Winston Koh, traveller and singer extraordinaire with *beautiful Stephanie Kramer who was Sergeant Dee Dee McCall on NBC Series 'Hunter' - 1984 to 1991.
Today is 1.8.18.
What beautiful numbers for Winston:
A rare gem, or a hidden precious stone. That's what this gentleman is about. When I met Winston Koh with The Trailers, they were only brief encounters i.e. during our show at Vivo City with the Silver Strings (2008); then the Cathay Cinema gig where I appeared with The Esquires (2015) and finally the quiet appearance at the Siglap Hill Catholic Church - OLPS - with John Cher and Friends (2017). We finally said hello and Winston invited me for lunch at the Cricket Club discussing the history of The Flying Phantoms.
Thank you, Winston, for flying together and agreeing to write this article.
THE FLYING PHANTOMS (1962)
by Winston Koh
The Flying Phantoms were formed in 1962 but I joined the group in 1963 when two of the members had already left to join The Mysterians. They were brothers William (Rhythm) and Dennis Chan (Lead).
With just the three of us, we started practising most of the Cliff Richard and The Shadows songs. We could sing and play many other melodies from other groups and pop vocalists too.
Eventually, we had Sam Toh and Hudson Ng joining the group and moving forward we started to play gigs at the British Camps in Singapore from 1964 to 1968. We were also popular at house parties, Tea dances, a nightclub called The Flamingo at Great World and at GH Cafe at Battery Road.
As we came to be more established and appeared on many television shows a gentleman noticed us on television. He was one Mr Smudge Smith who contacted us and wanted to manage the group. We agreed and Mr Smith became our manager. At the same time, another connection, a Mr Montero also continued to provide us with many places to perform at.
Sam Toh left the group to join The Quests and we got in a bass player by the name of Richard, where we competed for the Cliff Richard and The Shadows Finder's Keepers contest. They found a winner but I’m the keeper! Richard left us after the contest and we got in Jimmy Ng from Super XX as our bass player.
Then Dennis Chan, the lead guitarist, left for National Service and we got a Henry Tham to play the lead. Meanwhile, we were looking for another lead guitar player and we managed to find Johnny Yeow. At this point, the group had a contract to perform in Hong Kong and we renamed ourselves, The Phantoms and continued to do many gigs and functions as usual.
We left for Hong Kong in July 1969 to open up the New World of Susie Wong at Hankow Road, Kowloon. We were there for six months. Hong Kong was a music world of its own. Truly memories and melodies.
We appeared in Young Beat Live Show at the Hong Kong City Hall in the following month of August and another big show called, Music Markers with top local bands and singers at Happy Valley Turf Club on 14 November 1969 with Live TV Telecast. We did well and had created a good image for Singapore's pop bands.
The Phantoms also did an official opening for a new record shop called City Music and also played during Sunday Tea Dances at The Teddy Robin Tavern and Go Down during our short stint in Hong Kong.
We were so popular at this venue that we were offered a six months extension but turned it down because our manager had already signed a new contract with Hotel Malaysia at home.
The group returned to Singapore at the end of December 1969 and had a six months contract with Marco Polo Theatre Restaurant Night Club at Clemenceau Avenue. We played from January 1970 at this nightclub, managed by Hotel Malaysia. After three months we moved to play at The Supper Club and The Pub.
After the contract ended The Phantoms only got together for gigs; Johnny and I joined the workforce and Jimmy Ng went back to his family insurance business. As for Hudson and Henry, they continued full time in music and made it their career. The Phantoms Johnny, Jimmy and I still stayed together and got two players to join the band until 1980.
The Flying Phantoms returned with original members Dennis and William Chan, Jimmy and I. We managed to recruit Arshad Hamid as our drummer. This time around we did many concerts and appearances for charity where we were paid by organizations. The fees that we acquired, we donated to the Children's Home. Besides performing with the band I also performed solo for charity at all the Public Hospitals, for Seniors and Nursing Homes.
In the year 2000, I teamed up with Victor Woo, the original lead guitarist of The Trailers, where we managed a few changes with the rhythm, bass and drummer. We held many shows and performances for the Esplanade, National Heritage Board, Social and Community Clubs, the National Art Council and Corporate Organizations.
Today, I am still with The Trailers with new members and we continue to do show, functions and charity concerts.
Winston Koh at the 2008 concert at VivoCity where he appeared with The Trailers.
Winston took time and trouble to write this article which was right in the middle of his busy house-moving schedule. So guys, if you know Winston, write a note to him and say hello.
*Stephanie Kramer, actress, writer, singer/songwriter, was dubbed one of the most beautiful women on TV in 1988.
Images/Article:
Winston Koh Copyrights Reserved. Record cover through courtesy of Dr Steven Farram (Darwin University, Australia.)
Winston Koh (right) with Millie Small ('My Boy Lollipop' hit); at his peak, this gentleman singer's seen them all. The gentleman with the sunglasses is well-known MediaCorp actor Zhang Wei when he was a compere for Sharp Night on Channel 8. Zhang Wei is still acting on Channel 8 now.
In Hong Kong through our media promoter Mr Terry Geary a friend of ours, then the Manager Mr Michael Brown, we met with Mr Paul Leung, a composer and keyboardist who wanted The Phantoms to record his first English composition, Love, Love, Love and asked us to choose a song for the B side.
Within a short period Mr Leung booked a studio for recording on 26 September 1969. We recorded live with him on keyboard for Love, Love, Love, since he was also a producer and owner of the AMO label.
This time around, Winston is with more famous stars 😄 from the haunt at Siglap Hill, not with Zhang Wei, Dee Dee McCall or Millie Small but in a 2017 gig below @ at the OLPS Singapore:
From left: John Cher, Winston Koh, Andy (passer-by), Rickie Chng, Ted Ha,
Behind seated: Shankar Paul, Standing: Michael Bangar.
