When Andy 60s Music Goes Roaming In Singapore Meeting Friends.

It's March 2025 and there's been delays in posting 

photographs on this blog. Here are a few taken 

near the end months of 2024.

No showing off; just camaraderie!

"Old friends, old friends

Sat on their park bench like bookends

A newspaper blown through the grass

Falls on the round toes

Of the high shoes of the old friends..."

[Simon n Garfunkel]

The guitar champ.

With Ivor Lesslar, lead guitarist, black cap. 

We were @ Novena Square. August 2024.

The Pop Pianist n Singing Wife.

With Mr. Sammin Ang and his wife Esther, two very accomplished musicians. 

Of course there's Mr. Everywhere Jimmy Yap in the flowered shirt.

It's at a Singapore HDB coffee shop neighbourhood.

September 2024

The Elvis of Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Tall Happy Tay, the Vancouver Elvis and James Kwok 

after a coffee session at Clementi Mall in 

Singapore when Happy visited our island.

August 2024

I saw this sign in another country. Can't remember where. 

Could be Thailand or Japan. Not a bad idea but I don't drink.

Singapore Recording artiste Tony Goh

With the very talented recording artiste Tony Goh who owns 

a huge recording studio himself near the business district 

around Shenton Way. Tony was from the pop 70s group, 

TONY, TERRY and SPENCER. The vinyl costs some today.

Jean Granger/France and the Late Alfred Wong

With Jean [John] Granger from France and the late 

Alfred Wong who passed away in late 2024. We

were at a music pub in the Novena area. Alfred used

to provide free jam sessions at his apartment 

with coffee, milk and a huge spread.

'Old Friends': Simon and Garfunkel

YouTube Video by: kylecrazyford.

Which song are these lines from? 

Have a guess.

Mr Tan's Mystery Singer n Dancer

Tan Soo Khoon's [left] garden party guests in February, 2025.

One lady was a well-known singer, the other a dancer.

Know them?

Another verse of lyrics from a well-known song. 

Can you guess the title? Roaming in the desert?

"Riwayat mu-ini..."

We met by the Bengawan Solo River near

Serangoon Gardens in February, 2025.

                With Jimmy Yap, Larry Lai, Andy, Trevor Nerva and Terry Nair.

When Ricky n Rickie Meet

Fun jamming at Ricky Wong's [far right] home with friends 

that included Ricky Chng [checked shirt] and others. Meals were provided. 

Comments are always welcome.

And Alphonso Soosay 

sums it up on 3.3.25:

"Buddy Andy Young. Missing our 60’s days and catching up with our Ole friends fills our hearts with bittersweet nostalgia as our memories linger on as You have always shared with keeping closeness even though we are a distance away. Cheers."

Images: A Private Collection. Copyrights Reserved.

Singapore 60s Music Blog: Accolades For Andy

The people below have either appeared, contributed articles or commented on this blog. All comments are new and were received within these months in 2024. 

Thanks to the folks below who did. Appreciate the recognition this blog receives.

JOHN KLASS [RADIO DJ: MEDIACORP GOLD 905]

"Andy Young! Keep up the great work on your blog

I enjoy reading it. It’s always a great trip. 😊👌🏻"

DANNY KOH [PIANIST/LRSM, FLCM]

"Thank you Andy. Wow!! I'm truly amazed at your blogs. 

You jogged my memories. Yes, the photos and stories

reminded me of the good times!" 

HENRY CHUA [BASSIST/'QUESTS']

"Andy, Your blog must be the most informative on the music

scene. I check it often. Congratulations! 🙏🙏🙏 👏👏👏".

LESLIE WILSON JOSEPH [MUSICIAN/GUITARIST]

"I love your articles. It's a history lesson for me."

STEPHEN HAN [SINGAPORE/CONTRIBUTING WRITER]

"This is Andy Young aka Andy Lim who is not only a wonderful singer but also a prolific writer. Do visit his music of the 60's blog and you’ll like it immediately. It contains interesting and good information of local and international recording stars. You won’t be bored because there are quizzes for you to solve."

Danny Koh: I Wish You Luck

YouTube Video: ktjong

HIROSHI DEGUCHI [JAPAN/CONTRIBUTING WRITER]

"Hi Andy, I am always  honoured to be on your blog.

I always respect your country and its achievements."

DENNIS NG [SINGER/DANCER/CONTRIBUTING WRITER]

"Hi Andy, Thank you very much for your blog. You have showcased many in the music scene in Singapore and there’s never a dull moment reading the various stories of different people. Once again, thank you for your great effort and keep up the good work!"

"Comment is from my friend, a top local lawyer 

and accomplished guitarist," says HAPPY TAY 

[VANCOUVER ELVIS PRESLEY, BC. CANADA].

"Andy Young is probably the only one in Singapore that is keeping Music Memorabilia in Singapore alive and fluttering, as many of our generation have reached an age who treasure precious memories of our past. Kudos to him. His site will be worth a lot in time to come. Please convey my good wishes to Andy. When you next come back to Singapore, we could get him together." 

ELLA TAN [BLOG READER]. ILLUSTRATION

 "I have to write you here, but I have to tell you that you always share great posts. I was fascinated by your great contributions and your wonderful pictures.  God bless you.

Andy's Music Blog: A Happy Note from Happy Tay In Vancouver

KUDOS FROM BC

9th July, 2024

"Andy Young is probably the only one Singapore that is keeping Music Memorabilia in Singapore alive and fluttering as many of our generation have reached an age who treasure precious memories of our past. Kudos to him. His site will be worth a lot in time to come - millions, considering the many wealthy ones that Singapore has now nurtured. Please convey my good wish to Andy. When you next come back to Singapore, we could get him together." 

Well Andy, congrats again on your blog and this comment is from my friend Eng Leong (a top local lawyer and accomplished guitarist during his younger days) saying all that is needed to be said. I totally concur with him too. Have a great week my friend and hopefully, we get to meet again in Singapore! [Happy Tay, Vancouver, BC, Canada.]

Blog Statistics Record High: Singapore 60's Music Stories Appeal To International Readers

UPDATED TODAY: 7 September 2017

VIEWERSHIP: 1,432,419

Writers who contributed to this blog

Allan Thompson, John Cher, Michael Bangar, Henri Gann,

Crystal Abidin, Joey Koh, Fabian Foo, Steve Farram, Horace Wee.

I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination
Makes it worth the while...
(Abba)

The number of supporters for this blog is staggering.
Readers and technical know-how from social networking services include:

Blogspot
You Tube
Google+ 
Twitter 
WhatsApp 
emails
John Cher's Facebook 
Larry Lai's WhatsApp

Because of these connections, this blog has blossomed by 20,000 viewers, from a mere 36,000 monthly reads in October to 56,000 by December. Big for a small niche like Singapore pops and its influence.

This year the writings, You Tube videos and local 60's music information from:

Allan Thompson (UK)
John Cher
Michael Bangar 
Henri Gann Trekkers (US)
Horace Wee
Steve Farram (Aus)

CYLin
Laurence Lim
Su Go (Aus)
Joey Koh
Crystal Abidin (Aus)
Fabian Foo 

Audie Ng
Mike n Herb (Aus)
Happy Tay (Can)

and others 

were contributing factors to the success of this blog. Names are not in any order and two ladies wish to remain anonymous. Let me know if I left your name out 😔.

                Larry Lai, Audie Ng, CYLin, Su Go, Happy Tay, Laurence Lim

                                              Mike and Herb

Of course when the big guns came in to support both directly and indirectly, the blog had a blast. 

Stephen Fry
Scott Page
Russell Hitchcock
Rick Astley
Rex Goh

and local stars like: 

Dick Lee
Jack Neo
Moses Lim
Chua En Lai

and Silver Strings' Singapore TV appearances helped much to boost the ratings.

Comments from regulars too played a great part towards increasing readership. A whole lot of you guys, thank you.

Less texting? Yes but more blog reading, especially this blog. I dare say, no other active Singapore 60's music stories than what you can find from here.
Short of boasting 😮...

You can see the wonders of a fairy tale
You can see the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see...


Thanks to local and international readers, contributors, friends and fellow countrymen. You made my dream.

Happy New Year 2017.

Songwriters: ANDERSSON, BENNY GORAN BROR / ULVAEUS, BJOERN K.

'I Have A Dream': lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

STATISTICS BELOW CAPTURED ON 2nd JANUARY 2017

Readers today:

1,158,364

31st December, 2016

57,000+ readers today.

24th December, 2016

54,000+ readers today.

TWITTER

Abba: I Have a Dream

GOOGLE +

Images: A Personal Collection and Google.

A Letter To All My Friends, Contributors, Readers

Why This Blog:

My profile page explains it all. 

"This blog is written to (a) relive my missing music years, (b) keep interested seniors posted about our local music scene, (c) encourage music stories from them and (d) keep our younger generation, especially my *3J's, aware of our pop music heritage. 

Although I have lived the age and participated in the music I am neither a music guru nor historian. No showing off past glories."

Today is November 22nd and this blog will be into its eighth year. My eldest grandson First Jay is nine and I remember he was two years young when I first thought about writing a blog. And it all started at Vivo City.

That was when I went on stage to offer a non-professional voice backing to the Silver Strings on 8th November 2008 and First Jay was there with my folks. Although he was still so young, I felt he was enthralled by the event, definitely by the loud guitar noise.

Friends And Readers Who Assisted With Blog:

Here is my list of friends who started me off with the blog:

1. Roger Poh
2. Victor Koo
3. Friends of Yesteryear (FOYERS) Group, Singapore
4. Larry Lai

Very kind blog readers contributed their stories to help boost its authenticity. The list includes writers, photographers and their country of residence:

1.   Allan Thompson: Norfolk England UK

2.   Barry Walker: England UK

3.   John Harper: York England UK
4.   Dino Martin Peters: USA

5.   Happy Tay: Vancouver BC Canada

6.   Matt Tan: Montreal Quebec Canada   

7.   Byrt Mallanyk: Sydney Australia

8.   Mag Jnne: Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

9.   Peter Chan: Singapore

10. CYLin: Singapore

11. Mun Chor Seng: Singapore

12. John Cher: Singapore. 
13. Michael Bangar 
14. Stephen Han
15. Horace Wee
16. Henri Gann
17. SPYeo
18. Dr Steven Farram 
19. Winston Koh
20. Richard Seah 
21. Charlie Yap  
22. Joe Woon 
And many more...

Regular Commentators from Singapore include:

1.   FL 
2.   Ronnie See 
3.   Rickie Chng
4.   Audie Ng
5.   Jerry Fernandez
6.   Merlin Lim 
7.   Dato Dr YS Lee: Penang  Malaysia.
8.   Jimmy Chng
9.   Randy Lee
10. Erwin Maisch
11. James Seah
12. Dino Martin Peters: USA
13. BC Teoh: KL Malaysia
14. Dr Steven Farram: Charles Darwin University, Darwin Australia.

Translators for Mandarin:
1. Lim Kuan Min 
2. SPYeo.

Observations on Pop Yeh Yeh and Malay cultural matters:
1. Yusnor Ef.

Media for introducing the blog:
1. Majorie Chiew: STAR newspaper Malaysia
2. Brigitte Rozario: 3age Malaysia Website
3. Christopher Toh: TODAY newspaper
4. Singapore Chinese newspapers

Media Corp Singapore for telecast documentaries about blog and local pops:
1. Channel News Asia
2. Channel 5
3. Octo Channel

There are many regular contributors, so excuse me if I have not included your name. It is a long list and more will be added as the days go by. Apologies.

Helping Tertiary Students And Lost Friends:

Glad this blog has kept its pace and, most importantly, helped students at tertiary level who need to write papers about our 1960's music heritage for their media studies. Still meeting them at a Mall for interviews.

This blog has also got long lost band members and friends together. Some of them have either migrated to far off lands or had never been in touch since their last band practice :-) Glad this blog has put some folks together again.

With other books, blogs available in the market and websites, our youth have easier access to information about Singapore's Golden Years of Music and its western influence.

Thank you all for support.

Yours Sincerely,

Andy.

*3 grandchildren.

Images: Google.

Happy Tay, Brian Richmond Interview Pele In Singapore Part 6

PEPE PASSED AWAY: 29 DECEMBER 2022. RIP DEAR SIR!

A 1960's Singapore Football Memory Trail:

Happy Tay was in Singapore some weeks ago after braving the 20-hour plus long haul from Vancouver  to visit Red Dot again. Also known as Vancouver's Elvis Presley, I managed to meet this very tall, talented, generous good-looker over a cup of tea at Ah Teng's Coffee House @ Raffles Hotel.  He has been unselfishly contributing many stories to the blog. 

Here's another informative and nostalgic letter from Happy for all ardent football fans and sports historians.  Again my thanks to him.

*Elvis - You'll Never Walk Alone -  A Soccer Song from the 1960's.

Dear Andy,

The first photo shows our Police Football Team from Police Training School (PTS), later known as Police Academy, that beat the Army Depot Police (ADP) in the Inter-Police Cup Final in 1968.

We were then the underdogs, as the ADP (British Army Depot Police) had several players representing the National Football Team.

Some of their Singapore National star footballers were, Mohd. Ali (full-back), Sahar Hussein (forward), Ow Siew Kong (forward). Ow was selected by the visiting British Football Team in later years, to represent their All-Stars Team touring Asia.

Then there's Hussein Hashim (mid-field), Idros Albar (goalkeeper), and a few others whose names I am not able to recall. The Army Depot Police back then employed footballers who have, or are, representing the National Football Team, to represent their team.

However, not to be outdone, the Police team back then, also had several national and youth footballers too. Our national team was a good mixture of youths and senior football stars like Wilfred Skinner (image left: goalkeeper / forward), Robin Chan (forward), Gurunathan (forward). 

Included in the same group was Brian Richmond (Youth Team Captain and National Team Reserves), Othman Bahrum (forward for Malays and Reserves), Yee Soh Peng (Chinese), Richard Chiam (Youth Team) and yours truly (Youth Team).

The final itself which was played at Police Training School was filled with excitement, and was indeed an epic final, with all the top footballers from the country involved. It ended with the Police Football team victorious with the score at three two.

 I vividly remembered that we footballers were accommodated at the Police Training School for two weeks before the finals and had daily training  in the morning and evening under the football coach from Bulgaria, who was also, the National Team coach. I cannot recall his name. 

We were all well fed, and taken care of under the direction of the then Commandant of the Police Training School, AC Ong Kim Boon, and his deputy, DSP Daljit Singh.  I was then an Instructor at the Police Training School and extremely fit with  my position as a fullback!

This second photo on the left was taken during an interview with Pele - Edson Arantes dos Nascimento - the greatest footballer in the world and a living legend (image: standing/centre). 

The interview was conducted by our team of reporters from Sports Parade from Radio and Television Singapore (RTS) then. 

Some of the personalities in the photo were Brian Richmond (image: standing with Pele), then anchor and commentator of the very popular programme, Sports Parade, aired on TV every Friday evening. There were Ow Siew Kong, another team member and Singapore National Team player and yours truly (image: sitting/tie) , who was then, also one of the sports reporter.

It was truly a memorable meeting with this great football legend, who was then visiting Singapore with the Santos Football Team from Brazil in early 1970's.

Well Andy, I hope that this short introduction has managed to recap the best of my "fading" memories.

Cheers,

Happy Tay.

Vancouver, BC, Canada.

NB: If you are familiar with these footballers and friends do write in to contribute.

*The song is popular with football clubs around the world, where it is performed by mass supporters on match day. This practice traditionally began at Liverpool Football Club in the early 1960's and later spread on...

Images from Happy Tay (Copyrights Reserved); Google.

Click connection to read Happy's articles:

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/search/label/Happy%20Tay%20Postings

Gerry and The Pacemakers Version