SINGAPORE 60's: ANDY's POP MUSIC INFLUENCE IS A PERSONAL MUSIC, MEMORY TRAIL. BLOGGER DOES NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO VIDEOS, AUDIO TRACKS AND IMAGES. THEY ARE UPLOADED FOR FUN, EDUCATIONAL, ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES AND HAVE BEEN CREDITED. BLOG IS NOT SPONSORED NOR ADVERTORIAL IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. INFORM BLOGGER OF COPYRIGHT ISSUES AND POST WILL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT COPY THE POSTS; GET PERMISSION N CREDIT ME IF YOU DO. ANDY LIM LA (NOVEMBER, 2008) -
(新加坡六十年代安迪的流行音乐影响力), SUDI MAMPIR !
"It’s very rare to have tea and tim-sum and wonderful chats with not one but two iconic Singapore singers. Andy Lim better known as Andy Young was one of them and the other is Winston Koh.
I had the privilege to watch Andy winning the Paul Anka Contest at the Rex Theatre more than 60 years ago. Winston sings the popular Cliff Richard songs and toured Malaysia with the late Millie Small of My Boy Lollipop fame.
We had useful chat and Winston recalled his sting in Hong Kong. I must not forget to thank Andy for the treat and for driving me home. Hope to meet you two soon."
[The above letter was written by Stephen Han on Facebook: 10.03.2022]
Millie Small with 'Sharp Night' TV host
Zhang Wei and Winston Koh in the early 70's.
My Reply:
"Thanks Stephen for your friendship, this memory and for the numerous and nostalgic blog postings that you wrote about your experiences during Singapore's 60's music period. Yes, we must meet again soon. 👍" Andy.
The Stephen Han stories about 60s music. Connect below:
Winston Koh from The Flying Phantoms has a posting of himself and the group on this blog.
I remember he took a picture with Millie, so I posted it but in his own humble way never told me what he was doing with a famous star. Only when I asked him did he reveal his story. At that time from 1971 to 1973, Millie Small was living in Singapore but except for some in the music community, most Singaporeans were not aware of her presence. But let Winston tell his story. Thanks Winston. You’re always a winner, all the way!
“I had my big break in Jan 1971 and sung a duet with International star Ms Millie Small (My Boy Lollipop) at the National Theatre Charity Show “STAR of STARS” to raise funds for TelokBlangar Constituency Scholarships’. We sung MY ELUSIVE DREAMS together at the show and at RTS studios. The backing band had living guitar legend Horace Wee and members from RTS’ music makers.
She was a very humble person and was living here in Singapore for awhile. I had the opportunity to show her around our island. She described to me both the similarities and differences in the make up of our islands. She also joined my tour to Kuantan, Malaysia for a couple of days with Sharp Night (a popular Chinese variety show on TV), then hosted Mr Zhang Wei (above image).
Whenever we went for our meals during the tour she would always ask for one special dish. Millie loved to eat roast pork (char siew) truly her favourite meat and cuisine.
Very sad to learn of her passing. May she Rest In Peace.
God bless her soul.” My Elusive Dreams: And now all we have is each other And a little memory To cling to and still You won't let me go on alone I know you're tired of following My elusive dreams and schemes For they're only fleeting things My elusive dreams (Songwriters: Billy Sherrill, Claude Putman Jr., Curly Putman.)
Chatting about Sunny Low and Dancers There was friendly chatter about Sunny Low which I think should be posted. Below are some of them who know Sunny on stage during their performances. Hopefully readers get a better knowledge of the kind of camaraderie music friends had in the 60's.
Winston Koh who sings and sounds like Cliff Richard: During 60's whenever I appeared on Singapore TV shows it was an honour to have the backing of the Sunny Low Dancers most of the time. Besides, Sunny had another male dancing partner by the name of Victor Koh. Great to know the Poh San Studio is still very active. Well done Mr Sunny Low. Andy Young Thank you Winston. You are blessed to be able to sing on TV and be backed by Sunny's dancers. It's a privilege indeed. Cheers. Sunny Low is on TV again, a documentary about him and his family of dancers. I'm so glad. Another one of our many 60's music heroes but as a dancer. Below are more fond memorable comments about Sunny.
Peter Cheong Sunny n Betty Low of Poh San dance studio. They were iconic dancers who appeared on TV often in the 60s.
Stephen Han I used to see Sunny and Betty Low dancing on stage at school fun fairs,various cinema halls and on TV.I witnessed them winning the Cha Cha Cha dance contest at the Great World Cabaret. The most memorable event was when Sunny took the stage at Majestic Theatre to dance with popular Hong Kong actress,Grace Chan aka Ker Lan. In the 60s most of the actors and famous film stars from Hong Kong learn dancing from Sunny Low.
Grace Chang in Mambo Girl who learnt some from Sunny Low according to Stephen Han. Andy Young Again thank you Peter and Stephen for the information you both provided. I am glad he and his family are featured on Toggle TV where effort by our local SG population is recognised nation wide. Alfredo Wongo "Great piece of write up on Sunny Low and his grand daughter Tasha Low . Was once Sunny’s student in Ballroom dancing Waltz but didn’t persevere after four lessons."
Freda Hanum Oh my Andy, the unforgettable Sunny Low Dancers, it's also my most unforgettable times with them in the late 60's. Sunny and Betty Low was my dancing instructors, I feel so at home at the Poh San Dance Studio each time I go for my practices. I was picked to dance with them in the popular Chinese Variety Show too. Unfortunately when I started to begin my music career, I feel so sad to turn down his offered to train me for the ballroom competition in Japan with his younger brother. I chose music over dancing. I would be so glad to get in touch with Sunny and his whole family again. Wow he too will be shocked to hear from me. Thanks Andy, you brought back the great memory for us.
Andy Young Thanks Freda. I think you did the right moves: to sing and play keyboard. I'm sure you would have made it as a dancer too... Thanks for the nostalgia. Without great contributors like you, the blog would've had no shine. Cheers.
Irene Yap Really nice to read about Sunny and his family! Now reading all that is being shared by so many here is just great! It's bringing back wonderful memories of yesteryear! He choreographed a solo dance for me at the Cathay Restaurant when I was 16!! He was the best!!
Rose Khoo Featured On the red dot
Michael Lee Hi Andy, during my time was Low Poh Sun, Sunny's dad. My nieces and nephews and their partners learnt dancing at the Sunny dance studio during their younger days. Just to add, I don't dance, however my dad's band did often provide the ballroom dance music. If my fried brain memory is correct, the iconic ballroom in Singapore then was none other than the Grand Raffles ballroom, the iconic tango was La Cumparsita and the iconic ballroom dancer was Low Poh Sun and partner with my dad's band De' Combo Alacat often providing the music. The tango is not easy to dance but very beautiful and graceful when well performed and needless to say Low Poh Sun and partner was one of the best in the late 50's and early 60's. Cheerio
Tango: La Cumparsita Video from Ercaliffo 1 (14 million viewers.) Andy Young Again, many thanks to IRENE, ROSE and MICHAEL for the pieces of information and comments. I shall convey these messages to Sunny myself. He remembers well and conducts tango and waltz lessons currently. Also a big thank you to the others who LIKE this post. Cheers everyone. Sunny Low Original Story. Please connect below:
