Song: Nona Zaman Sekarang: Modern Hari Raya Lady

The form fitting modern sarong kebaya.

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I was lucky enough to have parents who thrived on English, Mandarin, Indonesian, Dutch pop songs and folk music.  As a teen I enjoyed the songs they played on the radio and gramophone records.  Some of them are still popular today and it's going back to the 50s with a You Tube video above that features Gus Steyn and his RTM Orchestra.

One of the finest band leaders Steyn was well-known in this part of the world.  The melody is an up-tempo piece and interpreted vividly with strings, brass and all. Personally it's the best version  I've heard for a long time. Delightful indeed to have rynamyra loading it. Thank you. (Videos will be deleted when the next posting appears).

Ger van Leeuwen - Nona-Nona Zaman Sekarang (Yusoff B) Thanks to ud. 000

There's another version below by Sandra Reemer, recorded probably in the 60's when folk songs had revivals and became popular again with new rendition of Kopi Susu, Nina Bobo and Bengawan Solo by pretty singers like Anneke Gronloh and Reemer.

These hits topped the music charts in our region and possibly in Europe too as many people of Dutch origin in RRI (Republic Ra'ayat Indonesia) migrated to Holland and the West during the Soekarno regime in the 60s. 

 But this song is different.  Nona Zaman Sekarang or Modern Day Women was composed by our own Singaporean Yusoff B. in the late 1940s.  Some of his other songs include: Semarak Hati, Suka Sama Suka and Wanita dan Teruna. 

He was one of superstar P. Ramlee's music mentor when he first joined Malay Film Productions.   Ramlee's early songwriting was influenced by Yusuf B's music arrangement  and style.  Ironically, Yusuff B would borrow ideas from the late Ramlee when composing his own songs.

Singers who performed it initially was A. Rahman, R. Azmi, Julia and a host of Indonesian and Malay singers. Sandra, a Dutch singer of Indonesian origin, took the opportunity and made it a big hit.  Apparently her version is still the most popular.

Ms Reemer (below in later years) had passed away in 2017.  A beautiful and talented young lady; she will be missed by all her fans, all over the world. RIP Sandra Reemer.

The word Nona means a young lady, like Miss in English. The song is about how bold young ladies are compared to those who lived in earlier times - no one can interfere nor prohibit their dress code.  These ladies with their short, transparent clothes and painted red cheeks have triggered much controversy and have either confused the male species with their attitude or aroused their sensuality, possibly the latter.

Article by Andy Young.

Nona Zaman Sekarang.  Liyana Fizi. Video: Klasik Beb.

Lyrics by Yusof B.                                             
Nona-nona jaman sekarang                                
tak boleh ditegur,                                                
tak boleh dilarang                                              
bajunya pendek,                                                
bertambahlah jarang                                          
itu menjadi hati gembira                                    
                                                                           
First Verse:
nona jangan bikin keliru                                    
tidakla kenal cina melayu                                    
pipinya merah pula disapu                                  
sekarang sudah jadi tak tentu                                .

Second Verse:
dalam dunia banyak musuhan                          
yang non dibuat perkara yang sopan                
dalam dunia banyak penggoda                          
banyak yang jadi rusak binasa                          

Nona Nona Zaman Sekarang by The Stylers. Randy Lee Keng played rhythm guitar and is still active today. He is on Facebook under the same name. Check him out.

Literal Translation
By: Andy Young.

About the ladies of today's generation:
Don't comment
Nor forbid them.
Their blouses are short
And more transparent
That make hearts flutter
 (Make hearts happy).

First Verse:
Ladies don't confuse us
Unrecognizable if Chinese or Malay
Cheeks are red and painted too
Causing much bewilderment.

Second Verse:
In this world of aggression
Ladies, be more careful
Or be teased, bothered
And fall into disrepute.


The mysterious East?

Written more than half a century ago, the lyrics painted an Asian society so different from today with strict moral values that many listeners, especially women, would question now.

A kebaya is a traditional blouse-dress combination worn by women in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Burma, Singapore, southern Thailand and some parts of Cambodia. It is sometimes made from sheer material and usually worn with a sarong or batik kain panjang, or other traditional woven garment such as ikat, songket with a colorful motif.

Images from flickr.com

Videos from You Tube.

Fish, Plastic Bags, 'Ikan Kekek', Malay Folk Song

The ban on plastic bags is a hot topic. Let's keep on highlighting this issue until the world gets rid of them. Below are two inter-related stories and a folk-song about fish dishes.

The above poster was taken off Alexandra Hsieh's Facebook post. Thanks, Alex. 

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1) Fish in plastic or plastic in fish?

Hooray, the world says it's getting rid of plastic bags. It will take some time.  

Lately, I went to one of the biggest Singapore supermarket chains and asked for a small paper bag. I was given instead a small plastic bag. 

"We don't have paper bags!" said the lady in charge. Strange.

(The picture is a representation of a dead whale from ingestion of plastic created by Greenpeace Philippines. Credit: Greenpeace Philippines)

2) Whales eat people or people eat whales?

No, whales swallow plastic bags and bottles.  And, yes, in a certain country, some people are still catching whales to eat.

"We have been eating them for generations! It's in our culture!" says a citizen. 

I love eating fish but definitely not whales. So be careful not only of fish bones but plastic pieces.

3) Ikan Kekek Folk Song:

Here's a Malay folk song I remember that little children sing in kampongs (villages) in the 1960s. It is just as popular today and sung in primary school classrooms in Malaysia and in Malay classes in Singapore.

Ikan Kekek is, according to a website, PONY FISH, pictured above, a favourite fish dish.

4) Songs with Fish titles:

I don't know too many songs about fish in the English language but here are a few:

Fish and Chips - Chuck Berry
Pisces Fish - George Harrison
Saturday Night Fish Fry - BB King

Gone Fishing - Bing Crosby n Louis Armstrong
Fish Song - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Pray For The Fish - Randy Travis

The Fishin' Hole - Andy Griffith
Moby Dick - Frankie Laine
The Down Easter Alexa - Billy Joel

You can improve the list of fish songs. Splash them on.

WE WANT TO EAT FISH NOT PLASTIC. GET RID OF PLASTIC BAGS!!!

Ikan kekek mak iloi-iloi

Ikan gelama mak ilai -lai

Nanti adik mak iloi-iloi

Pulang sama mak ilai-ilai

Ada satu si ikan parang

Badannya panjang berbelang-belang

Isinya sdikit banyak tulang

Sedap dimakan ala masak pindang

Ikan kekek mak iloi-iloi

Ikan gelama mak ilai-ilai

Nanti adik mak iloi-iloi

Pulang sama mak ilai-ilai

Ada satu si ikan pari

Badannya bulat penuh isi

Sedap dimakan kalo masak kari

Jangan lupa taruh lebih chili

Ikan kekek mak iloi-iloi

Ikan gelama mak ilai-ilai

Nanti adik mak iloi-iloi

Pulang sama mak ilai-ilia

Ikan kekek, oi

Ikan kekek

Ikan kekek, oi

Ikan kekek

Saloma: Ikan Kekek. 

YouTube Video from: Madey Retro Klasik

Translation from Malay:

Mak iloi-iloi snicker fish

Gelama mak ilai -lai fish

Later, my sister will be iloi-iloi

Go home with Ilai-ilai's mother

There is one machete fish

The body is long and striped

It contains quite a lot of bones

Delicious to eat pindang style

Mak iloi-iloi snicker fish

Later, my sister will be iloi-iloi

Go home with Ilai-ilai's mother

There is one stingray

The body is round and full of content

It's delicious when cooked with curry

Don't forget to put more chili

Mak iloi-iloi snicker fish

Gelama mak ilai-ilai fish

Later, my sister will be iloi-iloi

Go home with Ilai-Ilia's mother

Snicker fish, oi

Snickerfish

Snicker fish, oi

Snickerfish

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Anonymous.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri To Muslim Surfers

The Kampongs:

As I lived in the Geylang neighbourhood in the 50's, I first learnt this song from my many Malay friends who were in the area. I used to frequent Kampong Wak Tanjong at the vicinity of the Paya Lebar Fire Station and walk across the road from my home to Kampong Melaka where the Lion City Hotel and Shopping Mall now stand at Tanjong Katong Road.

The Wak Tanjong mosque is still there but the kampong has vanished. Some of the residents who lived along Sims Avenue and Lorong 39 near the kampong were Lim Yew Hock and his family. He was once the Chief Minister of Singapore. These residences were huge bungalows. Abdul Wahab, a merchant, lived across Lorong 39 from him and financed the band I used to sing with, The Velvetones. 

Saloma with Selamat Hari Raya. Video from: kcselambe.

Kampong Melaka was across the road where City Plaza stands today. The roads nearby are Guillemard Road, Sandy Lane, Lim Ah Woo Road with a Catholic Church nearby. And Kampong Melaka was situated right in the middle, surrounded by these roads.

The Song:

The Hari Raya song above was sung by Saloma and composed by Ahmad Ja'afar with its original lyrics by Shariff  Rachman.  This song was featured in a 1955 Malay movie by Cathay Kris Film Production with the same theme,  Selamat Hari Raya.

The words, Dam, dam, dum, Bunyi mercun (Dam, dam, dum, sounds of fire-crackers) have not been left out in the above version.  Since fire-crackers had been banned because of fire hazards in tiny Singapore these words had been replaced after newer versions of the song had been recorded.

Enjoy a cool and peaceful Aidil Fitri to one and all. Andy.

Video from You Tube: http://keselambe.blogspot.com

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋节快乐! 2019 Growing Up With Moon Symbols & Tradition

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"The roundest moon can be seen in autumn. 
It is time for reunions. 
I wish you a happy mid-autumn day and a wonderful life - 1"

"最圆的月亮可以看出，在秋季。现在是时候团聚。祝你中秋一天的精彩生活"

It is the usual greeting this month since the moon-cake festival is here so I thought I would write something significant about this yellow ball in the night sky.  

When I googled, 'moon' it was quite a surprise where I found more than 700 million entries on the subject.  I realised there was nothing much I could write about except my own moon-walk on earth. 

As a child, I didn't bother much about the festival itself because at the age of ten the reason for the celebration was not important. It was only in later years did I learn what the lantern festival meant. But I welcome the delicious moon-cakes and beautiful lanterns that came with the annual hoo-ha. 

"Summer ends, and Autumn comes, 
And he who would have it otherwise 
Would have high tide always and 
A full moon every night - 2 ."

Moon Symbol:

It had been a yearly affair since the 1950's and as far as I could remember my father would take me to Victoria Street to the old Empress Hotel to buy a few bags of tong chu pia home. No, there were no fancy boxes to put them in. 

They came in simple white wrapping paper placed in a brown paper bag with string carriers. Today's moon-cakes are placed in jewel cases that cost a fortune (sixty Singapore dollars for a box of four?)

What I could not forget during the yearly trip to Victoria Street was the same large scroll I saw hanging outside the hotel pillar as I looked up.  There was a painting of a beautiful, slim lady in ancient Chinese costume with the words, "Queen of the Moon Cakes" and behind her the radiantly full moon.

"It was fascination, I know 
Seeing you alone with the moonlight above
Then I touched your hand and next moment... 3."

They probably took her down at the end of the season to be displayed again for the next moon festival.

Now the moon-cake. It was sweetened red bean or lotus seed paste baked within a delicious outer layer. Although it could get stuck between the teeth eating was part of the fun. Also, mooncakes in the 50's were simple, without the exorbitant colours, designs, special names and yucky taste that is found today. 

Up till now, I've always enjoyed the simple dark brown bean-paste inside but without the yolk.  Cut equally into four pieces I could eat only one quarter a day for the next four days.  

"Good behaviour deserves a reward," remarked my mother. "Another four pieces for the next four days, if you behave. Otherwise, I shall eat them myself!" My dad would quietly walk away because he knew the fun was in the buying too.

But I always had my share.

Light Symbol:

I remember the intricate and thin bamboo frames that were shaped into celestial animals and what-have-you, covered by transparent coloured papers making cute lanterns that could be lighted up at night with its tiny candle within. 

"Careful," mother would warn sternly, "a steady hand lights the wick, not the lantern," always warning us that we need to beware of a burn-up if we were careless with the fragile, combustible and bright, luminous magic art pieces.

To me, it didn't matter what the lantern was shaped like. The flickers inside changed colours as I walked the shiny being around. As long as I could carry it in the dark as the proud owner I was happiest. Good that my mother bought three lanterns to distribute to a Malay friend, an Indian neighbour and a pretty girlfriend who lived down the road. 

"How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world - 4."

The friends were Hamid, who was so happy to be carrying one with me; the other was Naysar, in his sarong, who ran around the block with his fish lantern shouting, "Ikan, ikan."  He became a little looney I guess with the moon in full bloom.  We didn't think who we were, just children sharing in playful joy.

Nat King Cole; William Shakespeare; P. Ramlee; Hal Borland

The third friend was my heart crusher Mei Li and true to her name she was the prettiest girl in the vicinity. Short-haired, tomboyish, wide-eyed and fun, she readily accepted the butterfly lantern I offered her.

"Engkau laksana bulan, tinggi di-atas kayangan," crooned Hamid in Malay. It was one of P. Ramlee's famous songs and it meant, "Exquisite like the moon, you stand high above the rest." She did.

I've never seen our Malay, Indian and Eurasian boys and girls carrying lanterns with our Chinese children, have you? Well, they do I presume but I didn't see them this year... Let's have more of such fun and moonlit outings.

I enjoyed the moonlight nights very much. Did you?

A Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all in Singapore and across the seas.


NB:
The symbolic allusion to the moon underlines the dominating power of the feminine. So, just to tickle your mind a little, could it be a power to which a little boy may have felt exposed?

This posting especially invites readers to comment on their own moon festival experience.

                                             Fascination: Sung by Nat Cole.

The Moon Cake Festival, Zhong Qiu Jie or Harvest Moon Festival falls on 27th September 2015.

The article is original and under a copyright.

In The Full Moon Flowers Blossom - Yue Yuan, Hua Hao - Zhou Xuan
Song: Yan Hua / Word: Fan Yanqiao

The floating scattered clouds
The bright moon shines as people
Gather today for a happy reunion

Clean and shallow ponds
Mandarin ducks play in the water
Red skirts and emerald caps
Devoted married couples like lotus flowers 
Open in pairs, mutual love between spouses

The soft wind blows onto the beautiful flowers
Blowing with much warmth and affection 
Among the people

(Very close but not literal translation; suitable for the English ear.)

Aeroplane Lantern - 1960's  [Image: Mun Chor Seng (c)]

How mooncakes are packaged today

The frills cost a lot more; a box of four cakes will cost S$60 while an elaborate package of ten will cost S$120.

The mooncakes are filled with lotus n yolk, lotus n cranberries,  lotus n macadamia,  lotus n melon seeds, jasmine, black sesame, etc.

Footnote:

Images: Google, Mun Chor Seng and Personal Collection.

1. Chinese greeting.
2. Hal Borland - Nature journalist, poet, writer.
3. Song; Fascination (1932) sung by Nat Cole; composed by Fermo Dante Marchetti and Dick Manning (English version).  It became pop in later years with the movie, Love in the Afternoon (1957) starring Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper.
4.  William Shakespeare; A Midsummer Night's Dream.
YouTube Video: chakrasXXX.
5. Zhou Xuan: In the Full Moon, Flowers Blossom YouTube Video: cdman88.

SLIP NOTE:
25th September 2015 Friday.

The haze has been bad and has lasted for more than a week. Many Singaporeans stay indoors. Worse, it has gone out of control and many people in the region are suffering from the problem.  Indonesia, who has been providing us with the unwanted great smoke from the sky, doesn't seem to have done much to stop this sky pollution which has been going on for years!

"While the sun struggles to survive its choking cousin
The moaning moon whispers, "Love thy neighbour..."

People who celebrate the Moon Cake Festival will probably be experiencing a Moan Cake Terrible.

TODAY, SINCE TWO DAYS AGO, THE HAZE IS BACK: 26TH AUGUST, 2016.
(An obvious reference to a past hazy sky problem. Now the sky is clear.)

Yusnor: 250 Songs Prolific Talent Heartfelt Lyricism

Young Yusnor

Yesterday:

In 1963, Mohammed Nor (Yusnor) and I used to take a chartered bum-boat every week day from Changi jetty to Pulau Tekong and back . He taught in a Malay primary school and I in a Chinese one.  L2 was so important those years and many teachers were picked to teach English, Malay or Tamil as a 2nd Language in most government schools all over Singapore including the off-shore islands.

In the boat Yusnor would relate to me how he became P. Ramlee's student and learnt the art of movie making from the legend himself.  The stories he told made our 40-minute boat-ride seemed shorter and the sea could sometimes  be rough during stormy weather.  Yusnor was also writing songs for our local pop bands, all 250 and more. That's a lot of songs!

A Changi Bumboat.

After some years as a teacher he was transferred to the Curriculum Development Institute of  Singapore (CDIS) to write text-books, lyrics and produce school documentaries during his ETV (Educational Television) years.   I went abroad but we kept in touch... 

On New Year's night 2014 we shall be watching a sell-out concert in honour of  this quiet and humble gentleman: 

*Di malam itu engkaulah bintang
Ramai yang datang bertepuk riang
(That night you are the star
Many who come will applaud with joy)

He is a true bintang (star) and hero indeed, a hero who uses his pen, which is definitely "mightier than the sword."  

Today:

"Since the ’60s, one Malay music songwriter has stood out in Southeast Asia for his prolific talent and heartfelt lyricism, having lent his magic touch to hundreds of songs by artists such as P Ramlee, Saloma, Ahmad Jais and Anita Sarawak. Till this day, the songs of Singapore Malay music pioneer and Cultural Medallion recipient, Yusnor Ef, continue to be performed and enjoyed by many.

                               You Tube: Saloma: Aku, Dia dan Lagu. Yusnor Ef.

 

Enjoy an evening of songs specially selected by Yusnor Ef, including Gelisah (Restless), Taj Mahal and Joget Malam Berinai (Wedding Night Dance) to be sung by ’60s and ’70s songbird Sanisah Huri, in a rare appearance, joined by other well-loved veteran artists Maria Bachok, J Mizan, A Razak, Zamzam and Rahimah Rahim.

Popular young artists Imran Ajmain, Sezairi, Maya Rahman and Zaibaktian will also grace the concert together with a special guest appearance by Malaysian singer, A Rozaini, who will be singing songs by A Ramlie such as Kasih Sayang Suami Isteri (Love Between Husband & Wife) and Hancurnya Istana Cinta (Broken Love Palace).

Accompanied by Orkestra Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru and guest musicians from Orkestra Melayu Singapura, this special evening features music arranged and conducted by renowned Malaysian composer, Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain, affectionately known as Pak Ngah.

For one night only, immerse yourself in beautiful songs that owe much of their appeal to Yusnor Ef's evocative lyrics."

Content from: http://www.esplanade.com/whats_on/programme_info/pentas_aku_dia_dan_lagu/index.jsp

Date: lst January, 2014, Wednesday.

Time: 8pm

(2hrs without intermission. Performed in Malay).    

Venue     Esplanade Concert Hall.

Images from: Google.

Read more about Yusnor by clicking his name under Labels below:

Malaysian General Election 2018 . Advice Dari 1955

 SONGS I LOVE:

Disclaimer:

This posting is not a propaganda to vote for any party in Malaysia. I have no interest in politics but love this song as it was played daily on the radio during election time in 1955. I was only 15 but remember it well.

Malayan Broadcast:

Before Singapore gained its independence in 1965, radio broadcast coming from Malaya was nothing special and many Singaporeans listened to the news and entertainment provided. So when the Malayan elections were about to be held on July 27th in 1955, announcements on the radio were common. It wasn't the election that attracted me but the song, composed by a humorous, radio personality called Zainal Alam.

Zainal Alam:

He had a successful career in broadcasting in Malaya and to improve himself took up a Government Management Program in the USA. According to a website, "his course-mate friend was John F. Kennedy" who later became the President.  Besides Malay, Zainal speaks the local languages and dialects. In fact, his version of Rose, Rose I Love You has verses in Malay, Chinese and Tamil.

*Pak Lam as they called him was talented and versatile. Before singer and wife of P. Ramlee became famous as Saloma she was a.k.a. Salmah Ahmad and was Zainal's backup singer. It finally led up to him composing a song about her.  Even P. Ramlee was unable to name any of his songs after Saloma.  Ramlee composed Azizah, Hamidah, Zubaidah but no Saloma. That was Zainal Alam's influence and popularity those years.

'The Voting Song' In English with part of the lyrics below. Video from: PakLongKlasik. Thank you.

The Message:

He wrote humorous songs and peppered them using colloquial catchphrases that everybody understood. One of his songs I love was Vote, Vote, Vote. I searched in vain but could not find the English version. It was an attractive jingle and played like a commercial day and night before election time, encouraging the populace to vote wisely. Psychologically as most commercials do, these tunes stick in the head. Plain brainwashing... But it was good advice, and still is.

The Voting Song

Vote vote vote

Everybody vote

Remember 27th is the day

(change to the 5th of May)

Don't forget

That you must not delay

Vote wisely vote with care

Everybody vote

When you vote

You must vote wisely

What people say

You 'jangan peduli' (don't bother)

Use your head

Think very carefully

Remember once you vote

There is no 'lagi sa-kali' (one more time)

In Malay: Mari Mengundi Pilihanraya Pertama Tanah Melayu 1955 Video NIEI TV

Image: Google.

YouTube Video by wgc26.
*This edited piece of information is from YouTube contributor zainulazizan.

Music Memory Trail Jazz Guitarist Vivian Nonis @ 87

Vivian with new Gibson. He looks like *John Lee Hooker. (image from: XINMSN).

We have a number of guitar maestros but not many Singaporeans are aware except for those who are either in the music industry or following the melody trail.  With some help from Wilfred Lim, St Andrew's classmate and guitar enthusiast, I met one who is a veteran jazz guitarist and who played big time with 1960s bands. 

Have guitar will travel and whether it was in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Indonesia or far away Japan this gentleman is still strumming his way into the hearts of many music lovers for 40 years and more.

Vivian Nonis was a clarinetist but started playing the guitar when be-bop was top. He is so good at his craft that his versatility spans many genres.  Rock and roll or rhythm and blues, Latin or mood music Uncle Vivian plays them all.


At the Singapore Art Museum performance in 2007 (image by Guitar77).

His favourite is jazz and this 87 year young connoisseur has performed with western bands, chinese bands, malay kugirans, big ensembles, combos and ker tais.  Vivian is still at it today and devotes most of his time with a new curvaceously sexy life partner, a semi-solid Gibson given to him by Gibson Singapore for his contribution to our music scene.

He shares his music with others, practising and jamming with anyone who's interested to learn the art.  He is a guitar tutor and in one of his rare appearances Vivian performed with his students at the Singapore Art Musuem in August 2007.  In 2012 at the annual President's Star Charity Show on TV he was the accompanying guitarist playing Nat King Cole's L.O.V.E. and The Beatles, Can't Buy Me Love.

According to TheGuitarista1102 interview on You Tube, Vivian has lived for 10 years in a home for seniors on our island since his family migrated. It was his decision to stay because he loves the country and his many music friends.


Vivian Nonis' Music Corner where he tutors students (image You Tube by The Guitarista1102)

He lives alone, manages well and spends  time composing songs whenever he is free.  When asked about his sunglasses he mentioned that he wears them because of a problem with his left eye but adds that he still sees well with the other.

During his younger days Vivian had played with famed Malay film star P. Ramlee and other prominent musicians.  He was leader of a band that played at the 7th Storey Hotel and gladly mentioned that about one quarter of Singapore's musicians were his students.  That is something!

I was lucky enough to have met Vivian some years ago when I visited him at the Home.  Quiet, unassuming and very cheerful he taught me the embellishment of a few pop songs when we sat together at his favourite garden spot in the Home.



Full house during tribute to Nonis (image by markomas n Guitar77)

"I dream to be a top guitarist in Singapore," says Vivian. I think he is. Listen to him on You Tube (top right bar).  MediaCorps calls him "one of our oldest legendary jazz guitarist."  Here's to a Singapore idol.  Many more years of guitar playing Vivian! 

NB: If you were one of his students or if you are friend or family please write in as Wilfred and I will be meeting him soon and providing him a copy of this write-up and comments. Thanks.

*"John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1917 – June 21, 2001) was a highly influential American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.  William Hooker rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally a unique brand of country blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark (Wikipedia)."

Images: Google, You Tube (XINMSN, The Guitarista1102, Guitar77 and markomas).