Andy 60s Music Wishes You A Happy Lunar Horse Year 2026

HAVE A HORSPICIOUS, HEALTHY, SAFE & ENJOYABLE TIME

An AI view of MERLION meeting HORSE as 2026 suggests, with a group of musicians ushering in the year.

Scroll to the end to see what's in the CNY store for you.

 

Chinese New Medley by Angela July.

YouTube Video by Angela July.

The Chinese character HORSE 馬 [ma] looks like a horse head with a galloping body and tail. Most times, especially during CNY, red signifies good luck. The horse ranks 7th among the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac Cycle. 

HERE ARE SOME HORSE TAILS, ER, TALES…

 From creator FREDA HANUM, Malaysia, accomplished pianist and former girl group member/recording artistes, The TEEPEES. A beautiful GIF of galloping horses marching into Lunar New Year 2026. Thanks Freda.

In 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse will bring a year filled with energy, vitality and independence. It will begin on 17th February 2026 and will end on 3rd March 2026.  Apparently, there will be intense energy, emotional surges, and rapid shifts, encouraging individuals to take bold actions and embrace personal freedom. 

The Fire element amplifies the Horse's energetic traits, making it a time for leadership, risk-taking, and following one's instincts. But it may also lead to excessive and emotional overwhelms if not balanced with rest and patience.

It would be a year of liberation, passion, and personal transformation, urging individuals to act with intention and trust their inner fire. [As depicted by AI.]

Roy Rogers with 'A Four-Legged Friend', Trigger from movie: 'Son of Paleface'. A YouTube Video by Cowboyandthesenorita.

Cowboy Roy Rogers sings, ‘A FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND’ with his horse prancing amidst the crowd. As a child reading my favourite comic book hero, he has this wonder horse called, Trigger. The lyrics of the song appear below.

They are literally 'Horse Shoes'. 

This video above was a Good Morning gift from JIMMY PRESLEE, Singapore's answer to the late King Elvis. Thanks Jimmy.

QUICK DRAW MCGRAW

The latest CNY 2026 card from MICHAEL BANGAR and FAMILY. His own creation of a hand-made card that he sends every year. The miniature guitar is from LAWRENCE LIM and the fluffy doll-head from ALFRED NG. Thanks guys!

A Four-Legged Friend

Composed by Jack Brooks

Sung by Roy Rogers [1952]

Chorus:

A four-legged friend, a four-legged friend

He'll never let you down

He's honest and faithful right up to the end

That wonderful one-two-three-four-legged friend

[1] A woman is like cactus and cactus can hurt

'Cause she's just a tight-waisted winky-eyed flirt

She'll soon have your land and your pride and your gold

And bury you deep long before you grow old

[2] A two-legged hombre is worthless as sand

He'll smile like a saint with a gun in his hand

He'll promise to stick by your side like a pal

But he'll also promise the same to your gal

[3] Who carries your burden, who carries your load

On tumbleweed land or a long dusty road

Who asks you no questions, who tells you no lies

That four-legged friend with the two honest eyes

That wonderful one-two-three-four-legged friend.

CNY IS FAMILY ORIENTED

From TIKTOK VIDEO.

The above video was contributed by Singaporean WINSTON KOH. But there is no indication as to the originator of this video. Please write in to blogger so that the person can be identified and the name published. Thanks.

And the last words come from this very famous TALKING HORSE, who advised all blog readers with sound wisdom. MR ED, who came from the TV 60’s sitcom, had since left us. Actor ALAN YOUNG portrayed his owner. 

Thanks to CHEW HEE HONG for letting us have a glimpse on video the uniquely new style of fireworks display from CHINA.

THANKING FOLKS BELOW FOR SENDING CHINESE NEW YEAR GREETINGS AND FOR KEEPING IN TOUCH THROUGH THE YEARS:

MIKE BANGAR & FAMILY

FREDA HANUM 

CLARENCE PERERA [AUS]

HENRI GANN [US]

RONALD HO

VICTOR LAM

EDDY ENG

FARRAH ENG

JIMMY PRESLEE 

JUDY LEE 

CHARLIE YAP

IRENE YAP

JAMES KWOK

RICHARD THAM

FABIAN FOO

STEVE HO

VINCENT TAN

ANNA LAW

RICHARD RAJOO

CHEW HEE HONG

OLIVER BALASINGHAM

CEDRIC COLLARS [AUS]

CEDRIC CORK

JERRY FERNANDEZ 

DANNY KOH

RICKY WONG

MERLIN LIM

IVOR LESSLAR

YANG WAH KIANG

WILFRED LIM

ALFRED NG 

JOVIEN NEO

SAMMIN ANG

ESTHER ANG

JOHN LIM

TAN S. LENG

JERRY SARAM

SEE C.S.

PATRICK TENG

TAN SOO KHOON

BRIAN RICHMOND

SU RICHMOND

TONY GOH

VERNON CORNELIUS

MARK QUEK

MOHD. JAILANI

PAUL IBRAHM

BORHANUDIN [HANS SOLO]

TRACY NG

VICTOR LAM

GEORGE CHEW

LAWRENCE LIM

JAN CHEONG

CHEN JEN TOCK

DAVID WONG

ALVIN TAN [MP]

JIMMY YAP

XUAN YEN

DANNY BOY

JOHN CHER

BETSY CHER

TREVOR NERVA

JIMMY CHNG

DAISY KOH

WINSTON KOH

JANE D. [CAN.]

LARRY LAI

THE NAMES ADD ON AS THE LUNAR DAYS GO BY.

BUT NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER.

AND IF I'VE MISSED YOURS, I APOLOGISE🙏

18 YEARS IS A LONG TIME…

CHECK OUT SONGS ABOUT HORSES
CLICK BELOW:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-lunar-year-of-horse-gallopin-to.html

Raya 2025: SG 60 Anniversary: Celebrate Together.

WISHES,

SELAMAT HARI RAYA 

AIDIL FITRI 2025

Lagu2 Ya Alif Ewa Ewa Hari Raya

YouTube Video by: mszane14.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM5X5DU5aHQ

A special Hari Raya greeting from The Teepees.

[Thanks ladies, especially Freda Hanum 

who did this beautiful art piece:]

From left: Anna, Rose, Freda, Rumini.

Check them out from this connection:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2019/10/singapore-60s-music-girl-group-teepees.html

👇or click LABELS below. 

"A Brief Encounter With The Late SG PM Lee Kuan Yew!" Says Freda Hanum. Have you?

Our former Singapore Prime Minister, 

Lee Kuan Yew [LKY]

who passed away on 23 March, 2015.

Meeting Former PM Lee Kuan Yew In Person:

LKY was my mum's most favourite person; she would attend all his rallies and his talks... I was with her all along since 12 years of age. I was so excited when I had a brief encounter in a taxi and LKY was in his car driven by the chauffer, stopped by the traffic light next to our taxi.

He looked at me and gave me a wave with the most kindly smile, I shouted to my mum saying, "It's LKY there next to us!" 😃 

I never forget this brief encounter with the great man of Singapore 🙏.

Freda Hanum [The Teepees, Girl Group]:

Freda Hanum:

Musician, Singer and Author.

Reply From Andy:

Freda Hanum hi! 

That's an exceptionally touching story. Thanks for sharing such an important moment in your life. At Pulau Tekong Island, I couldn't even get near him but his aura and charisma attracted the crowd as they surged towards him that day.

If you had a brief encounter with the late LKY, do write in to tell us.

Song Book From The Past: Personal n Precious: Daisy Koh n Doris Chua

Ms. Doris Chua's Song Book From The 60's 

My schoolmate and good friend, Doris Chua finally sent me photos of her precious song book. This brought back a ton of beautiful memories from the 60s. Quote from Doris herself, “These few days I have been going back to the music from the late 60s and early 70s …and going through my old song book…really made me feel young again.”

The pages may have yellowed and the photos stained but the memories remain for many of us who were teenagers in the 60s and still young at heart today.

Pop star pictures from the newspapers have been 

painstakingly cut out and pasted on the song book.

It was fashionable then to keep a song book. Usually it would be a hard cover exercise book bought from the neighbourhood shop. We would wrap the hard cover with white mahjong paper and embellish it with colourful pictures of our pop idols. With the girls it was either the most heart-throbbing pictures of Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, The Beatles, Connie Francis…

I remember in secondary school, there were two camps – Elvis fans vs Cliff fans. We argued over the most popular singer and defended any criticism of our idol but actually both singers were highly rated, adored and idolized. We went crazy over their hit songs. I even had my Maths textbook wrapped up with pictures of both Elvis and Cliff – an inspiration when studying became too tedious.

Singing heroes wrapped in plastic sheets that have taken the toll of time. 

But it was fun, great fun to be able to keep them till today, 60 years later.

Keeping a song book was a popular pastime then. Well you can’t sing along if you don’t know the lyrics. Thanks to the request programs on Rediffusion and RTS [Radio & TV Singapore… now Mediacorp or meWatch] the latest hits were played everyday, sometimes more than once a day. 

Teens like me and Doris would always have our scrapbooks on standby, ready to scribble down the lyrics of the latest hits by Elvis, Cliff, Rick Nelson or Connie Francis. We would verify the lyrics with our friends if we missed out a few words here and there. Once the lyrics had been edited, we would painstakingly copy them into our songbooks in our most beautiful handwriting and decorate the pages with pictures of the pop stars. You could forget to bring your textbook to school but you never forget to carry your songbook with you.

A singer that's never missed,

Elvis Presley was the top star those years.

It was always a joy then to get together, sing the latest hits or sing by yourself if you are not allowed to go out. The songbook was a good reference and a source of entertainment and comfort for many a teenager then and a healthy one too. Wish I had kept mine. Hats off to Doris for keeping her precious songbook for 61 years.

This was how we, teenagers survived without the cellphone (you become a prisoner because of this) or social media then.

No matter the time, the lyrics are lovingly penned on the song book with

much care and concern, without mistakes. But mistakes do happen...

Thanks to Ms Doris Chua who supplied the images from her song book and

Mrs. Daisy Koh, who wrote this article.

Article and Images have been copyrighted.

The Cliff Fans vs. Elvis Fans Rivalry.

Love Letters: Elvis Presley

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [Official Video]

YouTube Video from Elvis Presley.

Connect with another Song Book article below:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2020/11/yesterday-once-more-hand-written-song.html

Summertime Blues, A Hard Day's Night In Hiroshima Japan With Freda Hanum On Labour Day

A 2018 blog post about Labour Day/May Day led to a comment by Freda Hanum on 2.5.2019, as she reminisces about her time in Japan playing and singing with her band.

Thanks Freda. Your stories are definitely entertaining! Do read on... 

One of the songs played by Freda Hanum 

when she was based in Hiroshima.

Wow, Andy,

I cannot believe my ears hearing that song 'Summertime Blues' (Eddie Cochran), I thought nobody even notices that song. My band had been playing and I sang that song almost every other night when we were in Hiroshima for the 6 months contract in Japan.

Our Japanese friends like it. I did not hear of it again any more or anywhere or of any band playing the song in Singapore or Malaysia since 1985 when I came back (cannot remember exactly which year). It had been totally out of my mind since then until I heard it from your blog today. All songs bring a specific memory of when, where and the happenings surrounding it, who you were with, or a special occasion. 

A song memory for Ms Hanum who 

writes the lyrics in her special book.

'A Hard Day's Night' obviously an international Beatles hit, was so very popular among all age group, and that brought my memories back to my secondary school days at Katong; I used to write down all their songs lyrics in my songbook.

The song 'Car Wash' (Rose Royce) brings back my memories with the Falcons years back in the 80s I think, a very popular Malaysian band. I was supposed to replace their singer who had to go back to the States, me practising the 'Car Wash' refrain almost every day just to get that essence; it was not easy but their vocalist sang that number superbly. As I am more of a lounge singer I did not join the band.

What memories you brought back...

'Car Wash': Rose Royce

YouTube Video from: bartsch90

Thanks for the oldies and they do click with me. I want to thank you, Andy, for bringing back the good old times in your blog. Cheers to you.

Wouldn't know much about songs to protest about, as long as they're good to hear or sing... just go along happily.

Author: Ms. Freda Hanum, who contributed many articles for this blog.

Freda at work at nightspots and venues during the 70s 

and beyond. An accomplished pianist, she spends her

time today making beautiful, creative posters for her friends.

Read the original post that resulted in this memory:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/05/may-day-or-labour-day-pop-song-lyrics.html

A nightclub in Hiroshima, Japan with a guitar group.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298561-Activities-c20-Hiroshima_Hiroshima_Prefecture_Chugoku.html

Images from Google.

Hari Raya 2023 Singapore 60's Malay Pop Musicians: My Special Friends.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI 2023

TO ALL READERS, FRIENDS & WRITERS!

UP TO 300 VIEWS

Here are some very good musician friends from the 60's and 70's who made a name for themselves, even up to the 80's and 90's in Singapore.

I am highlighting a few whom I know personally and still keeping in touch with. Thanks guys for accompanying me and entertaining us these so many years. Have a jolly Hari Raya Puasa.

Click connections to read about each musician.

You can find these friends all over this blog. Just key in their names under SEARCH on the right hand column.

Wishing also my other Muslim readers, friends and contributing writers near and far, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri Tahun 2023.

Danny Boy, actually Mohd. Khan from 

'The Silver Strings' who later stormed 'The Thunderbirds' 

with his quick lightning sticks on the drum-set.

Connect:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2009/07/danny-boy-percussionist-silver-strings.html

Mohd. Jalani, the piano connoisseur who amazes with his

keyboard capers. He entertained at top hotels in Singapore.

Jovial but patient, Jalani is indeed a good friend.

Connect:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2009/07/keyboardist-who-goes-overboard-nani.html

We were friends since youth, Paul Ibrahm was 

singing and playing with me and The Velvetones but 

later performed with many top bands in Singapore.

Connect:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/search?q=paul+ibrahm

Freda Hanum, Rose Kassim, Rumini Ra’oef and Anna Law

are The Teepees and conquered all nightclub territories

in Singapore and internationally. One of the best girl bands ever.

This poster has been specially created by

Freda Hanum, keyboardist for Teepees.

Thanks Freda.

Connect:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/search?q=teepees

A good friend indeed, the late Abdulah Yusof Nawawi or Bobo, 

was not only a great guitarist but was an entertainer on stage, 

jumping and prancing with his fabulous antics.

Connect:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2009/07/bobo-lead-and-rhythm-heavy-metal-or.html

Comments are always welcome.

Siti Nurhaliza - 'Nazam Lebaran' 

(Official Music Video) SuriaRecordsSRC

From: YouTube.

Yesterday Once More = Hand-Written Song Books

UP TO 1,000 VIEWS, 55 CHATS, COMMENTS

Song books were a big deal during the golden years of popular music. These books were actually lyrics of popular songs written personally in script. Above is a few shared by Freda Hanum keyboardist from The TEEPEES, who uses them professionally.

Because of the intensity and feel of the articles these friends have written about the subject, I  have decided to post them verbatim. 

Song books with pop lyrics, written personally in one's own handwriting, was a big deal during the 50's, 60's and 70's, so I have highlighted three of such song books, written by three ladies, Daisy, Irene and Freda. But they did it for different reasons.

Thank you all so much.

When I was young I'd listen to the radio, Waiting for my favourite song...

Daisy Koh

The Hobbyist

Songbooks were treasured items. Those were the days when we had Rediffusion on all day. I would be listening to the request programme and practising 10-year series Mathematics - today it’s called multitasking.  I also had my jotter book ready... I would scribble down the lyrics once a new song was aired. We would compare notes in school and confirm the lyrics the next time the song was aired.

 I had a thick hard cover notebook of all the popular songs. The cover was wrapped in white mahjong paper and decorated with beautiful postcards of Elvis in front and Cliff on the back. We made our own plastic covers. The lyrics were written in our best handwriting. We were very proud of our song books then. 😁Writing down the lyrics also increased your speed in writing and comprehension skills... We would also try to figure out the missing blanks.

A personal book of lyrics for reference, just in case requests were made during her stints in hotel lobby lounges in Singapore where Irene Yap appeared sometimes. Her mainstay strongholds were in nightclubs. No books.

Irene Yap

The Singer

This book was handwritten way back in my secondary school years and on to my singing days! Back than we sang songs by heart but sometimes we had to oblige special requests on the spot so I always had this with me! 

One night after work I left my bag on the floor and went to bed to find next morning the air-conditioner directly above leaking into my open bag. They were written with ink dipped pen so the smudges on most pages. Till today it remains my most treasured book!

Freda Hanum

The Keyboardist/Singer

Writing song books days really bring back great memories, I am very organised with my song books (really have so many). I have every category of song, evergreen standards in one, pop hits and rock in another, some in other languages like Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and Malay in another. My reason; whenever I get a request it's easy for me to look it up even if I had not played the song for some time, and most of them have chords written at top of the wordings. I have no problem playing them. I make it very convenient; it's really my hobby, never tired of writing down lyrics in my collection, and I keep and treasure all my old books, bought and self written. Just sharing a few of my books here, Andy.

It was songs of love, that I would sing to then, And I'd memorise each word... Some can even make me cry...

'Yesterday Once More' by the Carpenters. Video by amyanne16 on YouTube.

This article is a combination of 3 comments by

Daisy Koh; Irene Yap and Freda Hanum.

Images 1 and 2 from Freda and Irene.

Comments were inspired by the post below. Click to connect.

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2011/11/copying-pop-lyrics-with-pen-and-paper.html

Andy's 60's Music: Sunny Low & Dancers Friendly Chats

Chatting about Sunny Low and Dancers

There was friendly chatter about Sunny Low which I think should be posted. Below are some of them who know Sunny on stage during their performances. 
Hopefully readers get a better knowledge of the kind of camaraderie music friends had in the 60's.

Winston Koh who sings and sounds like Cliff Richard:

During 60's whenever I appeared on Singapore TV shows it was an honour to have the backing of the Sunny Low Dancers most of the time. Besides, Sunny had another male dancing partner by the name of Victor Koh. 

Great to know the Poh San Studio is still very active. Well done Mr Sunny Low.

Andy Young 
Thank you Winston. You are blessed to be able to sing on TV and be backed by Sunny's dancers. It's a privilege indeed. Cheers.

Sunny Low is on TV again, a documentary about him and his family of dancers. I'm so glad. Another one of our many 60's music heroes but as a dancer. 

Below are more fond memorable comments about Sunny.

Peter Cheong 
Sunny n Betty Low of Poh San dance studio. They were iconic dancers who appeared on TV often in the 60s.

Stephen Han 
I used to see Sunny and Betty Low dancing on stage at school fun fairs,various cinema halls and on TV.I witnessed them winning the Cha Cha Cha dance contest at the Great World Cabaret.

The most memorable event was when Sunny took the stage at Majestic Theatre to dance with popular Hong Kong actress,Grace Chan aka Ker Lan.  In the 60s most of the actors and famous film stars from Hong Kong learn dancing from Sunny Low.

Grace Chang in Mambo Girl who learnt some from Sunny Low according to Stephen Han.

Andy Young 
Again thank you Peter and Stephen for the information you both provided. I am glad he and his family are featured on Toggle TV where effort by our local SG population is recognised nation wide.

Alfredo Wongo
"Great piece of write up on Sunny Low and his grand daughter Tasha Low . Was once Sunny’s student in Ballroom dancing Waltz but didn’t persevere after  four lessons."

Freda Hanum
Oh my Andy, the unforgettable Sunny Low Dancers, it's also my most unforgettable times with them in the late 60's. Sunny and Betty Low was my dancing instructors, I feel so at home at the Poh San Dance Studio each time I go for my practices. 

I was picked to dance with them in the popular Chinese Variety Show too. Unfortunately when I started to begin my music career, I feel so sad to turn down his offered to train me for the ballroom competition in Japan with his younger brother. I chose music over dancing. 

I would be so glad to get in touch with Sunny and his whole family again. Wow he too will be shocked to hear from me. 

Thanks Andy, you brought back the great memory for us.

Andy Young
Thanks Freda. I think you did the right moves: to sing and play keyboard. I'm sure you would have made it as a dancer too... Thanks for the nostalgia. Without great contributors like you, the blog would've had no shine. Cheers.

Irene Yap
Really nice to read about Sunny and his family! Now reading all that is being shared by so many here is just great! It's bringing back wonderful memories of yesteryear! He choreographed a solo dance for me at the Cathay Restaurant when I was 16!! He was the best!!

Rose Khoo 
Featured On the red dot

Michael Lee 
Hi Andy, during my time was Low Poh Sun, Sunny's dad. My nieces and nephews and their partners learnt dancing at the Sunny dance studio during their younger days. 

Just to add, I don't dance, however my dad's band did often provide the ballroom dance music. 

If my fried brain memory is correct, the iconic ballroom in Singapore then was none other than the Grand Raffles ballroom, the iconic tango was La Cumparsita and the iconic ballroom dancer was Low Poh Sun and partner with my dad's band De' Combo Alacat often providing the music. 

The tango is not easy to dance but very beautiful and graceful when well performed and needless to say Low Poh Sun and partner was one of the best in the late 50's and early 60's. Cheerio

Tango: La Cumparsita Video from Ercaliffo 1 (14 million viewers.)

Andy Young 
Again, many thanks to IRENE, ROSE and MICHAEL for the pieces of information and comments. I shall convey these messages to Sunny myself. He remembers well and conducts tango and waltz lessons currently. Also a big thank you to the others who LIKE this post. Cheers everyone.

Sunny Low Original Story. Please connect below:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2013/01/4-generations-sunny-low-to-tasha-low-of.html

Images from Facebook Personal Profiles.