The Greatest Pop Stars Who Came To Singapore: Johnnie Ray: Part 1.

pix from:

https://genius.com/Johnnie-ray-all-of-me-lyrics 

UP TO 1,400 VIEWS - 10 COMMENTS

Before rock and roll there was John Alvin Ray (1927-1990) American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Popular for most of the 50s and 60s, he was one of the major predecessors of the rockabilly craze, in fact, paving the way for Elvis' hyperactive movements on stage. 

Just as popular in Singapore, Johnnie Ray's records, some in the 78rpm format, sold very well on the island. Many local singers in the early 60s imitated Ray and Robert Song was one of them. It was well-known that Johnnie Ray was deaf because of an accident and had affected him emotionally but he was an attraction on stage and sang his songs with much fervor and feel. He had a movie role with Marilyn Monroe too [image below]. He died of liver failure in 1990.

Ray's song, Cry, with The Four Lads, (1951) made him famous as radios became a common household item in Singapore. Then came, All of Me (1952), Hernando's Hideaway, Alexander's Ragtime Band, As Time Goes By, (1954), Just Walkin' in the Rain (1956) - with a whistling introduction and accompaniment, Who's Sorry Now (1956) - more poignant than the Connie Francis version and Yes, Tonight Josephine (1957) - for me, his swan song.

Johnnie Ray in Concert.

YouTube Video by: John1948SevenC

These songs were hits in Singapore and Ray was just as famous in the UK and Australia. Such A Night, recorded in 1954, was also covered by Elvis Presley on his 1960 album, Elvis Is Back. Johnnie Ray was a singing idol in his days and, on a personal list, is placed above Frank Sinatra.

On May 15th, 16th, 17th, 1967 when he was 38 years old, he was in Singapore for a two night concert. He also visited the Singapore Association for the Deaf at Mountbatten Road. He was also interviewed by the press at Hotel Singapura.

Pix from Randy Lee [Stylers rhythmist: 4th left]

copyrights reserved.

There was even a Johnnie Ray of Singapore. Robert Song [image 3rd left], who used to work in one of the more prominent movie businesses here, sang like Ray, performing the popular evergreens on stage. He was accompanied by the famous Stylers and Checkmates during his later years, a unique combination indeed, considering that these bands were guitar groups. But like Song, the Stylers and Checkmates were versatile teams indeed.

Song also played well on percussion instruments like the conga, bongos and maracas, showing off his impeccable style that was the attraction those years, donned immaculately in bow tie and a dark suit. I guess they were tailored to fit, the band and Singapore's Johnnie Ray.

Before Elvis there was Johnnie Ray

Influence/Influencers:

Now, hopefully, some readers can understand why the word Influence is used in the title to this blog. We had so many influences before even today's influencers came on the scene. 

Johnnie Ray acted in this movie

with Marilyn Monroe. The other

stars were top guns those years.

Original article: by Andy Lim. 

Google Images.

Johnny Ray In Concert.

YouTube video: from Johnny Ray.

Best 40 minutes ever to know Johnnie

and his unique antics on stage as he sleeps on the piano

and cries and covers his head with his jacket.

Ray and Marilyn Monroe in the movie

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/279997301812707022/

Read the interesting chat with Irene Hoe, ex-journalist in Singapore when Johnnie Ray ordered food in a restaurant - Click Comments below:

"Tunes That Crept Into My Consciousness" Singapore 50s With John Harper: Part One

John Harper

John Harper resides in York, England, plays bass guitar and lived in Singapore in the late 50s.   I met him recently with wife Ann where he recalled the times he spent on our sunny island.  When I asked him if he could share his music memories specially for this blog he agreed. Thank you John.

Part One:

The people we are today is the sum of all the influences on our life before today. Tomorrow we will be slightly different people because we have to add in today's influence. But, the difference will not be very much, because those influences of the past have already moulded and shaped us significantly along the way. Some of the influences that play a big part in moulding you include: your mother and father, where you have lived, the people you have met and the food, music and art you have experienced during that time.


"Killed him a b'ar when he was only three"

Probably the most crucial years are the years from the age of about 10 to 20 years of age. For me, two of those crucial years were spent in Singapore between the ages of 10 and 12 years old, arriving in Singapore in April 1957 and returning to the UK in July 1959. In this short series I'll be looking at the years just prior to our move to Singapore as Part 1, our time in Singapore as Part 2 and for the third part what was happening in the UK in the first few months of our return.


"Will we have rainbows day after day"

I had probably started to notice popular music in films and on the radio only a couple of years before we went to Singapore. This was possibly initiated by my mother taking my brothers and I to see films like “Davy Crockett”, “The Dambusters”, “The man Who Knew Too Much”, and probably that most influential of films for popular music that forever changed the mould; “Rock Around The Clock”.

By this time we were also listening to Radio Luxembourg which started the evening with a fifteen minute slot of "Dan Dare - Pilot Of The Future" fighting the evil green alien “The Mekon” before starting the evenings output of popular music. We were allowed to listen to Dan Dare and then to the music until it was time for bed.

The films introduced me to a variety of interesting music from the brand new thumping beat of “Rock Around The Clock”, to the gentler Doris Day number from “The Man Who Knew Too Much” “Que Sera, Sera” or whatever will be, will be.

"Put your glad rags on and join me hon"

When the Davy Crockett film came out everybody at school was singing the “Ballad of Davy Crockett” and some even wore Davy Crockett hats with the raccoon tail hanging down. Our aunt in Canada even sent us some printed Davy Crockett T shirts. I did not want to be different to all my class mates in those days and as they did not have T shirts like them I did not want to wear them publicly and actually kicked up such a fuss that they were put away. Somehow when they resurfaced when we got to Singapore and shirts with colourful patterns were the norm after school they were unpacked and worn with minimal fuss.

"Saying who can that fool be"

To this eclectic mix was added the theme from the "Dambusters" which had not really made much of an impact on me until my friend started playing it on a recorder and taught me how to play the first few bars. Further spicing the mix were a few tunes from the radio that had crept into my consciousness, "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" played by the man with the golden trumpet a title Eddie Calvert justly deserved by following it up with another all time favourites of mine “Zambesi”. A few years later Zambesi reappeared in the superb format of a Hank Marvin arrangement for guitar by the Shadows, I think it was on about their third LP (On You Tube video below). 


"Branches of the two trees were intertwined"

Three songs popular in the UK before we left became popular in Singapore just about at the time that we arrived. They were Ann Shelton's “Lay Down Your Arms”, Eddie Fisher's “Cindy, Oh Cindy” and Johnnie Ray's “Walking In The Rain”. Because of the delay between songs being released in the UK and being released in Singapore and Australia releases wereabout six to twelve weeks behind what was popular in the UK. So, with these three songs we got to enjoy them all over again.
One song that I think was an exception to this sequence was “A Pub With no Beer” by Slim Dusty, recorded in Australia and distributed from Australia first. The flip side of it was an even folkier number called “Once When I Was Mustering”. More on this later.

"Nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear"

As you can see, my tastes are becoming wide and varied from the smooth hot brassy tones of Eddie Calvert, through the dulcet tones of Doris Day to the folksy nasal tones of Slim Dusty and I have barely started on the influences of the music I heard in Singapore.

The next article will cover 1957 and 1958.

CONNECT HERE for both:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2013/01/john-harpers-singapore-50s-music-trail.html

Original article: John Harper Copyrights Reserved.
Images: Google.
Captions: from song lyrics.

John contributes to Buzz:
https://profiles.google.com/117596378549583765811/buzz#117596378549583765811/buzz

Andy Singapore 60s: Pop Impersonators Or Tribute Artistes (A)

Ahmad Daud: Singapore's Dean Martin in the 60s.

UP TO 1,400 VIEWS

SINGAPORE IDOLS IN THE 60s:

As far as the mind can remember, below are the names of Singapore pop-singer impersonators in the 60's. Blogger does not believe in apeing famous bands or vocalists but this was an acceptable trend and there was a following when these artistes performed. 

Fans screamed and clapped when they see their idols on stage impersonating Elvis, Cliff or any singer currently popular then.

It was also a way for singers to be talent spotted by nightclub owners, recording companies, entertainment producers and event organisers. In the 60s such professionals were few and far between but they had connections and could easily land recording contracts and gigs for our Singapore boys and girls.

Harry Cheok [second left] was Singpore's Johnny Lion, 

having won the contest officially with his group, Willy's Jokers. 

The others were contestants.

TITLE HOLDERS' LIST:

The list below may be the first ever produced of title holder impersonators as many of them participated in these competitions organised by cinema groups like Shaw Brothers or Cathay, etc. Others may have had their 'titles' unofficially given to them because they sound like the artistes.

Quite a number too, have passed away. So here goes.

Patricia Pestana
Singapore's
Connie Francis

Singapore's:

Nat King Cole - Rahim Hamid 
Louis Armstrong - Rahim Rahman* 
Johnnie Ray - Robert Song* 
Dean Martin - Ahmad Daud (image)
Elvis Presley - Johnny Aroozoo

Pat Boone - Walter Koh

Slim Whitman - Rocky Wong
Cliff Richard - Kenneth Gomes
Johnny Lion - Harry Cheok
Tom Jones - Halil Chik

Connie Francis - Patricia Pestana 

Millie Small - Veronica Young

Doris Day - Nancy Renjaan

Lobo - Nick Stravens
Paul Anka - Andrew Lim

Beatles - Cyclones

Shadows - McCoys
Jumping Jewels - Willy's Jokers
Blue Diamonds - Gaylads*

*Flamingos Combo with Dr. Charles Koh.

Certain titles may be dubious and not official. Write in to correct if you please.

Anyone else that you remember who holds a pop singer title?

Do contribute.

The McCoys: Singapore's Shadows.

TODAY:

Another best known Beatles impersonators in Singapore were Mike and Herb but they are known as the Beatles of Malaysia. Mike had since passed away. The other was the late Rocky Teoh, Malaysia's Elvis, known well even in Singapore since he touched base with Singapore's pop 60s musicians when they performed all over the peninsula. 

Impersonators are known as  'tribute artistes' today. H.T. Long stands tall as the Malaysian Elvis in the new century. In Singapore, we have an Elvis tribute artiste with the best array of jumpsuits. He is Jimmy PresLee, handsome, tall and impressive indeed [image below].

There is also Michael Goh, a recording artiste who sounds like Dean Martin. Known publicly as Michael Gold he is current and still sings and performs. You can check him out on his Facebook page [image below]. 

As mentioned, the list is not exhaustive so if you remember anyone who is a pop singer title holder in the 60s please contribute. Believe it or not, they are still impersonating stars today in the U.S.

Jimmy PresLee, an Elvis Tribute Artiste [ETA]

is still active in 2022. Cheers.

Check him out:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2022/06/elvis-presley-fashioned-jumpsuits-from.html

Michael Goh, a Dino Tribute Artiste.

Image: www.abangjebat.multiply.com/

Rejuvenated from 21.10.2009.

This post is original and has been copyrighted.