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Laurence Lim and I became friends when he replaced me for the part of Grandfather for the YouTube video, You're The Boy, which featured Shirley Nair and the Silver Strings. He supports us during our gigs and tries to be present during our performances whenever he is free. When I found out he has a 60's guitar group I asked if he could write about the band.
Here is his story. Thanks very much, my friend.
TheTrebles
In the early 1960s, a group of 3 friends, in their mid 20's, Jerry Lee, Alan Yuen, and Michael Tham got together to form a 3 piece band as a form of hobby and entertainment. They came from different walks of life, an accountant, a school teacher, and a patisserie.
They had no expensive or flashy-looking instruments to boast of, but it was their love for music that brought them together. Their first jam session was in an old HDB flat in Redhill Close and they named the group
The Trebles.
Jerry (rhythm), Andrew (bass), Michael (drums), Alfred (percussion). Front row: Alan (lead), Laurence (vocals).
Not long after, they managed to recruit a bassist, Andrew Lee, whose music-loving father Mr.Francis Lee in subsequent years, was instrumental in securing regular contracts for The Trebles to perform. Singapore in the early '60s was still under British rule and having army camps scattered all over Singapore, from Changi to Naval Base, to Seletar was a common sight.
With all the enthusiasm and opportunities The Trebles was still incomplete. They had no vocalist. It was by chance that Alan and myself were teaching in the same school at Bukit Ho Swee Secondary School, and during one of the lunch breaks, he started talking about music and asked me whether I was a music lover.
That was the beginning of a 50-year relationship with The Trebles and when I fronted the group as their permanent singer. The We played twice weekly at army camps and for a one-night performance of 3 hours duration, we were paid $300/ which in the '60s was a princely sum.
Like the people in attendance, we dressed very formally during the performance. The crowd was made up of 90% Caucasians who were British servicemen. There was no necessity to go for supper after the gig with plenty of hard liquor and good buffet spread each time we performed.
We have a wide repertoire of songs made popular by
Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Bill Haley, The Animals, Frankie Avalon, Roy Orbison, Bryan Hyland, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, and
The Beatles. Our instrumentals include numbers by
The Shadows and
Ventures.
During the '60s more bands and vocal groups began to appear namely The Quests, Trailers, The Stylers, Cyclones, Crescendos, Naomi and the Boys, The Silver Strings, Matthew and the Mandarins.
The Trebles had never been in the limelight all those years as our interests were more towards providing dance music to party-goers and dancers. We were not performing artists, as such we would only be known and heard of by dance enthusiasts.
Laurence remarked, "When the folks drink they don't care whether you go out of key, as long as the tempo is there. It is really fun but slightly different when you play dance music. The lyrics are not important but the tempo must be there. But when you perform on stage with an audience watching, words and timing must be correct."
Today we are still in the music scene for birthday, company and charity functions. All the original members of The Trebles, Michael, Andrew, Jerry, Alan (leader) and I are now in our 70's.
Music has provided us the joy and zest to live well.
We are all Blessed.
Click comment page (below) to read more about this band and Laurence Lim's reply about band news from local 60's tabloids.
Laurence Lim (today) as
Grandpa in YouTube Video
'You're The Boy'
Alan Yuen, Laurence Lim, Jerry Lee, Andrew Lee with the Trebles in the 21st Century.
This band has lasted for many years under the strength of its passionate members. Camaraderie is still strong today (2011).
Latest News (July 2016):
This posting is in honor of Michael Tham (image left: drummer) who had just passed away. Friends, fans, and readers of this blog send condolences to Mrs. Tham and her family.
Written by Laurence Lim (image: with yellow batik).
Article and personal photographs have been copyrighted.
