Louis Soliano: An Institution In Singapore Music

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''Louis Soliano is virtually an institution in the Singapore music scene, having performed in every major music establishment. An accomplished percussionist and vocalist with over 56 years of professional experience, he has performed with numerous jazz luminaries across both regionally and internationally and has garnered both respect and admiration of the jazz community both in Singapore and abroad. 

Join Soliano and his quartet comprising of pianist Joshua Wan, bassist John Koh and percussionist Bobby Singh as they perform a selection of classic jazz standards and show tunes.''

Louis Soliano

Louis Soliano is virtually an institution in the Singapore music scene, having performed in every major music establishment. An accomplished percussionist and vocalist with over 56 years of professional experience performing at jazz festivals, concert halls, cabarets and hotels, he has performed to dignitaries such as George W. Bush and the late Chinese President Yang Shangkun.

His musical journey reads like a history of the music in Singapore and the region. Coming from a famed family of musicians, he embarked on a musical career in the late ’50s which saw him tour the Far East, Europe and America, working with numerous international celebrities.

Returning to Singapore in 1974, Soliano made waves with his trio, performing commercial jazz in Singapore clubs, Malaysia and Southeast Asia. He then played drums and percussion with the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Orchestra (SBC) for 10 years before becoming a regular feature at the Singapore International Jazz Festival in the ’80s and early ’90s. 

In 1997, Louis was a recipient of the Compass Artistic Excellence Award for his outstanding musicianship and contributions to the development of the Singapore jazz music scene. He later received his lifetime achievement award from Lawrence Wong, then Minister of Culture, Community and Youth and the inaugural Singapore International Jazz Festival in 2014. 

You make me feel so young
You make me feel so spring has sprung
And every time I see you grin
I'm such a happy individual

Catch you all there tonight. 

Comment guys?

Image and story (edited) from:

http://www.c3a.org.sg/Activities_details.do?id=44477

Another posting about LS:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2017/06/louis-soliano-singapore-jazz-legend-by.html

You Tube Video: Laughter in the Rain (Neil Sedaka) 

by Louis Soliano 

@ Paragon Music En Vogue 19 Oct 2011

 

RedTaurus

Louis Soliano Singapore Jazz Legend: By Melanie Lee

The article below about drummer/singer Louis Soliano and written by Melanie Lee is published with both their permission. It is the most popular story online these past few months and taken from *SEACG Website. 

HAPPY GRAND-FATHER'S DAY, BIG DADDY.

Thank you, Louis and Melanie.

Andy.

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I grew up in a family of professional musicians. I was taught piano and violin since the age of five, but I was more interested in playing games. However, when I was 14, I accompanied my dad, a multi-instrumentalist, to a studio recording for a silent movie at Jalan Ampas. It was there that I fell in love with drumming after I heard the drummer playing.

With that interest, my father showed me how to play the drums, and how it can be the loudest and softest instrument at the same time. I would practise at home, and the neighbours would complain about how noisy I was. By 16, I was already playing professionally in places such as the Cathay Restaurant, Golden Venus Bar, and Seaview Hotel.

'S Wonderful (George Gershwin) by Louis Soliano @ Paragon (20 Oct 11) (HD)

In 1966, I was working with my Uncle Alfonso Soliano’s band at Chao Phya Hotel in Bangkok. There was an American officers’ club at the hotel and I was spotted by an American entertainment agent. He offered me a gig to perform at American military bases in Vietnam for US$700 a week. 

I thought that was a good pay, but it was only when I got there that I found out that we would have to perform three shows a night at each military base — that meant 21 shows in a week!

In the three years, I was in Vietnam, I was always on the road travelling from one base to another. Gunshots were heard daily everywhere, and I had to carry a revolver myself for protection. Sometimes, when we played, we could hear heavy shelling and gunshots in the background. But we were young — we had energy and were not afraid of anything.

Today, I’m a father of four and a grandfather of six. Many of my friends have passed away and some are in old folks’ homes. I thank God that I’m still able to live another day doing what I love. I keep trying to grow myself. I hope to do a big-band concert in the future, working with young musicians in Singapore. I’m so glad to see how jazz here has grown with all this new talent.

At the end of the day, I hope that the great songs I bring to my audiences take them back to a special time or place in their lives.

Seventy-five-year-old jazz veteran Louis Soliano has been performing drums and vocals for 60 years in Singapore and around the world. He is considered one of the top drummers in this region and his vocal style is often compared to that of Johnny Hartman and Nat King Cole. 

Soliano has played alongside many famous musicians, including Stan Getz, Lea Salonga, Matt Monro and Anita O’Day. In 1997, he took home the Artistic Excellence Award by the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) and in 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Singapore International Jazz Festival. He released his solo album Improm2 in 2004.

Anita O'Day, Matt Monro, Lea Salonga, Stan Getz appeared with Louis Soliano.

"Singapore Jazz Legend Louis Soliano Improvises 
Life And Music."

By Melanie Lee (image right ). Article from:

*Singapore's Essential Arts and Culture Guide:

 http://a-list.sg/one-small-voice-louis-soliano/

Images: Google
Video: YouTube 
By Red Taurus

May Not Be Complete Louis Soliano Awards:

1959: 
Gene Krupa of Singapore Trophy.

1997: 
Compass Artistic Excellence Award for his outstanding musicianship.

2004:
He released his solo album Improm2.

2013: 
FLCM (Fellowship Diploma of the London College of Music) music diploma for his Percussion Performance from the University of West London, London College Of Music Examinations.

2014:
Lifetime Achievement Award from Mr Lawrence Wong, then Minister of Culture, Community and Youth at the inaugural Singapore International Jazz Festival (image).  

Louis Soliano [in blue] at rest with Blogger Andy Young, 

Richard Khan (October Cherries drummer).

LATEST: 
23 October 2018

Announced in the local papers that Louis Soliano won the Cultural Medallion 2018, the highest honour in arts (SG).

Congratulations Louis!