Singapore 60's Music Memories Today. With Blog Contributor Stephen Han

Stephen Han [blog contributor] 

with Winston and Andy. March 2022.

"It’s very rare to have tea and tim-sum and wonderful chats with not one but two iconic Singapore singers. Andy Lim better known as Andy Young was one of them and the other is Winston Koh.

I had the privilege to watch Andy winning the Paul Anka Contest at the Rex Theatre more than 60 years ago. Winston sings the popular Cliff Richard songs and toured Malaysia with the late Millie Small of My Boy Lollipop fame.

We had useful chat and Winston recalled his sting in Hong Kong. I must not forget to thank Andy for the treat and for driving me home. Hope to meet you two soon."

[The above letter was written by Stephen Han on Facebook: 10.03.2022]

Millie Small with 'Sharp Night' TV host

Zhang Wei and Winston Koh in the early 70's.

My Reply:

"Thanks Stephen for your friendship, this memory and for the numerous and nostalgic blog postings that you wrote about your experiences during Singapore's 60's music period. Yes, we must meet again soon. 👍" Andy.

The Stephen Han stories about 60s music. Connect below:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/08/psycho-1960-anthony-perkins-letter-to.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2021/04/happy-world-stadium-music-wrestling.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/10/international-stars-national-theatre.html

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/03/rita-moreno-oscar-winner-oriental.html

A Tribute: Millie Small Sings With Singapore’s Winston Koh

Winston Koh from The Flying Phantoms has a posting of himself and the group on this blog. 

I remember he took a picture with Millie, so I posted it but in his own humble way never told me what he was doing with a famous star.  Only when I asked him did he reveal his story. At that time from 1971 to 1973, Millie Small was living in Singapore but except for some in the music community, most Singaporeans were not aware of her presence.

But let Winston tell his story. Thanks Winston. You’re always a winner, all the way!

“I had my big break in Jan 1971 and sung a duet with International star Ms Millie Small (My Boy Lollipop) at the National Theatre Charity Show “STAR of STARS” to raise funds for Telok Blangar Constituency Scholarships’. We sung MY ELUSIVE DREAMS together at the show and at RTS studios. The backing band had living guitar legend Horace Wee and members from RTS’ music makers.

She was a very humble person and was living here in Singapore for awhile. I had the opportunity to show her around our island. She described to me both the similarities and differences in the make up of our islands. She also joined my tour to Kuantan, Malaysia for a couple of days with Sharp Night (a popular Chinese variety show on TV), then hosted Mr Zhang Wei (above image).

Whenever we went for our meals during the tour she would always ask for one special dish. Millie loved to eat roast pork (char siew) truly her favourite meat and cuisine.

Very sad to learn of her passing. May she Rest In Peace. 

God bless her soul.”

My Elusive Dreams:
And now all we have is each other 
And a little memory 
To cling to and still 
You won't let me go on alone
I know you're tired of following
My elusive dreams and schemes
For they're only fleeting things
My elusive dreams
(Songwriters: Billy Sherrill, Claude Putman Jr., Curly Putman.)

Article and image from Winston Koh.

Copyrights Reserved.