He greeted me with a smile and I moved forward to shake his hand. 

We chatted a while after which Anita Thaver, Donald's daughter,  showed me around her beautiful home.  When I returned to take my seat again, our conversation got a bit more serious as we discussed his health issues and what was happening to him.

           Donald, Ivor and John (pix with Thaver family permission)

Since he was unwell we decided not to overstay the welcome.  We bade him goodbye and said that we will see each other again.  He looked at me straight in the eyes as we shook hands, smiled and said he did not think so.

Wednesday, 5th October 2016:

Following the visit I decided, very urgently, to do a short story about Donald as it was obvious time was against us! To do it, I needed both Ivor's and blogger Andy's help.  After meeting them for coffee we agreed as to the content of the article.

Friday, 7th October 2016:

The article was published and within 6 hours, from publication time at 3.15 pm to 9.00 pm, the story shot from zero position on, Favourites Top 10 Posts of the Week to first position on the blog.  Undoubtedly a testimony to Donald Thaver's popularity!  I was so glad that he got to read the published article.

Monday, 17th October, 2016:

Exactly ten days later Donald Thaver left for his Peace in the Valley.  The news of Donald Thaver's passing spread like wildfire within the small Singapore music circle. Family and friends visited. Many friends, relatives, media and music personalities paid their last respect. Donald knew full well who was present.

Donald had expressly told his family that it was to be a party, a celebration complete with music and food. And his wish was carried out.  There were lots and lots of music and merry making!  

Near the closing of the final night, Anita Thaver thanked everyone for their prayers and support throughout the difficult period for her family.  She then told everyone that it was Donald's wish to have his buddy Ivor Lesslar play one of his favourite Shadows numbers, Theme From Deer Hunter, Cavatina, during the party.  Ivor played the piece beautifully.  

Thursday, 20th October, 2016

The Requiem Mass was conducted at the Catholic Church of The Divine Mercy, Pasir Ris, on  Thursday at 12 pm.  During Mass, the priest among other things, said that Donald was prepared all along and was more than ready.  He told the congregation that it took courage for a man to say that he was ready to die.  Clearly whatever his other shortcomings may be, "Donald Thaver held on to his faith in God. He strongly believed that Life is changed, not ended."

Donald's Fender Stratocaster:

This is Don's prized possession, his Fender Stratocaster.  This guitar is the tool of his trade. He expressed himself with it.  He could show his talent and his craft to everyone with it.  He shared his happiest days and his deepest joys with it.  He shared his regrets and his pain with it.  

Indeed the guitar was a part of his very existence!  The two put together was magic.  They have brought comfort,  happiness and tears to countless people who enjoyed their brand of music, people whom they will never get to know personally but nonetheless have met in spirit  through their music.

And now the leader of the band has left.  While his guitar gently weeps!

And Don, I beg to differ from what you said at our last goodbye,  we will meet again!

Farewell brother Donald Thaver!

Images: A Personal Collection.
Article by John Cher. Copyrights Reserved.

Guitarist Donald Thaver Of 'The Moonglows'

Donald Thaver from The Moonglows

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Mr Donald Thaver has passed away this on 17th of October, 2016, according to John Cher.  May Mr Thaver Rest In Peace.

The golden era of Singapore's music history has to be the 60's.  It was a vibrant and exciting scene even though in the same period, Singapore was struggling to survive economically and as a nation.

Many bands were conceived and born in the 60's.  Some should have been aborted in the first place.  But there were some good notable ones, such as The Quests, The Thunderbirds, The Silver Strings, The Checkmates, The Dukes, The Hi-Lites (later to become The Mandarins) and others.  

Among these well accepted and good bands was *Sonny Bala and The Moonglows (Donald Thaver centre back).  Sonny, was respected for his rendition of numbers by The Platters as well as other pop genres. The band were recording artistes as well and did a number of vinyl, with reasonable success under the Philips Records international label (Universal Music today). 

One of the guitarists for the band was a young, tall, slim gentleman by the name of Donald Thaver.  He played both the lead, the rhythm guitar and would sing when the need arose.

After The Moonglows, Donald formed his own band.  It was an interesting, attention grabbing name, 4 Plus 1. Donald's forte was Country Music as well as Standards.  

Such music at that time were well liked and indeed sought after by the expatriate communities, hungry for such music, probably to remind them of home.  A good place to showcase such music would naturally be the Orchard Road area where most of the expatriates lived.  Shaw House was one venue where the band played at. They did their tour of the Japanese Clubs circuit as well.   

After  4 plus 1,  Donald joined a country outfit known as The Outlaws. Very aptly named as they were performing in a club known as the Boots n Saddle Club, located at Sembawang Road, opposite the present Sembawang Shopping Centre.  Charlie Anchant was on the vocals, Ricky Tan (Bass), Syed Murati (Drums), Ivor Lesslar (Lead) and Donald Thaver (2nd guitar).

Donald Thaver flanked by Jerry Murad (left) 

and Gina Vadham. Ivor Lesslar with hat.

Towards the later years, Donald played with various bands.  Two outstanding ones were The Neu Notes as well as Transit. In 2015, Transit did four concerts at both The Recital Studio and the outdoor theatre of The Esplanade.  

When asked why the group was called Transit, band member Jerry Murad explained, with much laughter from the audience, that the band was of a certain age and were certainly in transit to somewhere else.

*Read about Sonny Bala here: 

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2010/11/sonny-bala-well-respected-musician.html

Article written by John Cher. All rights reserved.

Images: Ivor Lesslar.
You Tube Video: cjyeo.

                                       Transit @ the Esplanade                                                   

NB
John and I had been thinking of writing shorter articles about our band boys and girls who are still active in today's music scene. This article is a start.  He made the arrangement to meet Ivor Lesslar (lead guitar with Cells Unlimited) and a close friend of Donald Thaver.  Just some coffee and a friendly chat, John got this latest story.  Again thanks to both for their willingness to help with information on this blog.

                                   Ivor Lesslar, John Cher, Andy 

                            Donald Thaver sings Things @ Esplanade.

Performance by Transit @ The Esplanade. 60's Band Members from: Adapters, Cells Unlimited, Dukes, Moonglows, Wagon Wheels.

SONNY BALA - A Well Respected Singapore 60s Pop Musician

Singer-guitarist Sonny Bala was only 53 when he passed on, leaving behind a wife and son. He was a respected figure on the local entertainment scene and his death was a shock to many relatives and friends.

Sonny himself was the 6th of eleven children and the only professional musician in his family. People in the industry who knew him remarked that young musicians cannot play the way he did, "using that nice, simple Hawaiian style, considering he was nearly blind." Others thought that his guitar playing was brilliant and his voice a powerhouse.

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One of his good friends, who played with him in jam sessions at the former Jockey Pub, said that he was an "exceptional musician." The Pub was practically his second home because he had played there for a long time.

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His best years were in the 60s when he composed and recorded his own songs with The Moonglows and accompanied singers like Wilson David, Veronica Young and Tom Reyes. He had numerous appearances on television and performed abroad.

Your Cheating Heart: Sonny Bala and The Moonglows.  Video by 张朝栋

#Sonny Bala and The Moonglows (image - seated), formed in 1967, were among the top Singapore 60s groups and had toured Sabah and Sarawak. Between 1968 and 1970 Bala had entertained American troops in the southern part of war-torn Vietnam.

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Another good friend, a kampong kaki (village mate) from Siglap and former Moonglows member, knew him for 30 years. Tony Castillo (musician and once a child star in Malay movie, 'Anak Ku Sazali') had a group called Village Jazz and Bala played rhythm guitar for them.

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This group played mainly jazz and evergreens for nine months at the Lotus Bar in Changi Meridien Hotel. Tony said that Bala was versatile, quick and knew his music well. He was a quiet man, kept to himself a lot and never rushed into things. Sonny Bala played his last gig with another close friend, Cedric Cork, at the Boulevard Hotel.

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#The Moonglows* comprised: *Sonny Bala (vocals, lead guitar), *Donald Thaver (rhythm guitar), Roslan Ismail (organ), *Teddy Song (bass), Edward Jansen (rhythm guitar), Granville De Silva (bass), *Sanny Ismail - aka Mohd Bin Ismail - (drums).