What Happened On New Year Eve n New Year Day ?

Ricky Nelson's Greatest Hits: YouTube Video by Hue Man

Remembering the passing away of four* super stars this Christmas week, John Cher a regular contributor to the blog, recalls 1985 and 1953 where two tragedies occurred during the New Year season.

As John reminds us all: Tomorrow is promised to no one!   Every day, every hour, indeed every minute is a gift from God!

Here's his letter:

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, arguably two of the happiest days of the year.  Very aptly, millions all over the world meet to celebrate and to welcome the New Year with high hopes and great expectations!  For American music lovers,  at countless parties and social gatherings during this season of good cheer, very often,  conversations would inevitably converge to two well loved and deeply missed iconic entertainers, Hank Williams and Ricky Nelson.

December 31 1985,  New Year's Eve:    

A privately owned DC3 plane crashed in Texas.  The pilot and co-pilot, though badly burned, survived the crash.  Sadly all the other passengers died including its owner, Ricky Nelson and his fiancee, Helen Blair.  The plane was taking Ricky Nelson, and his band members to a New Year's Eve concert in Dallas.

Ricky was aged 45. He was a household name, well known as a pop singer but was also an actor.  His most remembered movie was Rio Bravo, which starred John Wayne and Dean Martin as well. Ricky Nelson recorded many wonderful songs and many of these were performed in his last concert in 1985.  

January 1st 1953, New Year's Day:  

The first super star of modern country music who sang of soaring joy and sad, sad songs,  Hank Williams was found dead in the backseat of his Cadillac. He was on the way to perform at a New Year's Day concert but never made it. A police officer informed the manager of the theatre where Hank was to perform of his death.  

Hank Williams Hits

YouTube video from:Nicole Pettit.

When it was announced to the waiting audience, one by one, members of the audience rose up to sing  I Saw The Light, a gospel song written by Hank.  Hank Williams was only 29 years old.

Life is indeed like a flickering candle light, it is so fragile, one minute it is lit and the next, it is extinguished.  Very often things just do not work out the way we planned.  Broken and shattered dreams are indeed a part of life.  But life goes on!

Tomorrow is promised to no one!   Every day, every hour, indeed every minute is a gift from God!  Let us cherish it and always, always remember to count our blessings for each day!

All the best everyone!  Happy 2017!

Cheers!

NB

December Deaths 2016

Greg Lake - singer - 7th

Rick Parfitt - singer - 24th

Richard Adams - novelist - 24th

George Michael - singer - 25th

Carrie Fisher - actress - 27th

Debbie Reynolds - actress - 28th

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/search/label/December%202016%20Deaths

Images and Videos: You Tube.

1950s Bicycle Trail: Riding A Rudge For A Rick

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Cycling In Singapore In The Late 1940s. (Song on the right bar)

I had started cycling as a child when I was in mid-primary, taking my father's straight-handle model Hercules bicycle (above) one morning without his permission. It was hardly used and left in our backyard to rust.  It was an opportunity too good to miss and a yearning too tempting to resist so while my folks were still sleeping I quietly grabbed the bike and sneaked out the back door.

When I came home that afternoon I expected a reprimand for being such a rebel because the family instruction was to take the public bus to school. But he was nice and without fuss allowed me to cycle daily since he thought I was old enough.

Meantime I saved enough for one year to buy a beautiful Rudge from the corner shop near my home after a few months of savings and some money from dad. I had to register the new bicycle and received a circular shaped licence plate  (image for illustration) with a number which had to be displayed on the two-wheeler.

I remember three brands that were familiar those years, the Raleigh, the Rudge, and the Hercules. They all came from England and strong bikes they were, but there were other brands too and just as sturdy. 

The bicycle I owned was much lighter than my dad's, with shiny spokes and a bottle-like battery attachment on the front wheel that could light up the lamp in front of the bike. I was elated and cycled to school every morning much to the envy of my primary school mates. Evenings were spent cleaning the sporty contraption until it shone and glimmered in the sun. Brasso, a polish, was used to clean nearly every part.

Early 1950's

sammyboy.com

It was a breeze to ride a bicycle in the early 1950s in Singapore because there were few vehicles then. Traffic was light and I remember saying that, "after ten in the evening anyone could sleep on the road and not be run over." It was that quiet.

There were no bus lanes or bicycle lanes, neither pedestrian crossings nor walkways. We were free to pedal anywhere and at any time but had still to be careful since the usual cars, buses, trams (image below), trishaws, hawker carts, and other vehicles ply the roads.  Furthermore, don't fall into the longkang besar (large drains) found at the road periphery. Injuries could be serious!

In the '50s there were *policemen who stopped cyclists to collect tiga puloh sen (30 cents) each, as a 'fine' for not turning on their bicycle-lights in the evening. My two friends and I were caught one evening while we were cycling along Paya Lebar Road on our way home. Stopped by two cops, they shouted, "Lampu, lampu..." (lamp) as they pointed at ours which had not been switched on. Then, "Duit, duit..." (money). 

We didn't argue and paid our dues because these uniformed officers threatened us with jail terms. Thirty cents was nearly all of my school tuck-shop money for the day as my meal consisted of noodles with two fish balls which cost thirty cents, two Hacks sweets were five cents and the other five cents was for a glass of cold drink.

Late 1950's

I recalled cycling all the way to North Bridge Road just to buy a vinyl record.  Sometimes if I had more funds, I would buy an EP (Extended Play).  Once I had wanted so badly to buy a copy of the Ricky Nelson hit Someday (image: EP#4). The series consisted of five of Nelson's EPs.

The bicycle ride took me along the whole of Geylang Road, Kallang Road, Crawford Street, Bugis and finally North Bridge Road.  The ride home took a longer time. I was too tired.  

I still retain the EP today. It could have been a little warped. I mean, riding in the hot sun for so long.

Durian Dave's Soft Film

There were times when I had extra money I would cycle on from the record shop to the lobby of Capitol Cinema and grab a copy of Movie News, a Shaw Brothers' English publication that featured the latest Hollywood and local movie gossips.

I had kept my Rudge bicycle for years but don't know how it had disappeared since. 

I hope some members of Cycling or Bicycle Clubs in Singapore and International Bicycle Clubs in major cities would write in and tell their stories.

(*Officers who behaved in this manner were few and far between.)     

Bicycle Race by Queen Video from znerky. Thank you. Lyrics come as part of the song. 13.6 million viewers on YouTube.

Today: 15 April 2015

I was nearly hit by a bicycle at the bus-stop recently. The cyclist, a burly guy, came from the left. I was not facing him and only saw him when he passed so close to me that the tip of his handle hit my waist. 

It was too close for comfort as he balanced himself, getting in between myself and the bus-benches. He hastened his peddling and went off. No sorry, no stop also!!

All bicycles should have a plate with a licence number. Agreed?

Images: Google.

#4 Album has "Someday."

Bicycle Songs:
1. Bicycle Episode - JM Richards - 1897.
2. The Bicycle Girl - Oddfellow, Meacham -1895. 
3. Bicycle Race - Queen - 1978.
4. Bicycle Tillie - The Swallows - 1953.
5. Les Bicyclette - Engelbert H. - 1968.
6. Bike - Pink Floyd - 1967.
7. Dora Brown - Nelly Bird - 1897.
8. Daisy Bell - Harry Dacre - 1892.
9. Have You A Wheel - Hoffman - 1895.
10. Rockin' Bicycle - Fats Domino - 1961.
11. What A Beautiful Day - Beach Boys - 1979.
12. The Pushbike Song - Mungo Jerry - 1970.
13. Silver Machine - Hawkwind -1972.
and many more...

Cycling In Singapore:
1. The Singapore Cycling Federation  (SCF) is the national federation for cycling recognized by the world body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and its affiliated Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC). 

2. SCF is the National Sports Association (NSA) recognized by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC). SCF is responsible to SSC for cycling events that promote the sport...ANDY YOUNG
Nothing like a bicycle for a leisurely ride. Today not many will pedal; they scoot, with speed. And bicycles need a number plate. Check those bicycle songs on the list. 'QUEEN' IS IN. Any more to add?

COMMENTS FROM READERS:

Freda Hanum
 Unforgettable Beautiful & memorial old days.

Michael Lee
Hi Andy, Raleigh was a popular and branded brand. There were very few smaller sized bicycles. Many of us including myself started learning to cycle on full-sized bicycles by cycling in between the triangle hole of the bicycle. I lived in Farrer Park, and there were many lanes to cycle. Cheerio

Hiroshi Deguchi
This reminds me of my childhood days with the old bicycle that widened my own region. It was like discovering a new world.

Andy Young
Thanks, Freda, Michael and Hiroshi for the informative comments about the joys of cycling. Thanks also to 

Stephen Han
Re the “bicycle” song I wish to add “On A Bicycle Built For Two” by Nat King Cole. The three bicycle brands you mentioned were the expensive ones from the UK. My friend had an Italian racing bike which was very light, and the brand name was Lugano. Most of the lightweight bicycles were made in Italy. 

There were lots of bicycle shops in the 50s and 60s and they had older bicycles for rent. The cost was 20cts per hour. Unlike the renting procedure today, the hirer must return the rented bicycle back to the shop then you could retrieve your ic that was deposited back.

Michael Lee
I encountered a serious bicycle accident while being seated at the back seat. My right leg got entangled in the wheel while my friend was riding. The spokes were blended so too was my bloodied leg. Lucky the bone setter managed to straighten it after 3 months.

Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Mine was a Hercules

Andy Young
Thanks, Stephen for your short paper and Jimmy for your one-liner. It's a miracle you are OK today Stephen. We have so much to tell. Our memories just need one trigger to expose most of what we know.

http://cycling.org.sg/about-us/

Tracking The Trail, Telling The Tale.  

Late 50s British Pop TV: By John Harper Part 3

             John Barry 7+4 Hit and Miss YouTube Video by Sids60sSounds

This posting is the third and final episode of John Harper's late 50s pop music journey from England to Singapore and back. I don't know if he was travelling light and hand jiving with a living doll but it was surely a pleasant and memorable journey without hits and misses:

"On our return to the UK in 1959 we arrived at the end of July in Blackpool just in time for the August Bank Holiday. There had been a heat wave, reservoirs had almost dried up. It should have been ideal for our return from the warmth of Singapore, but no, the weather changed the day we got back and it was cold and rainy!

Juke Box Jury with 'The Rolling Stones' in 1964.

We were in a transit hotel and novelty of novelties, there was a television in the lounge. Saturday evenings after tea was the Juke Box Jury programme and all of us kids and some of the mums and dads would sit down to watch and listen to the latest releases being voted on by a jury of celebrities.

"It's late we gotta get on home..."

For me one the most exciting parts was the introductory music to the programme, *Hit and Miss by the John Barry 7 + 4 (video above). John Barry later went on to produce the music for the James Bond films. A few of the songs and tunes that made a mark on me from the programme were by Connie Francis mentioned earlier, Ricky Nelson singing It's Late and then towards the end of 1959 after we had moved to Yorkshire came Johnny and The Hurricanes with Red River Rock.

"Please come back to the Red River Valley..."

This made an impression on me for several reasons, my mother was from Manitoba in Canada and had lived on a tributary of the Red River (above image). Then, of course, there were the saxophones and guitars. So by the end of 1959, I was well and truly hooked on twangy guitars and growling saxophones.

Biggest audience of 20 million in January 1960 featured Cliff Richard and Shadows.

Sunday night television was rounded out by the popular Sunday Night at The London Palladium had everybody enthralled. Opening with the Tiller Girls dancing then there was always some comedy, the Beat The Clock game show and then rounded off with a musical performance.

Cliff Richard with Singapore Orchids.

Popular at this time was an up and coming star by the name of Cliff Richard singing Living Doll, Willie And The Hand Jive and Travelling Light. I was particularly taken with the guitar solos. It was that twangy guitar thing again, I was hooked and was soon to become a fan of the Shadows, Cliff's backing group.

Although, this is not the full extent of my musical preferences and experience I think this period from late 1955 to the end of 1959 played a large part in shaping my musical preferences and the person I am today."

*Larry Lai used the same theme song for his Spinaround - UK Top Twenty programme on Rediffusion in the late 60s.

Original article: John Harper Copyright.
Images from Google.

Travelin Man Roger Hears Pop 60 In Middle Kingdom

Travelling man Roger Poh (he encouraged me to blog) has recently returned from the Middle Kingdom. So during the Chinese New Year period in January last month, while we in Singapore were snugly enjoying the quiet rain and forgiving sun, Roger was experiencing the harsh and piercing cold as he viewed the famous ice-sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow World (image 3). The visitors were mainlanders and he met one crazy guy "all wrapped up against the freezing cold." It was -20C and a once in a lifetime experience for him.

Mine is not a travel blog but what enticed me to post his wanderings are his pictures of Shanghai where he met a senior busker with his precious trumpet (image 2) and a music group in action (screen grab 1). According to Roger, China's public parks are exciting places and often packed with locals. They love to demonstrate their musical talents and attract a lot of attention. He also tells me that buskers in China play 60s music from the west. That's something.

Roger, who is a backpacker travels light, very light and enjoys the sight, the sound and sensuality of the places he visits. Which reminds me of the song Travelling Light by Cliff Richard and these lines:

Got no bags and baggage to slow me down, I'm travelling so fast/My feet ain't the ground/Travelling light, travelling light/Well I just can't wait to be with my baby tonight... No comb and no toothbrush/I got nothing to haul...

And of course Rick Nelson's: I'm a travelin' man/I've made a lot of stops all over the world/And in every port I own the heart/Of at least one lovely girl/Oh my sweet Fraulien down in Berlin town/Makes my heart start to yearn/And my China doll down in old Hong Kong/Waits for my return...

She's probably waiting for your return to Shanghai Roger, whoever she is. Thanks for sharing.

Images: Roger Poh Collection.

Looking Back: Country Music With Maxine Brown

THIS POSTING IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT

If you are not familiar with the music of the 50s and 60s Maxine Brown's Looking Back To See - A Country Music Memoir - is the book to grab from the shelves of our National Library. The Three Bells (1959) is one of the biggest hits of all time and gave Maxine Brown, her sister and brother international stardom. And the story begins...

Mini review:

Maxine Brown shared stages with everyone, from unknowns to the knowns like Rick Nelson and Elvis Presley. "She saw Elvis at the beginning of his incredible, tragic ride" when she devoted one full chapter to travels with the King.

Then there were Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash and pieces of advice - "Lousy bands can mess up the greatest singers..." - from the people she met during the times of boogie-woogie, swing music, television, horror movies, The Kennedys, space flight, hula hoops and "nickel Cokes."

Country Music People magazine says it all, "This is the story of The Browns... It is also the story of rip-offs, frustration money woes, and the harsh truths about fame... Told in a spunky, no-holds-barred, immensely readable style with plenty of juicy anecdotes (blurb)."

If you have the time and interested in country music, this is the book to check out. And who are the Browns, in case you are not familiar with them? Her book tells all.

Image: Cover of "Looking Back To See - A Country Music Memoir" by Maxine Brown, The University of Arkansas Press (2005), USA. From: National Library Board, Singapore. NLB: 782.421642

Original article: Andy Lim.

Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Ricky Nelson, Matt Monroe Of Ipoh, Malaya (Part V)

During this time in the 60s in small town Ipoh, Malaya, there was also an explosion of singers who really made names for themselves by impersonating and singing songs by Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, Matt Monroe and Ricky Nelson.

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In my hometown our well-known *impersonators include: Ho Kok Onn - Cliff Richard, Les Lee - Elvis Presley, Johhny Lee - Matt Monroe, and Richard Ng - Ricky Nelson.

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Our band The Teenage Fentons, was always the back-up band for all of them when they performed at the movie theatres like the Lido and Rex Theatre.

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*There are impersonators of western pop singers from all over Malaya in the 60s.

Image/original article: Joseph Chin Collection, Ipoh, Malaysia.

(6) 'Billboard' Pop Influence In Singapore 50s

TOP TUNES INFLUENCE: 1958 - 59

The picture shows the RM Orchestra in full swing, with its big band sound. Each player had a music sheet and played accordingly. No missed beats, no missed notes as everything was done 'by the book'.

So when Malaya won independence in 1957, the radio service was split into Radio Malaya and Radio Singapore. When 1958 came, the year provided Singaporeans first list of Billboard's 'Hot 100' and the songs were heard all over the island.

Growing up and studying for his Senior Cambridge Examination, blogger listened to these songs. And pop song crazy classmates knew each favourite song by heart:

At The Hop - Danny And The Juniors
Don't - Elvis Presley
Get A Job - The Silhouettes
Tequila - The Champs
Catch A Falling Star - Perry Como
He's Got The Whole World - Laurie London
Twilight Time - The Platters
Witch Doctor - David Seville/Chipmunks
All I Have To Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers
Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
Hard Headed Woman - Elvis Presley
Yakety Yak - The Coasters
Patricia - Perez Prado
Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson
Volare - Domenico Modugno
Bird Dog - Everly Brothers
It's All In The Game - Tommy Edwards
It's Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty
Tom Dooley - Kingston Trio
To Know Him Is To Love Him - Teddy Bears
The Chipmunk Song - David Seville

Image: National Heritage Board Singapore & Singapore Press Holdings. Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

(2) Country Western Influence: Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Roy Rogers, Hank Williams, Frankie Laine, Jim Reeves, Glen Campbell

During the earlier years in Singapore there were already many songs from the treasure chest of country oldies. Songs like, Dont Fence Me In (1945), by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, not forgetting Gene Autry, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (1945) were in existence on 78rpm records. 

Then favourites like, Your Cheating Heart (1952) and Jambalaya (1952) by Hank Williams followed. His own personal choice was Cold, Cold Heart (1951).

Frankie Laine's High Noon (1952) Rawhide (1958) were also best sellers as the theme of the rough and tough in country music gripped Singapore, "And I must face a man who hates me/Or like a coward, a craven coward/Or like a coward in my grave..."

People who came to the US from Europe composed songs like the Texan Fraulein (Bobby Helms), and Little Dutch Girl (George Morgan). The influence was gradual though, so when Elvis Presley emerged with his first movie, Love Me Tender (1956) followed by Loving You (1957) with songs like, Lonesome Cowboy, A Lotta Livin' To Do and Hot Dog, most pop music enthusiasts went agog. Country and rock were combined. Johnny Cash joined the scene with, I Walk The Line (1956).

My Rifle, My Pony and Me by Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan (harmonica), John Wayne.

 Then Rio Bravo (1959) hit the big screens in Singapore. Tough John Wayne, sexy Dean Martin and teenage idol Ricky Nelson held everyone to ransom with My Rifle, My Pony And Me. Rick sings an extra Get Along Home Cindy with the rest. 

Marty Robbins with El Paso (1959), known as a gunfighter ballad, kept Singaporeans singing this elaborate tale of 13 verses for months on end. Then Jim Reeves, who had earlier hits provided his rendition of, *He'll Have To Go (1959) and Johnny Horton with, North To Alaska (1960).

When Glen Campbell, By The Time I Get To Phoenix (1967) hit the trail and John Denver came with Leaving On A Jet Plane (1967) and Take Me Home Country Roads (1971), the Country and Western craze woke the baby boomers up!

The Singapore 60s cowboy craze erupted when our local boys and girls came with twanging acoustic guitars and hawaiian guitars as back-up. Not many Fenders appeared on stage then. The CW craze had begun.

Then, shades of Ferlin Husky, a cowpoke from the hills of Pasir Panjang, Singapore, emerged! He was Rocky Wong and appeared on stage in full regalia, with his cowboy suit, guitar and hat. He could have been the first Singapore cowboy. (earlier posting: August 9th, 2009).

This journey, discovering country music from the 50s to the 70s, is a personal one and the songs are milestones along the way.

*Singapore Karaoke Favourite: Jim Reeves', He'll Have To Go (1959).

Image: http://cnet.com.au/

Image: http://spout.com/films

Original Article: Andy Lim

Ricky Nelson 1940-1985 Comics

If there's anyone as good looking as Elvis Presley, it's Ricky Nelson and it wasn't his songs that attracted the American public in the beginning but his lovable antics with his family in the DC comics series called, The Adventures of Ozzie And Harriet (image), where the Nelson family, that meant his parents, brother David and the dog had their family life, sometimes fact and sometimes fiction, made into humorous episodes.

Personally, a collection was kept up to the 80s, before the comics were thrown away into the dustbin. Such a pity! Computer scanning in the 90s could have saved the beautiful and colourful images. Many Singaporean comic lovers had them too in the 50s. Anyway...

The Nelson family was also family fare on radio and TV but as he grew up, Ricky Nelson began a singing career and "became a teen idol sensation from 1957 up to 1962, where he had thirty Top-40 hits, more than any other artist at the time except Elvis Presley and Pat Boone."

"When Billboard introduced the Hot 100 Chart on August 4, 1958, Nelson's single, Poor Little Fool became the first song ever in the number one position on that chart." He also became an actor, made a few movies and appeared with Dean Martin and John Wayne.

His songs are so well-known internationally and they are perennial favourites. The songs include, Someday, Lonesome Town, Hello Mary Lou, Travellin' Man, Young World, It's Late, Stood Up, Garden Party, Dream Lover with a personal favourite, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? Nelson was active all the way up to his death at 45 years.

                          Ricky Nelson - Travelling Man - from You Tube Video

Like Kyu Sakamoto (Sukiyaki), he passed away in a plane crash in 1985. Cliff Richard has only 3 favourite rock and roll idols and Ricky Nelson is one of them.

Acknowledgement:
Vinyl: EP/Imperial Record: 156; EP/IMP: 163; Decca: ED 2760.

Quotations: Wikipedia.

Original article/image: Andy Lim Collection

Comics image: http://www.kaskus.us/