Singapore 60s Out Of Tune 60 Years Ago. Racial Riot @ Kallang Gas Works 21 July 1964.

This story was featured on 23rd November, 2014 during Brian Richmond's 90.5fm radio show, Sundays With Brian during the 'Reminiscing with Andy' segment.

EXACTLY 60 YEARS AGO TODAY.
21st JULY, 1964:

Mine is not a political blog but I have to address this matter because it shaped my mind for later years and because the Velvetones pop guitar band and I were together that day. We met during this holiday and spent our time till late. 

The Velvetones in 1964 and morphed into The Firebyrds [Philips Records.]

Members of the pop guitar band called The Velvetones were jamming at a bungalow in Lorong 39, Geylang that day; the house was diagonally opposite the former Chief Minister's Lim Yew Hock's bungalow on Sims Avenue. This group consisted of our usual Singaporean mix.  We had been practising for a few weeks and I was enjoying myself as one of their many singers. It was the first time that I had joined a band and it was extremely exciting for a 24 year old. 

While we were practising the leader of another Singapore pop band visited us to watch me sing.  Both of us had thoughts that I could join his group as a singer since I had met him some time ago to discuss it. 

The jam session lasted till late evening when we decided to call it a day. Meanwhile there were goings-on in the streets that we were not aware of. My friend only told me when he was sending me home in his car since he did not want to alarm the others during our practice. Although I was living around the corner I took his offer only after learning what had happened earlier.

Quietly in the car he told me how he had to dash through a barricade at one of the roads in Geylang before coming to the bungalow. He was not sure whether it was a police barricade or otherwise. No one stopped him as he sped to where we were, fearful for his life.

When he left me at my home at about 6.30 pm I experienced a strange quiet and uneasy stillness in the air. There was not a single vehicle or human being anywhere near my home or street. It was an eerie, eerie feeling as I felt my hair behind my head stood on ends. I felt as if an atomic bomb had dropped on Singapore and that the whole island had been devastated.  

"Not a soul on earth..." was the thought in my mind.  The whole stretch of Geylang Road, from the Paya Lebar end on one side, to the other where I could see the distance at Lorong 30, was totally empty and quiet. It was truly frightening. And the memory lives to this day!

My family, who were anxiously waiting for me and huddled behind the door, told me that a racial riot had started at the Kallang Gas Works earlier that day. I realised how serious the situation was when I read about it in the newspapers the next morning. The Gas Works was not too far from my home.

We shouldn't, as Singapore citizens, let this incident happen ever again!

On the music scene, the Beatles were hot those years with so many of their songs on the Top Hits list, "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You", "A Hard Day's Night", "Love Me Do" and "Please Please Me". 

But the most ironical song those months was Dean Martin's, "Everybody Loves Somebody Somehow." I wish! Ironical it was!

[I cannot remember the details but the story is reasonably accurate.]

Dean Martin: 'Everybody Loves Somebody Somehow'. 

YouTube Video from Dean Martin.

Were you aware of this 1964 Singapore riot? Comments are welcome.

The roads were empty with 

a few bystanders and the police.

Racial riots affected the country as 

people were in chaos and business disrupted. 

Reference:

'The Singapore Story. Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew' 

Pg: 556-559. (SPH/Times Edition 1998).

Images: 

Google; National Heritage Board, Personal Collection.

"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.

Lawrence Wong: Our Future PM Plays The Guitar & Sings

Future PM Lawrence Wong plays the guitar 

and sings with much feel and ease.

It's officially announced that DPM Lawrence Wong 

becomes PM on 15th May, 2024. At long last we'll have a

guitar playing and musically-minded chief in Singapore. 

Congratulations PM Wong. [15 April, 2024.]

   UP TO 6,200 VIEWS,  

 50 CHATS, COMMENTS 

Latest News: 6th June, 2022

Finance Minister Lawrence is also Deputy Prime Minister from today.

"He's good on the guitar and a natural on stage!"  It's the general remark among some Singapore music makers, that he could probably make a living as a music maker. That's Lawrence Wong, the presumptive Prime Minister of Singapore, actually a pop star already on the political stage.

It was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in mid-April 2022 that Finance Minister Wong would lead the 4G team and become the next PM in succession if the party wins the next election. 

But mine isn't a political blog so the focus will be on his ability to sing and play the guitar. Let's hope he carries on doing so.

He not only sings Western pops but does justice to the Chinese songs too.

There will be a few postings on Mr. Wong. So watch out for them...

Please share this post with your family and friends.

Lawrence Wong accompanies on guitar,

 'Everyday I Have The Blues'

YouTube Video by Desmond Khoh.

Before Lawrence Wong there was Tan Soo Khoon, 

another rockin' politician who plays the guitar and sings Elvis.

To read about Tan SK connect below:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/08/tan-soo-khoon-former-mp-speaker-of.html

Images from Google and YouTube.

Performing For Singapore Presidents, Prime Ministers, Malaysian Royalties: By Michael Bangar

Again, with much pleasure, this article is another of many stories that Michael Bangar has contributed. I must thank him for his generosity and the friendship we have developed throughout the years. It is, without doubt, he and his band members are the most versatile music makers in Singapore.

Thank you Mike.

The Wild Wild West With DJ Brian Richmond and the Band. Their Colt 45's have been retained by security at the door 😉

"Very seldom do I blow my own trumpet. I hope you all don't mind. Another Music Topic. But I just need to talk about This Group Of Guys that I had Great Pleasure Of Playing Music With. The Band with multiple names: Katz Konnection (Jerry's), Country Gentlemen (Donald's), Mixed Combination (Jeffery's), Transit (Ivor's) & The NewNotes ( mine).

Lead Guitarist: the late Donald Thaver( Ivor Lesslar took his place later ). From time to time we also played with Peter Gonzales & Roland Shepherdson too ( Good Guitar Players as well ). Bass Guitarist Jeffery Pinto ( we played with Stephen De Souza too. Good Bassist ). Drummer Ramon Francis ( we also played with Drummers Chris Miles, Stephen Gomez (also a guitarist), Patrick Fernando - Very Good Drummers too). And last but not least, the multiple -  instrumentalist Jerry Murad: Sax / Flute. They all did lead vocal duties and vocal harmony too. The Band did strictly gigs when we first got together in January 1987 -  to date.

A short while later, we did a gig for Mr Conrad Rappa ( a veteran music man from the 40's & 50's who had the title Spore's Jim Reeves bestowed upon him ) and he put Jerry Murad with the 4 of us and we evolved into a 5pce. And the gigs just kept on rolling in.

With Mr Lim Boon Heng and Chief Steward of Shangri-la Hotel and the band.

After a while, we realised how well we got on together musically. All of us had come from so many different bands and unknowingly brought along with us our variety of musical experiences. Effortlessly we went from one musical genre to another. Oldies, Jazz, Country & Western, Rock,  Pop Hits Of The Day & even a few Classical Numbers.

Our repertoire covered the big hits of the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's & beyond. We performed covers of songs by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams to Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Roy Orbison to Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tony Christie, John Rowles etc. We covered the big hits of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, Hermans Hermits, The Byrds, The Eagles &  generally covering as much of The Oldies.

We did a lot of instrumentals by The Shadows, The Ventures, The Jumping Jewels, Big Band Stuff, Bossa Nova & Jazz Instrumentals, etc. Jerry, Ramon and Jeffery could even do different language songs like Malay, Tamil, Hindi, Chinese ( a few Mandarin, Hokkien & Cantonese numbers ) even some Japanese, Thai, French, Italian Hits.  With all the music genres that we covered, we could also play Dondang Sayang, Keroncong and Dangdut.

 We were one of a few bands that got into the function circuit when it was at its peak. So we had to have a wide repertoire to try to please as much of the International audience as we could. We did gigs at almost all the major hotels, country clubs and convention centres.

Professor Jayakumar and the band in bow-ties and black suits.

I must not forget to mention that when the need arose, we could go from solo performances to 2piece, 3, 4, 5 even up to 10pce. band line - up. This is the electric band set up. We even used to take on strolling gigs ( called Mariachi - in the West ). 1, 2, 3, 4 and even 5pce. Strolling lineups, going round the table to table routine, corner to corner even restaurants to restaurants, using acoustic instruments as you all kinds.

Dignitaries we have performed in front of- Presidents - the late Mr Wee Kim Wee, the late Mr S R Nathan, the late Indo President Suharto ( when he & then S'pore PM Mr Goh Chok Tong did The Grand Opening of The Hotel Sedona Resort in Bintan Lagoon ). Dad & son Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew & Lee Hsien Loong ( even his younger brother Lee Hsien Yang & his Mrs.).

Old Guard Ministers : Dr. Goh Keng Swee, Dr. Toh Chin Chye, Mr. E W Barker. Ministers Prof. Jayakumar, Abdullah  Tarmugi ( we played for his 60th. Birthday Party ), Mr. Lim Boon Heng, Mr. Lee Boon Yang, Mr. Yatiman Yusof, Mr Chandra Das, Mr. Ibrahim Othman, Dr Ahmad Mattar, etc. Yeo Ning Hong.

Many years ago, for some Malaysian Royalties too. The then Sultans of Perak, Kedah, Selangor and a Birthday Party of the then Tengku Mahkota Of Johore, currently The Sultan.

With President Tony Tan in 1998 at dinner as Michael Bangar's band strolled the floor.

During that period, we averaged 12 gigs per month from January 1987 onwards. I had a habit of recording details of all my gigs in my diary.

The month of December 1999, heading on into the new millennium we did 22 gigs that month. Sometimes 2 even 3 per day. How good times were during that period."

With Dr Yeo Ning Hong and the late Mr E.W. Barker and the band.

Disclaimer:
This article and its photographs have been posted in good faith. If there is any objection to their publication, do write in on the Comment Page and, with appropriate reasons, they will be deleted.

Images: Michael Bangar Collection.
Written by Michael Bangar verbatim.

Meeting PM Lee Hsien Loong @ Botanical Gardens (VIP Orchids)

This posting is not about the 38 Oxley Road controversy between PM and his siblings.

When Two Dragons Meet 

It was the usual evening walk with my wife at the Botanical Gardens enjoying the lighted Christmas trees - at this time of year - that lined the paths along the Gardens when we both chanced upon VVIP Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong walking with his wife Ms. Ho Ching and a few bodyguards near the famous gazebo (image).

My wife acknowledged him by calling out his name. He smiled and said hello. I was more engrossed in taking the picture of a tree and fiddling with my iPhone than to notice.

                                         PM Lee on the left.
As the couple walked around the gazebo and came our way again, I asked to take a selfie with him. He obliged. And here is the picture. But PM took the selfie because I always fumble with selfies, preferring instead that a stranger took full body. But with PM obliging so kindly...

Meantime my wife was so lost in taking more pictures of the trees she was unaware of what had happened. It was such a quiet affair.

The informality of the meet struck my mind as we parted. No official function, no speeches, no agenda, no requests, no fuss...  And he was so kind about it, not in a hurry. 

Thank you, PM for giving your time. And a very nice PM he is. Can't remember if it was a moonlit night but it didn't matter. 

A once in a blue moon occurrence actually, and it happened on 12.12.16. at about 9 pm.😊

Latest News:
Is he looking as young as ever after 10 years since 2009 or hasn't he? Check out PM Lee's Facebook page.

Images: A Personal Collection; Google.

Information from the Gardens' Websites.

The Garden Song by John Denver

Video from: liztricia serendipity 2014

VVIP Orchids:

At the National Orchid Gardens @ Botanic Gardens many celebrities have specially bred orchids named after them. This practice started in 1956 and to date, there are about 200 names.  

Offhand, some of the names included: Lee Kuan Yew, Kwa Geok Choo, Lady Anne Black, Indira Gandhi, Emperor Akihito, Queen Elizabeth 2, Princess Diana,  Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Gloria Macapagal-Aroyo, Laura Bush, Annika Sorenstam, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Zhou Xun, Jan Goodall, Bae Yong Jun, Joe and Jill Biden, Paloma Picasso, Shah Rukh Khan, Michael Kors, Ban Ki-Moon, Amitabh Bachchan, Aun San Suu Kyi.

Even our pop stars are honored: Elton John (below), Ricky Martin, Andrea Bocelli, Stefani Sun and Jackie Chan.

George Gershwin Music For Lee Kuan Yew: 1967

PM Lee Hsien Loong in a message read out at a private memorial service in New York City for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew on Thursday: 24th September 2015, revealed that one souvenir his father brought home from his trip to the U.S. in 1967 was a gift from former President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ). 

The gifts were a portable turntable with vinyl Long Play records of George Gershwin's music.  This collection would include Rhapsody in Blue a song that brought the composer immediate fame and the very popular, *An American in Paris.  

In his speech PM LHL went on to say, "I am not sure we made much of this sample of American technology and culture at the time, but looking back, that gift symbolised America's spirit of dynamism, spontaneity generosity and warmth - the American values that my father greatly admired all these years."

It is true of George Gershwin because when the American people heard his music for the first time, they believed it captured the voice of modern American culture and were enthralled with his compositions.  

Starting at 18 years of age, Gershwin wrote more than 500 melodies for the next 20 years which included an opera, Porgy and Bess.  Musical plays were very popular in the 1920's and 1930's and his music was first performed in theatres in New York City.

I first heard Gershwin as a child in the 1950's and remember listening to many of his compositions over the radio.  The music spanned both popular and classical genres so it was natural that I learnt the same.

Some of his well-known pieces include: I Got Rhythm, Someone To Watch Over Me, Embraceable You, Swanee, S'Wonderful, The Man I Love, I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise, I've Got A Crush On You, Somebody Loves Me and the list goes on. One of his most famous was, Summertime from the opera.

Gershwin's songs swarmed the hit parade charts and dozens of singers and musicians had recorded them. The outstanding list include personalities like: Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Al Jolson, Bobby Darin, Bing Crosby, Janis Joplin, John Coltrane, Mel Tormé, Billie Holiday, Yehudi Menuhin and group The Moody Blues.

Then there's Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Sam Cooke, Diana Ross, Neil Sedaka, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock,  Madonna, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, Nina Simone, Adam Faith, Kate Bush, Sting, Amy Winehouse, Doris Day, Chet Atkins and many others.

Let's look at these figures. Born at the end of 1898, George Gershwin passed away in the middle of 1937 at the young age of 38. His songs are still being recorded in the 21st Century, more than 100 years later.  

Symbolically these Gershwin gifts were appropriate for a statesman like LKY since they encompassed the spirit of dynamism and spontaneity.  Both personalities BTW were born in September, GG on the 26th and LKY on the 16th. 

Footnote:
*Musical is currently on Broadway now. Wow!
Information about:
1. LHL speech: ST/A40/Opinion/26.09.2015.
2. George Gershwin: Internet.
Images: Blog background cartoon by Al Hirschfeld and Google.

Ella Fitzgerald sings George Gershwin's Summertime Video by bessjazz.

Lee Kuan Yew: Pulau Tekong 1963. His Passing 2015

4 PART SERIES

MR LEE KUAN YEW, SINGAPORE'S FIRST PM, PASSED AWAY ON
23rd MARCH, 2015.

A) I FOLLOWED LKY @ PULAU TEKONG IN MAY 1963.

I met him only once in my life time.  But it was a special encounter and when he walked by, the respectability and awe the crowd had for him was remarkable. 

Mr Lee, at 40 years young, was visiting Pulau Tekong Besar in May 1963 when he toured the island, Pulau Ubin and Changi.  Sounds of the kompang in the kampongs filled the afternoon air as he met the villagers who thanked him for newly opened community centres and for improvements in their lifestyle.

At 23 years, I witnessed the occasion and with my father's box camera, followed him with the delegation and crowd that accompanied him.  I managed to take some photographs of Mr Lee because I kept a close distance.  And amidst gangly coconut trees, coconut leaf buntings and festivities, I heard Mr Lee speak.

Many of us have been 'following' him since, in the newspapers, magazines, academic papers and recently on the internet.  There were also the books he wrote. 

Some books about LKY. Really good reads.

15 Titles On COMMENTS page.

Images for A: Private Collection.

ON 23RD MARCH, 2015, MR LEE PASSED AWAY; HE HAD BEEN 

UNWELL AND WAS HOSPITALISED.

               B) WAKE @ SRI TEMASEK, ISTANA NEGARA, 24th May.

REMEMBERING MR LEE

                                         Istana Singapore

                               Sri Temasek within Istana Grounds
              

Images for B: Thanks to Jimmy PresLee.

The choir of St. John's College Cambridge sang Home @ Parliament House on 25th March. Video: PM Office.

C) PARLIAMENT HOUSE, LYING IN STATE: 26th  MARCH.  

OUR QUEUE FROM 8.30 pm - 12.30 am. 

Parliament House, Singapore

New Art Gallery where crowds gather
        
The crowd was huge but it was orderly.  When I checked my iPhone outside City Hall interchange I read it was to be an eight hour wait. I nodded to friend Tony and we decided to join the queue.

The lines of people streamed in silence as we watched them move towards Parliament House. We followed the flow.  The line was snaky but we both had a bottle of water each while others took canned drinks, biscuits, sweets and umbrellas, provided free by some generous donors. 

We had spent nearly two hours after we came at 8.30 pm. It was another two hours before filing into the House which was just ahead of us. My back was in pain but by then I was holding the hand of a three year old boy who was with his parents and older sister. We had all met in the queue, bonded quickly and energised ourselves with bubbly chats...  

I looked around me. We were standing on Padang grass. An area of history and great pageantry.  In front of me was the new Art Gallery, majestic under the arch lights,  but a place where judges and lawyers used to gather.

I looked at my young friend, who was still holding my hand and not letting go for some time.  I sensed that he was comfortable with me so I couldn't resist singing, "Little One" to him during one of our short stops.  The song was a Russ Hamilton hit written for his niece.  I thought Emmanuel enjoyed the lullaby.  He looked tired though.  By this time my back was at its worst. Hardly any chance to sit.

By about 11.30 pm, we reached the security gates where we were checked by the guards.   Within half an hour the silent crowd had been split into two rows as we filed into Parliament House. I was about to pocket the iPhone as no picture-taking  was allowed within the corridors but managed a stolen snap.  The guard looked at me, "No photo taking please!" I smiled.

Another 15 minutes passed, and finally, after a long evening we managed to witness our Mr Lee lying in state. It was a four hour wait but a four minute view. I looked at my Phone, 12.30 am.

Emmanuel finally let go of  my hand as he sleepily ambled to his mother.   I really like that kid. We said our good-byes.  He was in dreamland as we left the gates.  Lucky boy; and in so many ways. An appropriate name too,  Emmanuel...

Images for C: Private Collection.

Time to let go.

D) MUSIC PLAYED @ STATE FUNERAL: UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE
 29 MARCH.
THE FINAL JOURNEY

NUS Cultural Centre

PLAYED DURING SERVICE:

1) Dead March from Saul performed by the Singapore Armed Forces Military Band.

Coffin Bearer Party carried the coffin into the University Cultural Centre (UCC). 

2) Air performed by Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

J. S. Bach's Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. 

3) Last Post by lone bugler from the Singapore Armed Forces Military Band.

At the end of the eulogies, a lone bugler from the Singapore Armed Forces Military Band sounded the Last Post, representing a final salute to LKY and also marked the start of a minute of silence for him.

4) The Rouse by lone bugler from the Singapore Armed Forces Military Band.

It is a symbolic call back to duty after respect was paid to memory of the deceased and the end of a minute of silence.

5) National Anthem

After the National Pledge, the National Anthem was played as a mark of respect to Mr Lee.

Images: PM Office; CNA Media Corps, Singapore.

SONGS @ PARLIAMENT HOUSE:

6) Auld Lang Syne
Played when the casket left Sri Temasek for Parliament House.

7) Amazing Grace
Heard during Mr Lee's Lying in State at Parliament House.

8) Home (Singapore Song) sung in Parliament House witnessed by PM Lee Hsien Loong.
Images: Google.

Charlie Munger: Number 2 to Warren Buffet.

"Study about the life and work of Lee Kuan Yew, most successful, in the history of mankind -you're going to be flabbergasted."

Images from friends and Google.