60s Music Guitarist Merlin Lim ['Philips' Vinyl Recording Artiste] Had Pet ChowChow Sailing With Him

Writer Merlin Lim in Shanghai, when 

he explored the 7 Seas as a sailor boy.

The Young Sailor Boy from Singapore

 And The Abandoned Chow Chow From Hong Kong.

A True Story From 60s Musician Merlin Lim.

While Staying In the Kampong, Yes Our Family Had Dogs. 

There Was One At the Next House Used As A Store Room. This Dog Was Very Friendly With Everyone. It Was Not Suitable As A Guard Dog But He Was There Because Of His Size, To Act As A Deterrent, Hoping To Fool Any Intruder.

There Was Another When I Was A Seaman On Board A Ship. While in Hong Kong, With Boats Loading And Unloading Cargoes Alongside Our Vessel We Found A Dog On Board Our Ship The Next Morning. Someone Had Abandoned What Resembled A Chow Chow, And Disappeared. 

While On Board The Ship, Yes Our Crew Nursed A Dog.

The Doggie Was In Bad Shape. We, the Crew, Took Care And Nursed Him Back To Health. So The Doggie Sailed With Us From Hong Kong To Singapore, The Straits of Malacca, Indian Ocean, On To East Africa, i.e. in Kenya And Tanzania, Eden And Up To the Red Sea, Then Back To Singapore. 

The Background Beach Scene, Reminded Me Of The Six Crew Members From Our Anchor Ship When We Paddled Our Dinghy To Shore, Including One Guy With Doggie Swimming Alongside. We Had Fun.

While On The Way Home, Yes Our Family Adopted The Dog.

Before Our Trip Back To Shanghai, I Took It Back Home, Because No One On Board Wanted To Take Responsibility. I Had To Take It Home First Because If It Bit A Chinese Worker While In Shanghai Or Anywhere Else, We Would All Be In Trouble. But Thanks To The Doggie It Took A Liking And Stayed Close To My Father. So The Chow Chow, Born In Hong Kong 😊, Became My Father's Protector, While I Continued On My Journey Across The Seas...

I Remember When Dad Was In Bed, Doggie Would Be At Dad's Feet And When Mum Was Around It Would Growl To Protect Dad. A Very Protective And Loyal Pet It Became...

Author: Merlin Lim, who writes 

as well as he plays the guitar.

'Sailing' By Christopher Cross [1979]

YouTube Video from: Rhino.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEO6gYCFbr0

NB:

I Started Working On Board Ship Doing On The Job Training With Zero Knowledge. Somehow, For Those Old Seafarers, That Was Good, Because I Didn't Have To Carry Some Of Those Useless Excess Baggage So It Was Easier To Teach Me.

I Worked My Way From OJT, To Sailor; Quarter Master And Boatswain, All the Time Having Tremendous Respect For Those Old Seafarers. They Had the Experience And  Knowledge And I, The Youthfulness To Present Their Ideas Into A Safe Working Environment. The Camaraderie Worked Very Well. All's Well That Ends Well. 

Author: Merlin Lim.

[This story, as in all original stories on this blog, has been rightfully copyrighted.] 

During his guitar days...

Little Ship: The Blue Diamonds.

YouTube Video by: bbb1972.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEXc-ou0tA8&list=RDKEXc-ou0tA8&start_radio=1

While Reading His Story, Yes, I Thank Merlin For This Dog Post.

"Sailing, 

Takes me away to where I've always heard it could be

Just a dream and the wind to carry me

Soon I will be free..."

Christopher Cross

Thanks Merlin for the inspiration you gave. Life is NEVER all music and nothing else. Your sailing period was truly an achievement. Not many Singaporean musicians could have done what you did and still stand today to tell your Salty Doggie Tale Of Joy...

Comments are welcome! 

Merlin Lim, retired today, was an adventurous sailor boy, 

a successful recording artiste and a contributing author for this blog.

This posting has been forwarded to 6th July, 2025.

Mother's Day 2019: From Merlin Lim & FL: Mother Of Mine

(1) I have known Merlin Lim for about 50 years now, a pleasant, honest and sincere young man who joined the Silver Strings and played rhythm guitar with us since the mid-60s. Merlin was involved in all the 12 Philips vinyl recordings done. This guy has no agenda with you. He's a good friend, period.

Merlin has always been supportive of this blog and wrote a note two years ago with so much feel about his mum I thought I'd repeat it on an individual posting; it deserves the honour.

(2) FL is my unknown supporter and even to this day, I don't know who he or she is. FL remains anonymous, a person who has written so many comments for this blog, recommends a song which I think is a sincere dedication to a lady that we all love so much.

Thanks again to both Merlin and FL.  

(1) Merlin Lim Musician:

My Dearest Mum,

Has since departed about 10 years ago and up to this minute, I still miss her very much. She is a gentle lady, strangely though, I don't ever remember her saying harsh words or swearing at anyone.

Her life may be tough but her living is simple. Cooking for the family, watching soap operas, cowboy and Native American Indian movies on TV.

When you talk about religion, her reply will always be, "As long as I don't harm others... I'm fine." It's simple but effective.

I knew we will part one day and I work on preparing towards that goal. So when the time came, I was prepared, physically and mentally. Mum also did her preparations. She had a list of what to do, by whom, up to where her ashes should be kept.

Well, a mother is not one day in a year. Mother is ever present, in life, death and beyond. Mother is and will always be part of our existence. Without my mother, I would be...

Love you, mum, always. Rest In Peace.

Mother of Mine (1971) by Neil Reid: A song with meaningful lyrics by a young man who's 12. Above YouTube version by Florence Aguilar. 

(2) F.L. Blog Supporter:

Hi Andy, 

Although my mom is longer around, I still think of her and memories of her keep coming back. I remember one beautiful song "Mother of Mine" with meaningful lyrics first made popular by a young boy of 12 years called Neil Reid in 1971. 

May I dedicate this song to all mothers on this Mother's Day. 

If you have songs to recommend on Mother's Day, please do so and I shall list them below, a space for your song and your name.

Images from Google and Merlin Lim's Facebook.

Rolling Stones Celebrate Chap Goh Meh In Singapore

UP TO 3,100 VIEWS. 24 COMMENTS

A Chap Goh Meh Posting 2018

A Chap Goh Meh Treat 16 February 1965

This story has been told many times but not from the man himself because he was there on stage with his own group and facing a crowd that was so huge you think it was a free show. Big money to pay for a performance which cost as much as $8 per head. It was the 60's.

I must thank Audie Ng, leader and bass guitarist of the Silver Strings for penning his experience when he appeared with one of the most exciting bands in the world.

An illustration of The Rolling Stones on stage which mostly result in healthy chaos and noise.

In 1965, The Silver Strings was invited to be the introductory band for the hugely successful and well-publicised Rolling Stones performance at the Singapore Badminton Hall on February 16. 

It was Chap Goh Meh and you can imagine the crowd, noise and fanfare the whole show created. It was chaos night with fire-crackers on the streets outside at Guillemard Road and twanging guitars with screaming Mick Jagger at the microphone and his troupe on stage.

The Badminton Hall during its hey-day when it was used daily for a different purpose.

The Straits Times headlines the next day read, Stones Lose To Firecrackers. Pandemonium At Badminton Hall As British Pop Group Clashes With Chap Goh Meh.

The show was held sometime after Veronica Young won the Millie Small Competition at the Sky Theatre at the Great World Amusement Park, Kim Seng Road. Accompanied by The Strings, she achieved instant stardom and all were invited to play with the Stones after that.

The second line up of the Silver Strings during the Stones concert at the Stadium. 

Kingsley Morando was the show manager and assisted by Wilson David (Singapore's Elvis Presley impersonator in the 1960's) the Rolling Stones were contracted to perform in Singapore by Singstar's Freddy Eu (Eu Tong Sen Street was named after this family.)

The Silver Strings line-up included Audie Ng (bass), David Chan (lead), Merlin Lim (rhythm), Danny Boy (drums) and Veronica (vocals). Apparently, the instruments used that evening were supplied by the event company and amplifiers belonged to The Dukes but this information was unconfirmed.

A Rolling Stones $2.00 ticket stub from the website The Lion Raw.

Audie remembers that the show opened with Veronica Young singing her signature hit, My Boy Lollipop followed by Stupid Cupid, These Boots Are Made For Walking, Where The Boys Are and See You Later Alligator. These songs were at the top of the 50's and 60's hit parade and brought the capacity crowd to pitch rock and roll fever. It was just the ignition key as to what was to follow.

The Rolling Stones rolled into the Stadium late because of the traffic jam and the tremendously energetic Chap Goh Meh (literal: 15th night) crowd on the streets. 

It was the last night of Chinese New Year and the community was celebrating it with vigour and the unbelievably loud explosions of firecrackers. The whole of Guillemard Road, from Geylang Road and the Kallang area, was overflowing with merry-makers. Since the Badminton Stadium was easy to access from most parts of Singapore - they converged there - you can imagine the pandemonium it caused.

"I doubt this phenomenon can ever be repeated in Singapore!" remarked Audie when I interviewed him for this story.

For illustration only: The Rolling Stones - during their early days when young, raw and hot.

Well I told you once and I told you twice

But ya never listen to my advice

You don't try very hard to please me

With what you know it should be easy...

From the opening lines of The Last Time, the show erupted like dynamite, this time from the top English band of the century. 19th Nervous Breakdown, Honky Tonk Women, followed and the crowd went wild. Even the ballad, As Tears Go By had no had no calming effect on the crowd. They were swooning and singing every line as if they were the composers of the songs.

Nobody really sat on the wooden chairs that night. From the jumping and screaming British servicemen and their families to the sensible Singaporean fan, there was no time to relax. Some of the younger Caucasian girls sobbed on bended knees and broke down hysterically. Even our local teenagers were screaming throughout the concert, enjoying live rock music that was a rarity those years.

Rolling Stones Singapore Concert 1965 promo acetate. Video from Parlogram YouTube.

When Satisfaction came on the sound system to announce it was the grand finale; the crowd wanted more. The packed stadium was like a burning furnace in Singapore's weather. The only factor that saved the evening was the breeze that came in through the huge window-like openings above the hall; natural ventilators they were since the twirling fans bedecking the high ceiling didn't help much. 

The Straits Times report about the show that evening attracted many newspaper readers.

An incident mentioned was the gatecrashers who tried to come in and a gate collapsed as the police (or mata-mata) were called in to help with the milieu that resulted. I understand the Black Marias and Ang Chia (Red Vehicles) were outside the stadium too. These were huge vans that would transport rioters and put them in lock-ups.

Now those were the days of rock and roll in Singapore in 1965 when our tiny island left Malaya to become an independent city-state and boys were still roaming the streets with long hair. What a way to go.

The more expensive $8.00 ticket with row and seat number. It was a lot of money those years.

The performance described was only part of the whole story. Many people saw this show and it was an unforgettable double happiness, Chap Goh Meh evening and the Stones presence.

Did you attend this particular concert and do you have something to say? We need some more information. Do write on the comment page. This concert was also the first time the Stones performed in Singapore. They came a few more times afterwards. 

Any comment?

Thanks to Dr Steve Farram (Darwin U.) for the inspiration, after enticing me with the video and ticket as bait, to write this article.😉

Article: All Rights Reserved.
Images: The Straits Times and Google.

The Silver Strings Rocked Orchard Road Central

Images are not very clear.

The Silver Strings.

It was a large crowd indeed at the Platinum Music World Disco Venue at Orchard Central but more importantly they were very supportive, singing and clapping to the performance that evening.

Rickie Chng highlighted as he plays FBI.

The mostly silver tsunami Silver Strings supporters who came were re-living the 60s Orchard Road  phenomenon with sounds from the Shadows like, Apache and FBI played by lead guitarist Rickie Chng (image above - with silver mop) who won over the audience with his professional finger gallops.

Singapore's Chuck Berry Patrick Chan with Johnny B. Goode.

Rhythm guitar Patrick took over the microphone and enthralled the crowd with Johnny B. Goode, the Chuck Berry classic.  Great rocker Pat!  He came on again later in the night with a tribute to Keith Locke and the Quests singing, You Lied. The applause was deafening.


Audie Ng always has a smile for his audience as Nick concentrates.

Audie was in the spotlight when he went solo with bars from Elvis' Mean Woman Blues.  He looked resplendent carrying his white bass guitar and charismatic smile.

Silver Strings fans in the front row seats.

Guardian Angel Rickie makes sure I do it right.

The band accompanied me with My Hometown, Diana, Red River Rock, and Mean Woman Blues while pop singer Irene Yap saved me with her beauty and graciousness when I went on the aisle. The other pretty lady (sorry didn't ask her name) helped me with my awkward dance steps.



At the drums, Oliver Bala with My Lonely Heart.

Drummer Oliver Bala, who had a percussion hide-away all to his own at the back of the stage was finally in the limelight with his tribute to local band The Thunderbirds singing My Lonely Heart.  Later on and in contrast he screamed the night away with the Beatles' top hit, I Saw Her Standing There.


The youngest one, keyboardist Nick.

Keyboardist Nick was next with Cliff's Young Ones. The audience connected when he sang, "And some day, When the years have flown,  Darling, then we'll teach the young ones, Of our own." The crowd repeated every line.  We rehearsed Stoney but Nick who is Singapore's Lobo did not perform it.

Crowd enjoying the show.

By about 9pm the house was packed and nobody moved as the Strings played The Ventures' version of El Cumbanchero.  Lead Rickie completed the instrumentals with Midnight in Malaya from Boy and the Rollin' Kids.  The crowd was melted by nostalgia magic.



Veronica Young, Singapore's Millie Small took over the stage. And the crowd burst with energy again as she thrilled the audience with My Boy Lollipop, Stupid Cupid and Hippy Hippy Shake.



Powerhouse Veronica Young with Connie Francis', Where The Boys Are.

Her rendition of My Happiness, Frankie and That's All I Want From You subdued the crowd as they listened to her sing about 15 hits altogether that included Too Late For Tears, Silver Threads and Golden Needles and Happy Birthday Baby, tributes to Shirley Nair, The Crescendos and Naomi and the Boys. She ended the evening's gaiety with Gronloh's Burung Kakak Tua and sang an encore, You Mean Everything To Me.  




Fans from all over Singapore.



Andy and Veronica with house boss Marissa after the show.

Eddino Abdul Hadi  Recommends: Straits Times LIFE Happenings article - 15.11.2013.

Images from The Straits Times Press, Marissa (Sweetymariz), Audie Ng, Veronica Young.
Check their FB pages for more photographs.

Apologies to Merlin Lim (original rhythm guitarist and Philip's recording artiste) who went to the club but could not get in touch with me. I had invited him personally to come.

Silver Strings Rhythm Guitarist - Merlin Lim

Manhunt: I have started on my manhunt. It began when Audie invited me to sing at the concert I mentioned. From the practices we had at a recording studio I met original drummer Danny Boy who has since 'retired' from playing at the Carriage Bar, York Hotel next to Goodwood Park Hotel. He drummed at the comeback show.

Audie had invited Merlin (Rhythm) to play too, however, Merlin declined as he was too busy with his day job. He still looks young with his jet black hair. Merlin joined the navy and travelled the world after he left the SS in the 70s. He is now working with a security company.

Merlin promises to tell me stories about his experiences with the SS when they toured Asia in the 60s and 70s.

He's one of the nicest guys around, truly!

(Image: From Strings Vinyl Record Cover.)