Jimmy Appudurai-Chua: A Tribute From Ronald Ho [Meltones]

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TRIBUTE to JIMMY APPUDURAI-CHUA 

It was supposed to be a sunny day but the news early this morning that Jimmy Appudurai-Chua, my very good friend, my Meltones bandmate, my classmate from 1955 at St Patrick’s passed away in hospital in England at 8.30pm 29, August 2023 made my sun set. His 76th birthday is 31, August – just two days away.

Jimmy spent most of his adult life in the world of music playing his guitar gleefully and wonderfully. He was happiest with a guitar in his hands. From the Meltones in the 60s to the Straydogs in the 70s and many gigs, he left for England and continued playing music with many bands including the UK Meltones.

Jimmy is one of the nicest people to have walked this earth. He was always cheerful and positive, never had an unkind word and always encouraging others. He lived simply, loved his char-siew, always loyal to his friends and a kampong boy at heart.

From the sandy road of Jalan Sempadan to the green fields of St Patrick’s, Jimmy grew up playfully and happily with his close friends.  From the music stages in Singapore to the music stages in the UK, Jimmy entertained with his guitar skills and in synch with his band-mates. And for his undying love for Mary, the mother of Jesus, he now walks into her arms in heaven. 

Ronald Ho. 

30 August 2023. 10.27 am.

Image: FB Copyrights Reserved

Thanks to Ronald for keeping in touch and writing this piece within an hour, when he confirmed Jimmy had passed away. 

Jimmy Appudurai-Chua with The Meltones. 

Ronald Ho sings: The Young Ones.

Esplanade Theatre: 10 March 2017

YouTube Video: Fabian Foo.

If you take information from this article for your own use, 

at least credit the blog and me because copying is stealing.

Andy.

Connecting to other Jimmy A's posts: 

1. his life story.

2. with Meltones and

3. a student fan, Straydogs, Andy.

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2020/06/jimmy-appudurai-chua-singapore-born.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-meltones-as-related-by-ronald-ho.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2019/08/straydogs-freedom-played-lecture.html

Jimmy Appudurai with Straydogs: Esplanade 2015.

YouTube Video: Steve Ferzacca.

Rolling Stones: Personally Met Them In Singapore 60s Says Jimmy Appudurai-Chua

Image: Copyrights Reserved

Jimmy Appudurai-Chua

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Here's an autographed photograph of The Rolling Stones when they were very young. I must thank Jimmy Appudurai-Chua for this blog gift.  He explained:

"I met them at the Hotel Singapura in the 60s in Singapore. It was Bill Wyman who brought me in to meet all of them, as I befriended him, while he was posting some mail to his family...  

The autographs included Brian Jones and Andrew Oldham.  Brian and Bill were the most friendly of the lot, although the whole band was very nice to everyone... I will never forget the day."  

Jimmy Appudurai-Chua.

NB

Rolling Stones in action in Singapore:

Image: Alex Schumacher.

Check them out:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/03/rolling-stones-celebrate-chap-goh-meh.html

The MELTONES as related by Ronald Ho

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Original Meltones 1966: L to R: Ronald, David, Jimmy, Richard, Malcolm.

Meltones at house function 1968 and at SIA CLUB 2018.

For a band to get together again and 50 years later with the same boys is truly remarkable. This group has not changed members so when I asked Ronald if he could do a short write-up he agreed. Ronald sings as his famous brother Raymond (Crescendos) does. Thanks for taking time off  to write your 60's music adventure my friend.

Andy, 

My brother Raymond was original Crescendos. My siblings are all musically oriented, play guitars, sing but never went professional except for Raymond. My other brother Rennie back in the 70s also sang with some groups for many years but stopped after he started work with a Japanese company, Ataka. I, with Jimmy Appudurai, Richard Ang, David Lim and Malcolm Alphonso started the Meltones in 1963.

 We continued playing as a group till the 70s and performed at many gigs... Ocean Park Hotel, New Penangway, high teas, functions, and RAF Changi. We were part of the Push Push Show Tour back in 1966 or so with the Quests and performed at JB, Muar, Melaka, KL, Ipoh and Penang. But Meltones never played professionally or regularly. We each had our various careers. Except Jimmy who went on to play professionally.

 But in 2013, Meltones came back together again and started playing again at various functions. In 2015, we performed at the Esplanade Open Air theatre. In 2016, we performed at the Esplanade Recital Hall to 3 sell out shows, and again in 2017. And in 2018, we performed at the Esplanade main concert Hall. Jimmy flew in from England in all instances to perform with us.

 At our 2nd recital Hall show, I brought in the Crescendos,  as guest artistes. But just Raymond and John performed. Again, at the final main concert hall show in 2018, I brought in the Crescendos as guest artistes. 

In 2019, Meltones performed at Pek Kio Community Hall as invited by Jerry Fernández. And at National Library as part of Arts Festival. New Meltones is still alive but without Jimmy who is stuck in England.

 Our members are Richard Ang (lead guitar), David Lim (bass guitar), Kelly Tan (rhythm guitar and vocals), Hansen Beng (drums), and myself Ronald Ho (vocal singer and spokesman for the group). We play songs from the 60s and 70s and cover a huge span of music.

 Article and Images: Copyrights Reserved.

YouTube Video: Foo Jong Fook.

 Written by Ronald Ho. 

Jimmy Appudurai writes: 

This is so cool, I remember the pictures but not seen them for a while... brilliant... love playing with them, so much fun. Never ever talk about money. 

Even coming Singapore to play. They will use their payments for my airfare plus they provide me meals as well... amazing guys.  If the payments do not cover the airfare, in two cases both Ronald and Malcolm will subsidize the extra; they never want me to lose out. 

There is that loyalty thing ingrained in my classmates; they are so special. One of those bands that made no records and all totally around still today. They are all from the same class at St. Patrick's School in Katong. And they are Catholics except me. 

Thanks Andy for your wonderful blog xxxx. 

Jimmy Appudurai-chua: Singapore Born Bluesman: A Remarkable Story

Awesome newspaper article of my legendary bluesman friend Jimmy Appudurai-chua!

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♫ ❤ ♫ •°*”˜.•°*”˜ .•°*”˜.•°*”˜ ❤ .•°*”˜ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.

The remarkable highs and lows of Singapore-born, Torpoint-resident bluesman Jimmy Appudurai-chua.

[JIMMY APPUDURAI-CHUA PASSED AWAY AT A HOSPITAL IN ENGLAND, @ 8.30PM, 29TH AUG, 2023. HIS BIRTHDAY IS JUST 2 DAYS AWAY, 31 AUG.]

Saturday, June 08, 2013.
Plymouth, Herald.
U.K.

This article has been written by MARTIN FREEMAN of the  Plymouth Herald in England. He is a senior writer. Thanks to both Martin and Jimmy.

He has been pushed out of his homeland, lost his house and his wife, had a drug habit and faced death through kidney failure.

No wonder Jimmy Appudurai-chua took to playing the blues.

Blues Guitarist Jimmy Appudurai-chua (right) from Torpoint Jimmy pictured with Bryan Adams and singer Cathy Davis in 1988 (top) with The Meltones (left - Jimmy is pictured far left) and, above, one of Jimmy's photographs of Eric Clapton

But this unfailingly optimistic man plays the famously downbeat genre with a smile.

There have been enough highs among his lifetime lows to keep him cheerful.

He once knocked The Beatles off number one spot, mixed with some of the biggest names in the rock world – Eric Clapton and Bryan Adams among them – in a second career as an in-demand photographer and ran his own photo businesses that was at the forefront of a service revolution.

He shakes his head in wonder at the number of times people have gone out of their way to lift him from a low and set him on course to another high.

"I have been so lucky," he says. "It is quite amazing really."

Not at all amazing – he is one of those rare people you like as soon as you meet them. People want to help him because he is such great company: somebody with so many stories to tell but still modest and not at all world-weary. He comes across straight away as a gentle soul, utterly content with life's simple pleasures.

It's hard to picture this man with such a sunny disposition being so low that he had virtually given up on life.

He confesses, though, that his health was so bad that he came to Cornwall a dozen years ago to die.

Then, perhaps eager not to darken the mood, he corrects himself quickly.

"Well not to die, but I was very, very ill."

He enjoys good health now because, against the odds, he got the kidney transplant that was needed to transform his life. He was a particularly difficult tissue match.

Today, after the many highs and lows, he lives modestly in a small flat in Torpoint.

Jimmy still occasionally picks up his guitar to play gigs in the Plymouth area.

But every year or so he returns to his Far east birthplace to enjoy a little celebrity status at the Singapore Blues Festival.

He was born 66 years ago in the city state.

There was a whiff of scandal to the family.

"My mother, Jean, was Chinese and she broke all the rules, getting involved with a married man," he says.

"She was his mistress, which angered her whole clan. But I knew nothing about this.

"She was from mainland China and during World War Two was working in Malaysia, where my father, who was from Sri Lanka, was a doctor."

Jimmy and his two sisters, Betty (who now lives in the United States) and Minnie (now in France), saw their father once or twice a year, and believed simply that he worked away – he had a high-powered job as deputy chief medical officer with the Malaysian government.

"I only found out when I left school that he was married with another family.

"I went to Malaysia with some friends. I told my father where we would be staying, but thought I would surprise him by calling at his house – a big government-owned residence.

"I knocked on the door and asked to see him and a woman answered and said she was his wife.

"My jaw dropped open. I was so angry. I said, 'Tell him his son called to see him!' and ran off. That was so mean, the most malicious thing I have ever done."

But there was no damage done to his relationship with his father, who turned up later at the hostel where Jimmy was staying, oblivious to the previous drama. "She obviously didn't tell him, because he said nothing."

Father and son continued to have a good relationship.

Rewind a decade farther and Jimmy's status as an outsider hit home to him when he started school.

English is the official language in Singapore but young Jimmy spoke only two Chinese dialects when he went to school.

The city has a reputation as a cultural melting pot, but Jimmy, already handicapped by his language difficulties stood out even more when religion reared its head.

"It was a Catholic school – my mother was Methodist, my father was a Hindu, my grandmother was a Taoist, my uncle was a Buddhist and I lived in a Muslim village," he says, laughing.

He found a way of belonging through music. Inspired by Cliff Richard and the Shadows and US guitarist Duane Eddy, he picked up an instrument at 14 and taught himself to play.

Soon he and his schoolmates had formed a band, with a name and sound straight from the Sixties: the Meltones, complete with smart skinny suits and tunes in the Shadows/ Freddie and the Dreamers mould.

"We played a lot of gigs, but always asked for early finishes so we would not be late in bed!

"We just enjoyed the thrill of seeing our names in the Straits Times (the leading Singapore newspaper)."

After leaving school he joined Motif, a band made up of British RAF personnel – Britain still had a big presence in its former colony. This was his introduction to rhythm'n'blues. "They got me listening to the Stones, Yardbirds, Alexis Korner, the Kinks. I took the guitar away and learned it all by ear."

Jimmy talks to Dave Gould about his experience in the music industry.

After a spell with his father in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, and completing an engineering course, he faced a spell in uniform with the Singapore Air Force. "I had to do two years' national service," says Jimmy. "A friend told me that if I joined as a regular I could resign after six months and avoid national service.

"So that's what I did – but they wouldn't let me resign. I was stuck in for three and a half years!"

While working as a technician he was able to indulge his passion for R'n'B in a new band, the Straydogs.

They were signed to EMI's iconic Harvest label and in 1969 knocked the Beatles off the No 1 spot in Malaysia and Singapore with a self-penned tune, Freedom.

"That was a very good feeling," says Jimmy. "We made another single after that but it didn't do as well."

Nor did the Straydogs career fare well in the conformist city which was then known for its illiberal Government. "They did not approve of bands with long hair. They closed down all the venues.

"Our record was unofficially banned and only one radio station would play it, but it still got to No 1. If I wanted to play the music I liked I had to leave, really.

"I came to England in 1972 but that was a disaster. I was performing in working men's clubs in Newcastle and not getting anywhere.

"So I moved to London, and that was even worse. I got regular gigs in Chelsea but it all went on dope. It was a black period of my life."

His use of cocaine and marijuana was dragging him down and stopping him getting a proper day job.

"The only work I got was as a cleaner. One woman at a house in Hammersmith took a liking to my cleaning – one thing about being stoned is you are very thorough!

"They were very impressed that I didn't take any of the money that was lying around – I tidied it into neat piles of coins.

"She invited me back and got me to meet her husband. He invited me to a job interview and when I didn't turn up – there was a Tube strike – they phoned up to check why and sent a car round for me.Can you believe that?

Jimmy's contribution during a performance in Singapore among an audience of friends in 2015.

"His name was Michael de Semlyen and he ran the Tudor photographic processing business, based in Cricklewood.

"I started as a cleaner. After a couple of weeks they asked me to work in dispatch, then soon after they asked me run it, and then the shop-floor.

"When Tudor opened their second processing plant in Wandsworth in 1976 they asked me to manage it."

One innovation Jimmy made was to introduce a same-day service.

By 1981 he needed a break and went back to Singapore to sort out an immigration matter. Tudor created a job for him, putting him in charge of their Far East operation.

On a visit to Hong Kong he was enjoying a blues night at a club when a fellow veteran of the Singaporean rock scene, Chris Vadham, spotted Jimmy in the audience and invited him on stage to play.

Jimmy picked up a guitar for the first time in nine years and was hooked again.

Gigs followed back in Singapore and the music connection would lead him on a new direction when he returned to the UK.

Tudor had been bought out so Jimmy and three others started their own mini-lab processing in upmarket Notting Hill, home to many people from the entertainment industry.

"We were losing money and the others pulled out, but I had an idea: I put the prices up from £3.99 to £8 a film offering an exclusive service," says Jimmy. "It was a big success."

Wealthier clients liked the personal touch. Singer songwriter Annie Lennox was one, and actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, (Scarface, the Abyss and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) was another.

Musician Michael Kamen was another regular. He wrote the score for Robin Hood including one of the most successful singles of all time, (Everything I do) I Do It For You, jointly put together with performer Bryan Adams and Robert John Lange.

"I became friendly with Michael and he introduced me to Eric Clapton.

"Michael would invite me to his big Thanksgiving parties that were full of stars, and ask me to photograph them."

Soon Jimmy's work behind the lens led to him taking more time off stage. He worked for magazines and record companies, covering every visiting blues artist at the 100 Club and high-profile gigs at the Royal Albert Hall.

He photographed Eric Clapton concerts and those by fellow former Yardbirds men drummer Jim McCarty and Jimmy Page (also of Led Zeppelin fame), and covered the band's reunion.

There were sidelines away from r'n'b, such as for Britpop leading lights Blur and studio work for fashion house Dior.

But Jimmy's thriving photographic business would be derailed and his life thrown into shock by ill health.

"I was ill for a long time, but keeping going, and feeling worse and worse, and not finding the time to go to the doctor. One day a doctor, who had a practice opposite and who was a customer came in and said, 'I don't like the way you are looking. I want you to come straight across to the clinic'.

"I did, and she took a sample, and sent me straight to hospital as an emergency case.

"My blood pressure was 280 over 140. The doctor in the hospital told me 'you are a dead man walking. You should not be alive with blood pressure like that'."

Unable to work, Jimmy sold his house and business.

He was diagnosed with kidney failure. "I'd had TB in my kidneys when I was young, and they told me I had only one kidney functioning, and it was failing.

"I was on dialysis. I needed a transplant, but I was told there was very little chance of a match because there were so few Asian donors."

He moved to Cornwall with his wife Anne and opened an Egyptian museum in Dobwalls in 2001.

"Don't ask me why we opened that. We just did."

The museum failed, which he blames partly on his illness. "I did not have the energy to keep an eye on it."

He split from Anne – the parting was amicable and they are still good friends – but with his health going downhill Jimmy was living in a caravan in Looe and doing part-time shelf-stacking in supermarkets when he got a call that a matching kidney had been found.

"It was a little miracle: a healthy kidney from a 20-year-old. I had the transplant at Derriford Hospital in 2010 and the surgeon told me it was a complete success. It worked perfectly from the start. I was so lucky."

He still bears the ugly scars on his arms of years of dialysis, but the transplant has transformed his life.

Although retired from the day jobs, and living quietly in a flat in Torpoint, he is well enough to put some energy into music.

He does occasional gigs with the Blues Bandits and rock outfit Fat Tuesday and he will be off later this summer to perform at the Singapore Blues Festival.

After the east Asia trip he will be eager to get back to Cornwall, though, his adored adopted homeland

"Maybe I did come to die – and I went to heaven," he grins. 
Jimmy Appudurai-chua.

Comment if any?

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

Hi Jimmy, 

Charlie Yap sent me the connection. I think like the stacks of coins you put neatly in a pile and never took them had the Good Lord decide to do exactly what you did, put you back on the pile and never took you away. Thank you for the story. Blessings Jimmy. 

Andy.

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2019/08/straydogs-freedom-played-lecture.html

Content and images from Jimmy's Facebook pages.

Straydogs 'Freedom' Played @ Lecture: Student Likes Blog

Some words from a tertiary student who likes this creative blog. Thank you Anon.

"Hi Andy,

I am an undergraduate student majoring in music teaching, and in the course of my studies, I was introduced to and became interested in Singapore's popular music scene in the 60's.

Incidentally, "Freedom", was one of the songs played to us during our lesson. I feel really lucky that I am able to read the stories of the people who wrote this song, and no less from the lead singer himself. I must thank both Byrt Mallanyk for writing about his experience and yourself for creating this blog.

Photo is an illustration depicting a student studying. The enclosed letter is genuine.

Sadly, as a Singaporean youth, I too share the sentiments that the valuable experiences and personal histories of the past are under-appreciated today. In fact, it had never occurred to me that Singapore actually had a popular music scene in the 60's before I learned about them in school. I really appreciate your blog as I enjoy the stories of Singapore's music scene that would have been otherwise left undocumented. 

To me, the lack of awareness of Singapore's popular culture in the past is a very pertinent issue today. I have so many questions that I would like to ask you, and I'd appreciate it if I could discuss them with you via e-mail.

Thank You! 

The Straydogs - 'Freedom' (covered by Reverie ft. Jimmy Appudurai)

Jimmy Appudurai with Andy Young on the train 

in Singapore 2019, after lunch at Marina Bay Sands.

"Your blog is fair and unbiased," says Jimmy when he wrote on his Facebook post in 2020. Thank you Jimmy. You are always mighty kind.

Andy 60's Music Singapore Photo Round-Up

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To all my blog readers, supporters, friends and home folks too. Let's hope for another healthy and safe music year. Special thanks to my Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and e-mail friends. Blog readers 1.55 million and still counting.

From: Andy Young and all contributing writers.

2017 images below: 
Just a selection of pictures and postings. If I missed putting your picture... 😟

Former teacher Laurence Lim (right) wrote an article for this blog about international hair-stylist Anthony Tan (AhKim) and his love for 60's music.

Fantastic SHUN NG a finger-style guitarist I was invited to meet during his concert two Christmases ago. Then saw him again with his backing vocals THE SHUNETTES. He's got up to a dozen tours all over the US in 2018.

PM LEE HSIEN LOONG was walking along the Botanic Gardens when I chanced upon him. Friendly and jovial, he taught me the best way to do a selfie without extensions. As CYLin says, "When two dragons meet..."

SILVER STRINGS with MOSES LIM, from UNDER ONE ROOF fame during a Channel 5 show, Not The 5 Show.

POTUS DONALD TRUMP with his favourite tune, SOUTH OF THE BORDER, DOWN MEXICO WAY. He's got plenty of other oldies he loves.

HENRI GANN, who writes for this blog, came all the way from California to say hello in between his business transactions. He was from THE TREKKERS and has recordings with TAN SWEE LEONG @ Rediffusion.

MATT TAN needs to be included in all future FRIED ICE re-unions in Singapore. He was the original bassist and still plays mean guitar on his own site. Spare a ticket for Matt who now lives in Canada.

RICKIE CHNG (lead guitarist) and I met FREDDIE KANG and his police vehicle one day at Novena Square. The crowd went wild. They thought Thunderbirds were flying around. He used to fly with them.

Su Goh wrote an article about LEVI'S Jeans song for this blog. She's here with hubby David and our own Guitar Hero. John Cher brought us together.

Sweetie Pie actress TAN KHENG HUA, with ANTHONY TAN and former Ms SINGAPORE. We were having tea before launch of her successful musical, TROPICANA.

Oh man, our own JIMI HENDRIX. He's RAY ANTHONY, another southpaw. Used to be with MATT TAN in FRIED ICE.

It was a treat meeting many 60's music-makers at OLPS. Can you recognise them? John Cher (2nd left), brought us together.

I used to buy vinyl records at Sungei Road and everything inexpensive there. But the people in charge had to close this flea market. Even the foreigners from SE Asia, Japan, US, Europe, etc. were surprised. 

With hair-stylist Anthony Tan and DJ Larry Lai at the Tropicana session meeting.

With a genuine guy, Tan Soo Khoon, who speaks his heart. He has to.  A former Speaker of Parliament, he used to have a pop group called, THE YOUNG ONCE.

Coming from Australia, MIKE and HERB, were THE BEATLES OF MALAYSIA 

and have cut records with THE SILVER STRINGS.

This is a power group: Henry from the QUESTS, Jimmy from STRAYDOGS, John from SILVER STRINGS and Peter from OCTOBER CHERRIES.

Anthony Tan with his own creation, the hairstyle I mean. I'm giving this

guy too much publicity!

Quiet but effective, this is CHARLIE YAP and is in charge of successful band LOCOMOTION. The write-up is now standing at more than 4,000 viewers. That's a record reading within a 2 month period.

Beautiful music was heard when 60's pop song lovers met at the Mall. They come from Singapore, Helsinki and Darwin Australia. Much to learn from Pete Hakonen and Dr Steven Farram. And Horace Wee, legendary guitarist was around too.

I had to put this one up. Legends too but from the education sector.

Lunch date @ Apollo this year was similar to Apollo landing a long time ago.

Sitting between two drummers of legendary stature, I could not eat that evening. LOUIS SOLIANO in blue and RICHARD KHAN (October Cherries) on the left.

The pleasure of being with GEORGE CHEW (THE BURNS LEAD), LARRY LAI and his wife Serene. And LOUIS SOLIANO. 

Pete Hakonen wrote to me on the blog, came over from Helsinki. You can see his name on almost any CD made in the Scandinavian countries. He produces and promotes 60's guitar groups and Rockabilly recording artistes.

The Makan Gang that haunts food joints in Singapore consists of 60's musicians and an amateur singer.

Hosting Pete Hakonen from Helsinki are Zainal Abidin, Mike Bangar and a lady singer who came over from another table and fascinated by Captain Zainal.

Michael Bangar, Rickie Chng, Laurence Lim and Andy Young.

Buddies in music outside Raffles City Food Court.

The Straydogs surrounded others during a meeting. 

Larry Lai in the background with black cap and black Polo-T.

Jimmy Appudurai-chua again with his two bandmates during a get-together.

Yes, you need lots of love to be together. From left: Rickie, 

Audie, Veronica, Andy and John during a gig at SIA Club.

John and Andy stole the show at this huge mansion.

A sneak preview actually, emphasising sneak.

With Larry Lai and Wilson David, old folks with tales to tell.

Or 'seniors' to be polite. 

Attended one in the 80's but never again. But the song

brings the boring scene back. "Purple Rain, Purple Rain..."

Wow! Seniors on the prowl at Bukit Timah. From left: Joe Woon, Andy, Peter Chua, Tan Soo Khoon, John Cher and Henry Chua during a jam.

Now, why would I have a picture of CHARLIZE THERON? Been her fan for years. This lady beats them all with her acting ability and sultriness. I watch

her movies in between blogging. Personally, she's the new KIM NOVAK.

Another skilled actress, local star TAN KHENG HUA, 

who produced TROPICANA, THE MUSICAL in 2017.

The late Bobo, one of the best and most entertaining guitarists on stage.

Bobo passed on this year, his last big show with The Silver Strings

@ the RELC International Hotel Hall @ Orange Grove Road.

She wrote about her dad, Zainal Abidin, The Dukes leader. 

Her name should be clear as Crystal. She has a PhD. from UWA.

Wrote a book, Internet Celebrity: Understanding Fame Online (Society Now).

Two fans, my students actually who watched our show.

They have been so kind and kept in touch. Thanks.

As famous as she is pretty, DAWN TAN 

Finance journalist @ Channel News Asia (CNA) 

10 pm News, did a selfie. Yes, I spoilt her picture.

With writer and guitarist Michael Bangar and Dr Steven Farram, 

Darwin U. discussing local 60's music.

SEBASTIAN TAN as Broadway Beng and Chioboos on stage at

the Capitol Theatre. They were hilarious.

He wrote 250 pop Malay songs in the 60's. Good friend and 

Cultural Medallionist YUSNOR EF and his wife 

celebrated their wedding anniversary.

                   

Horace Wee, legend, with Dr Steven Farram and John Cher.

Actress Tan Kheng Hua with her production TROPICANA  

we attended. Outside the Capitol Theatre.

Freddie Kang, John Cher, Andy and THE TORNADOES key figure,

DEREK MCCULLY who sells JAMES BOND cars.

                       With Vernon Cornelius. Peter Pan doesn't age, does he?

And one of the Neu Faces, a very well-composed photograph featuring
the organist with flowing golden locks @ Kallang Theatre, AMIR BIN ANIN.

Now here's another star whose movies I watch when I'm not blogging. 
SCARLETT JOHANSSON is no quiet lady.  From a good woman to a nanny, from being an Avenger to Lucy with psychokinetic ability, she's my favourite, even in 2017.

Images: A Personal Collection.