International Stars Connect With Andy's Music Blog

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These top stars from the music and movie industry have connections with this blog.

Russell Hitchcock, one half of Air Supply, commented on Rex Goh's guitar playing on John Cher's Facebook post, "Amazing player and a cherished friend."

Stephen Fry, an actor and comedian too, made similar comments and recommended that pop music lovers read about Rex Goh on this blog. Rex is an international lead guitarist with Air Supply.

"Sexy Rexy has been a guitar great in Sydney and the world for eons. It was great to hear about your Singapore background Rex Goh. The direct link to make it easy for people if interested is here."

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/rex-goh-singapore-to-madison-square.html

Rick Astley, pop star with so many hits, appeared in the same show with The Silver Strings for its first opening season of, Rolling Good Times. A posting on this blog featured behind the camera scenes.

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2015/04/rolling-good-times-again-with-silver.html

                Rick Astley n me, beside the lady,*Ch 5, Rolling Good Times.

And on this November 2016 month, Scott Page from Pink Floyd, Supertramp and Toto fame followed Andy on Twitter.

I can't ask for anything more. It's made my year.

Thanks to all the singers, actors and readers involved, especially writer John Cher.

*Media Corps Singapore, 2015.

Images: Google and A Personal Collection.

Blog Hits Monthly Record High: Thank You All

Usual monthly record is 14,000 to 15,000 readers a month. This month it's 20,000+ (as of 23rd July 2016).

Popular Postings 

Statistics as on 30th July, 2016

Statistics on 29th July 2016

Thanks to readers, friends, Facebook n Twitter followers. 

Click names under Labels below to read each posting:

Rolling Good Times Singapore 3: Frances Yip Interview

Frances Yip: "Shanghai Bund" on Rolling Good Times - Media Corp.

Watch the interview with Dick Lee tonight on ROLLING GOOD TIMES (Media Corp: Channel 5 @ 9.45 pm) and let her explain how, as a police inspector from Hong Kong, she came to Singapore to sing.

According to the interview, Ms Yip has recovered well from an illness. She is in her 60's but looks 35. Just as pretty and slim as she was many years ago, Ms Yip sings gospels too besides the usual pops. Her biggest hit ever, *"Shanghai Bund", was so successful it rocketed her to fame. With some of her funds she put a deposit to buy an apartment in Singapore. Smart lady.

When Lee mentioned that she looked petite and young in her tiny dress, she replied that her retro dress was 30 years old.  Listen for the applause afterwards.

*The song which is in Cantonese, was not performed on local television.  For those who are not familiar with the dialect, a translation:

 Seung Hoi Tan (上海灘)

" Rushing waves, ever flowing waves
 Thousand miles of torrential river flowing ceaselessly
 Washing away all worldly affairs
 Bringing in a new world for you and me
 Is it happiness or sorrow
 In the rushing waves struggling
 Unable to differentiate the two
 Success or failure
 In the rushing waves unable to for see our future
 Loving you despising you
 Don't you realize that
 My love is like an endless flowing river
 Once it flows, will not retreat
 Flowing through the many bays
 And still struggling...
 My feelings I'm unable to suppress them
 In happiness and in sorrow
 Unable to differentiate them...
 Though wishing still to overcome those waves
 My heart has endured enough
 Of the rising and falling of love and of life..."

Translation by White Libra Texas.

Images: Richard Toh's Facebook and Media Corp Channel 5 screen grab.
 You Tube Video not from "Rolling Good Times".

 SLIP NOTE: LATEST NEWS FLASH

The tragedy of the Mount Kinabalu quake that killed young Singaporeans shocked many people. As a nation we send our condolences to the families and friends of these innocent victims. They were children, teachers and mentors who came from Tanjong Katong Primary School. May their souls rest in peace.

All flags fly at half mast with a minute's silence before each SEA Games Singapore 2015 competition.

 Monday, June 8th, 2015.

Images: Google.

Rolling Good Times Singapore 2: Behind The Cameras

The Silver Strings appeared on the premier episode of Rolling Good Times on 17th May, 2015 (Channel 5) but the actual live recording was done on the 4th of May, two weeks before the show.  It is general knowledge that performers had to come in early for the shoot, hours before the audience arrived at 7.30 pm.  We met at Reception at three in the afternoon . Security is always tight so if you're going for a show, don't forget to bring your identification card.

Ushered into the underground studio and beneath the cosy comfort of Caldecott Hill, we faced a large sound stage that had hosted many a variety show in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. It was cavernous enough to seat a few hundred people.  We joined the performers scattered in the front rows waiting their turn to rehearse. (Image 1: Media Corp @ Caldecott.)

Dick Lee, Tabitha Nauser, Reuby, Mathilda D'Silva, Wendi Koh

We didn't wait long when Dick Lee came on stage with 19 year old Reuby, co-host Tabitha Nauser and Singapore's Tina Turner Mathilda D'Silva. They set the mood with Dick's and Tabitha's natural TV chatter as they introduced the show with a song. The resident band that accompanied them was incomparable.

When Wendi Koh performed she went into a spin and transformed the studio into a rock n roll, free for all, disco hall with her singing. We were wowed by all of them.  Such talent and artistry.  When Mathilda came on she looked extremely sexy with her outfit and special hairdo.  You'd think Tina Turner was out there. Then Reuby performed as he eased our nerves with a ballad. (Images 2, 3, 4: Sound studio; Artistes; Resident Band with Silver Strings.)

We knew our turn came when we saw drummer John Cher's throne of kings rolling in. There were drums everywhere on the sound stage with the percussion instrument elevated on a large box.

"And you're going to sit up there?" I asked him laughing.

Then Fender amplifiers were placed, together with the toy Nick Stravens was supposed to tinker with on national television (image above).

The whole session lasted for some time as the camera crew, lighting specialists and sound men went into action testing their equipment.  The Silver Strings managed the routine as Diana was introduced again and again during practice. Paul Anka's famous baby-sitter came alive once more. (Images 5,6: Silver Strings practice with Nick Stravens in the foreground; Audience.)

For the interview segment, we were seated with Dick Lee, and as places were established we thought it was going to be a long session practising but he managed the chat so professionally, we became engrossed in a conversation that went pretty well on screen. All in one take!

After the dry run we had our meals, heavy fried chicken with nasi-lemak, Chinese sweet and sour fish or a bee-hoon dinner, all served with vegetables. Then make-up time as we went into the tiny room filled with mirrors and facing professionals in black.  I thought it was a Batman costume party. Honestly, this group was the quietest and nicest ever as they went about their duty struggling hard to make seniors look like juniors. They had succeeded with Audie, Rickie, John and Nick. (Images: 7, 8: Wendi Koh practice; Rick Astley.)

After the make-up and costumes it was waiting at the wings for our turn as we chatted and met the other participants of the show. By then it was about 7.30 pm and members of the public came streaming in as they filled up the seats in the sound studio.  We watched between the curtains. The audience too had to go through certain routines with encores, sing-a-longs and music quizzes.

The live recording started on time and we did our segment around 8.30pm.  At the end of the evening before our famous guest star came on he managed some photo shots with the Silver Strings  Rick Astley was one of the most friendly and pleasant singing stars.

Andy Lim, Audie Ng, Rickie Chng, Nick Stravens,
John Cher (Silver Strings 2015 line-up)

If you've seen last week's telecast, you should know what happened afterwards. I think this first Rolling Good Times was a successful one.

If you have a chance to see it live get a ticket because I understand Media Corp @ Caldecott Hill may close soon to relocate. Uncertain though.

Nice visit for an SG50 family getaway before another iconic building disappears. (Images 9, 10, 11, 12: Rickie Chng, Audie Ng; Make Up artistes; John Cher; Andy Lim.)

Sunday Night: 24th May, 2015: The Dukes, Julie Sudiro, Veronica Young. Also interviews with the Western Union Band, Chris Ho and Najib Ali and Rahimah Rahim.
And don't forget JOHNNY HATES JAZZ in the final show on this series.

SLIP NOTE:

Other episodes on Rolling Good Times include 60s, 70s and 80s stars: Johnny Hates Jazz, Frances Yip, Rahimah Rahim, Ginger Bread, Maizurah, Ramli Sarip, Mel and Joe Ferdinands, Jacintha and today's stable of current Singapore popsters.

 Read Rolling Good Times Part 1. Click below:

(http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2015/04/rolling-good-times-again-with-silver.html).

                              Johnny Hates Jazz: I Don't Want To Be A Hero

Images: A personal collection and Google.                            

Rolling Good Times Singapore 1: Rick Astley, Dick Lee, Silver Strings

Mathilda D'Silva, Reuby, Wendi Koh, Dick Lee, Rick Astley, Tabitha Nauser, Andy Lim, Audie Ng, John Cher, Rickie Chng, Nicholas Stravens.

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Music and songs are from about the 60's to the 80's.

The Silver Strings will appear on "Rolling Good Times". Line up for the live recording on 4th May are: John Cher, Andy Young, Audie Ng, Mathilda DSilva (Ms Tina Turner), Nick Stravens, Rickie Chng.

The show will highlight our island's music heritage from the 60s onwards and feature pop stars like Larry Lai, Veronica Young, The Dukes, Western Union Band, Julie Sudiro, Ramli Sarip, Jive Talking, Speedway, Masquerade and other local artistes.

Rick Astley With Andy Young

International singers featured will include *Rick Astley, Frances Yip and Johnny Hates Jazz. Dick Lee and Tabitha Nauser will host.  The first telecast in the series that features The Silver Strings will be aired on Channel 5, May 17th, Sunday, from 9.30 pm.

Silver Strings Drummer John Cher and Band Leader Audie Ng with Rick Astley.

*From CNA Website:

SINGAPORE: Singer Rick Astley will be among a host of both local and international artistes who will be performing on the new Rollin’ Good Times, a reboot of the popular 1990's Singaporean music variety show.

The 1980's music icon revealed that he will be performing some of his hits like Together Forever on the show, which celebrates Singapore’s musical heritage, and said he hoped his music will resonate with Rollin’ Good Times viewers.

Andy Young, blogger with Dick Lee, compere, backstage (after show actually).

Apart from recording the first episode, alongside local band The Silver Strings and singer Wendi Koh, Astley is also in Singapore to perform on the first of a two-part special of The 5 Show on Tuesday (May 5), which aims to raise funds to help those affected by the recent deadly earthquake in Nepal.

Click to read Part 2:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2015/05/rolling-good-times-peek-behind-cameras.html

FYI: 26th May, 2015. Live Recording: Johnny Hates Jazz, Frances Yip.

Images from top: Silver Strings on stage; Mathilda DSilva aka Ms Tina Turner; R.G.T. poster; Dick Lee interviews Strings; Andy With Astley; John Cher, Rick Astley and Audie Ng.

                           Rick Astley: Never Gonna Give You Up.

Daisy Devan: Artiste Manager @ EMI Passed On

Mrs Daisy Devan, artiste and repertoire manager with EMI Music passed away at 81 years young. She was "instrumental in getting local English, Malay and Chinese music produced (1.04.2009, Straits Times Press, Singapore)".

Mrs Devan had encouraged many of Singapore's musicians and singers like The Quests, Sakura Teng, Rita Chao, Saloma and P. Ramlee and a host of other artistes to record at the studio in MacDonald House, Orchard Road (Singapore's first recording studio).

Also the first Asian to be in charge of a record label in Singapore, Mrs Devan was responsible for pressing more than 3,000 music recordings. She retired in the early 80s.

Forward from 2009 till today 2nd January, 2024:

Image from Documentary: Untold Legends - Daisy Devan [CNA2024]

This music blog helped with certain pieces of information regarding Ms Daisy Devan. The above acknowledgement at the end of the documentary shows it under: Andy 60s Music Blog. 

Image: 

[1] from You Tube Uploaded by JoeWuSeattleWaUSA on Aug 11, 2006. The Quests Video Tribute. 

[2] from "Rollin' Good Times" television show, 26th September, 1994. Singapore Broadcasting Corp. 

[3] CNA documentary: Untold Legends - Daisy Devan, 2024.