Singapore 60's Music: We Were On Stage Before Cliff Richard

Andy with Michael Goh and brother Richard 

at the Capitol Cinema 9 January 1961

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Amateur Night Capitol Cinema: Andy Young, Michael Goh: 9th January, 1961

Singapore  Badminton Hall: Cliff Richard n Shadows: 19th  November,  1961

Backstage at the Capitol Cinema with Goh Brothers, Richard and Michael (2nd right), who sang My Rifle, My Pony and Me. I cannot remember the gentleman on the left. If you do please let us know.

After 47 years, I met Mike again at Vivo City Concert on 8th November 2008. Michael performed Memories Are Made Of This and two other songs by Dean Martin.

When I told him I had met him previously, he wasn't sure so I went home whipped out my photo-album and sent him a copy of our picture.

Michael had recorded songs by Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, and other 50's artistes on 4 CD's which were sold in the US under Michael Gold (blogged on Dec. 28, 2008).

Cliff and the Shadows Happy World Stadium 

19 November, 1961

Donated by Tan Soo Khoon

Backstage, On Stage, Performing

And backstage is the theme today. Notice our garb. I was wearing a pair of shiny, brown pants, either near bell-bottoms of straight drain-pipe trousers. The others had the usual baggy pants tailor made for office use. The neckties were a variety then, some pointed or flat at the end. A small, longish golden or silver tie pin completes the outfit. White long sleeved shirts were common then.

This was the period around the time Cliff Richard and the Shadows were about to hit Singapore. Just as the 1950's were about to end, teenagers all over the world were crazy with Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Bill Haley, Bobby Darin, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Everly Brothers, the era of rock and roll, US music and vocal duets.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, 

Johnny Cash in the late 1950's to the 1960's

Connie Francis, Sandra Dee, Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida were the craze then. Movies like Gidget, Summer Place and Come September were the talk of the time and Elvis fans were crazy with Are You Lonesome Tonight and Baby Let's Play House.

So when these people were hot, we were just as hot.  And we were mostly on stage performing already. Exciting years.

Bobby Darin, Sandra Dee, Gina Lollobrigida and 

Rock Hudson in movie, 'Come September'.

This post has been forwarded from 2009

Images: Google

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

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

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

Andy.

Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan: 

My Rifle, Pony and Me

YouTube Video: Dino4ever

Change This Blog To An Internet Shopping Centre?

Maybe I should convert this blog into an internet shop like e-Bay or Amazon.com and start selling the products that I write about. Won't it be a great idea? Imagine the amount of money I can make with just a 10% cut. These letters below are just a few of the mail I have received where surfers and friends have requested to buy CDs, vinyls (records) and books. Here are some of the letters:

1) Just spent 60 Euros on a boring research book recently. This one sounds interesting. Any chance you could fly me a copy Andy? Will do an internet transfer from UOB. :)

2) I am Santhosh from India. I would be extremely grateful to you if you could help me get the MP3 of the following songs of Ervinna. I had a cassette which had 22 English songs of Ervinna, which got destroyed. I have managed to find 13 out of that 22 - but could not get the following 9 songs. I am ready to pay.

3) This musta be the Dinoref that you have mentioned to me... gonna have to see if I can gets my hands on one of Michael Goh's albums of Dinodevotion...

4) Wow, the book by Yusnor Ef is a major discovery for me. I have many songs from that era, now I need that book to accompany them. Please provide some info on where to buy it. Many thanks!

5) "Mary Ho Any chance you have a Red Fender Stratocaster in your collection? ; ) Also, you mind sending me an autograph version of your CD? I will do a $fund$ transfer from here if you don't mind.

6) Do you know of any other copies of the EP (The Diamond Four) that are in existence?

7) Mary Ho commented on a post you were tagged in."I don't have a red one at the moment but would love to own one if I can find it.:) I'm in London now, saw one at Harrod's yesterday but it's a three quarter size... I didn't buy it. Glad you mentioned my CD, will autograph it and send you a complimentary copy. Please let me know where I can send it to.:)"

No I'd rather leave it as a blog and make my usual comments about Singapore 60s music. So please keep on writing because this coming November the blog will be 3 years old. And I am not trying to promote it. Just having fun. And I probably won't earn 2 cents from it.

What do you readers think?

Images: from Google.

Original article: Andy Lim.

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

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

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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.

Everybody Loves Somebody - DinoMartinPeters

"About Medino martin petersI am a dude who totally digs Dino Martin...the coolest, hippest, and randiest dude to ever walk the face of this planet. Long live our Master of Hip, our King of Cool, the one, the only DINO!!!!!"

(PROFILE of: dino martin peters)

Dino wrote the blog below about Dean Martin and Singapore 60s Music: Friday, April 17, 2009DEAN MARTIN - Crooners Influencing The 60s

Hey pallies, it is such a wonderful Dinofeelin' to know that Dinopassion is likes totally Dinouniversal...takes this Dinoentry from a cool blog tagged "Singapore 60s Sixties Pop Music Website '08" (clicks on tagg of this Dinogram to view) where a dude tagged Andy shares Singaporian Dinodevotion...reads all 'bout it below...loves how this Andy dude makes this Dinostatement...

"And Dean Martin's magic spreads round the living or dining room with soothing, sentimental easy vocals and dream music." And how cool to know that Singaporians were romancin' while dancin' to the Dinosound in the swingin' '60's..

My grateful thanks to Mr. Andy for postin' this at his cool blog so that I could share it with all Dinoholics in these here ilovedinomartin Dinoparts....let's all continue to do our Dinopart to spead the Dinomessage as Dinofar and Dinowide as Dinopossible...bringin' more and more pallies to true Dinodevotion whereever they are located in the Dinouniverse.... Dinodiggin', DMP.

(Go to: http://www.ilovedinomartin.blogspot.com/ )

Thanks again for writing Dino. Singaporeans love Dean Martin so much that we have many Dean Martin impersonators in Singapore. One of them is Michael Goh whose postings can be found on 28th December, 2008. This Michael Goh (Gold) is a real cool dude and sings like Dino too!)

Elvis Presley Of Singapore - Dean Martin Too?

Remember Michael Goh? He's also known as Michael Gold and his CDs are sold out overseas. In fact the above image shows there are only two of his CDs left. It's entitled, "Sway!" Buy one before it's too late or wait for months before new pressings arrive.

Check him out on DECEMBER 28th posting on this blog.

Michael Gold - Easy But Deep & Mysterious Too.

Michael Goh or Gold is a pleasure to listen as the songs recorded suit his style: easy, calm, reassuring and provocative. There's an incitement about his vocalization, deep and mysterious.

He sings for pleasure and was part of a duet with his brother when they won the Amateur Nite Contest at the Capitol Cinema in the 60s. Michael went on to sing at functions, nitespots and recorded songs by Martin & Presley in his own elegant manner. His Xmas album has a truly yuletide feel.

Gold is a pseudonym as the CDs were released in the U.S. only and not for local consumption.

Michael Gold stands tall with his CDs.

Images: from Michael Goh CD covers

Original article: Andy Lim

Dean Martin Of Singapore - Michael Goh (Gold)?

If my memory isn't failing me, I remember that Singapore's Dean Martin was Ahmad Daud popular on radio and telly. Did he sound like Dean Martin?

Because of the recent gig in Nov 2008 at VivoCity I heard recordings from someone whom I thought could sing like Dean Martin. With his sensual voice I heard MICHAEL GOH's rendition of Dino favourites.

Audie (bass guitarist) introduced me to Michael who sang Dean Martin songs at the 60s reunion concert.

Image: Michael Goh CD cover.