Andy 60s Music Goes Downtown Meeting Tourists, Musicians And An Artist.

One of the most international cities in the world Singapore had 16.9 million visitor arrivals last year in 2025. 

We are not sure about this year's statistics but wandering around Downtown in Singapore during the long holiday, we met 2 tourists, 3 musicians and an artist. And what gems they were amidst the crowded streets, shops and a music school. 6 folks to chat with...

"So maybe I'll see you there/we can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares/so go downtown/Things will be great when you're downtown/don't wait a minute more downtown/Everything is waiting for you... [Petula Clark]"

@ Lucky Plaza:

We sat with a Ghanaian couple [if the memory remembers correctly] enjoying a food court meal at Lucky Plaza. They love the visit. “Do write in sir and madam on the comment page; during the excitement we forgot both your names!”

@ Orchard MRT

At Orchard MRT, we finally met up with this well-known vision-impaired singer, 

Wan Wai Yee, who can belt out Taylor Swift and Celine Dion songs

 as easily as hits from the 60s and Musicals. She has a busking band [below].

 

Accompanying Wan Wai Yee is Ivni Yaakub [call me Iv] who plays 

a fantastic repertoire on his electronic guitar. Modest and unassuming

he makes up the busking duo called, StrawberryStory.

StrawberryStory busking @ the corridors of Orchard MRT Station.

Petula Clark - 'Downtown' 

[The Dean Martin Show Episode 50: Jan 26: 1967]

YouTube Video by: OLD TAPES

@ Victoria Street Corner

John Fitzpatrick comes from Maine, USA but has been living in Singapore for some time. He's an artist and paints the world. Met him at the junction of Victoria Street near a well-known hotel as he colors his drawing paper with the area's landscape facing Chijmes. And it was a grandiose scene. 

The road-side interview carried on despite his popularity with camera-folks and passers-by who were watching him. Thanks John. Hope to meet you again with 

that Chijmes water-colour creation.

@ Plaza Singapura

And at Plaza Singapura, I made a purposeful visit to meet this handsome gentleman. Wandered into this famous music shop and asked for Dr. Danny Koh. "Oh," says the lady, "he's in Room __ and finishes at 3.15pm, which is now!" And there was the maestro himself immaculately dressed as usual when I peeked in. This special blog post is dedicated to him; to congratulate him on acquiring a PhD. in Music.

Dr. Danny Koh: The Way You Look Tonight

YouTube Video By: Dr. Danny Koh.

@ Cairns, in Australia... Wot?

I have to put this picture in...

That's Herb Van Dort with sister Barbara. Remember him? The Beatles of Malaysia? Mike and Herb. He's been Santa Claus for years now, during Christmases helping in a Charity. 

Our family was wandering in downtown Cairns, Australia too and so were they, but did we meet? It's a long story and I'll tell it one day...

HERB WROTE A NOTE:

Hi Andy, “HAPPY SINGAPORE DAY” 🇸🇬                                 9th August 2026

Would you kindly wish for all the groups from the 60’s (sixties) during our time there. The Boys, Checkmates, The Quest, The Silver Strings, Jerry and his band (New Faces), Ronnie and the Burns, our compere K. V. John, Silver Stars, Naomi and Henry Suriya, The Cyclones and Veronica Young.

I don’t see myself coming to Singapore in the near future, so it’s goodbye from Mike and Herb. Thanks very much Andy the photos you sent Barb of Mike, me, Danny and also with yourself all look fantastic. I am going to get the photo enlarged. 

By the way Andy you are the guru in the music industry and if it wasn’t for you Singapore’s music scene would not be as vibrant. Singapore owes you a mighty big award for what you did for all Singapore and Malaysia local bands.

I hope you will be able to put this letter into your blog so that everyone can read this, especially the local authorities, so that you will receive your reward for all your achievements.

Well to a great performer like yourself, let me wish you and I know my brother Mike felt the same all the very best to you my good friend.

Best wishes,

Herb. [of Mike & Herb, Beatles of Malaysia.]

Thanks, Herb for the accolades. That's all I can say.

Andy.

We Are The World [1985]: Sax and Violin: Daniele Vitale [Italy] & Karolina Protsenko [Ukraine].

We Are The World - Sax and Violin |

 Daniele Vitale & Karolina Protsenko

YouTube Video by: Daniele Vitale Sax

    

 UP TO 300 VIEWS, 20, CHATS, COMMENTS

[1] Karolina Protsenko, classically trained, is an 11 year old performing violinist, born in 2008 in Ukraine to musical parents who play the guitar and piano; they moved to the United States in 2015.

[2] Daniele Vitale Sax is an Italian saxophonist, musician, who is most popular for sharing his fabulous videos playing the saxophone on YouTube; sharing lifestyle photos and music videos on different social media platforms.

[3] "We Are the World" is a charity single recorded by the Supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for an album with a similar title.

 

Daniele and Karolina

Sensational Saxophone and Violin Buskers

Readers Comments:

[a] "Both Daniele and Karolina play their musical instruments beautifully. I follow Karolina on YouTube regularly. She's only 14 and plays the violin so skillfully. She'll have a great future. It's a pity her country, Ukraine is being attacked and destroyed by Russia." [Jerry Saram, high school teacher]

[b] "Lovely tune, nice combination and beautifully performed!" [Jimmy Chng, drummer]

[c] "Definitely a must listen for saxophone and violin enthusiasts. And the melody is familiar with most. Karolina is a truly beautiful and talented young lady." [Anonymous.]

[d] "Thank you for sharing Andy." [Steve Ho, busker, drummer, singer]

[e] "Beautiful and Happy!" [George Chew, lead guitarist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVTHijw_-EU

[f] "Awesome Saxophone is also one of my favourite musical instruments cheers." [Cedric Collars, pianist: Perth, Australia]

[g] "Sorry Andy, to me the tenor sax and the high pitch violin is ?????" [Ivor Lesslar, lead guitarist] 

[h] "I heard her solo violin rendition of Dancing Queen on another video and truly shed a tear. Lovely indeed; it was gentle and charming. The dancing queen has turned into a fairy queen. Thanks to all the above who wrote in." [Andy Young, author]. 

[i] "Hi ROSE, thanks for being the first to LIKE the post. Any comment? All comments will now be posted directly on the blog front." [Andy]

[j] "Beautiful song well played by both. In my opinion the violin has a more touching and soothing tone." [Michael Lee]

[k] "Yes, it does. I love the quiet sound of the violin, especially with this particular song. Thanks for visiting Mike." [Andy] 

https://www.youtube.com/c/KarolinaProtsenkoViolin?app=desktop

[l] "Nice renditions both musicians played with feelings." [Winston Koh].

[j] "Thanks my good friend. Glad you like them. Many thanks to all the above friends and readers who wrote in..." [Andy]

[k] "Really lovely, she's amazing and such gifted talented Karolina Protsenko , have seen countless people sharing her performances too, she's so ease and produce beautiful songs with her violin...lovely video of both of them Andy👍." [Freda Hanum]

[l] "Freda Hanum hi, coming from you, a musician too, the comment is a compliment! Appreciate that you agree because I have become very selective with the choices of videos put up, knowing that there are many music makers in our chat and FB group. Thanks again Freda." [Andy]

[j] "What a beautiful instrumental rendition of this charity single classic, Brother Andy. I was fortunate to have watched the co-writer of the song, and Five-time Grammy winner, Lionel Richie and he was in Singapore for an exclusive one-night only performance. He certainly set the bar high at this show and kept the audience enthralled with his energy and showmanship all night long and of course, the concert would not have been complete without this song. Cheers and blessings to all👍❤️🥰…" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I04FcfIVtcU [FredChing].

[k] "Fred Ching Yes, thanks again. He was one of the singers for this MJ classic. But considering... I enjoy this instrumental version. Keeps the nostalgia burning. And the violin stream flows with the beautiful violinist on hand." [Andy] 

Thanks to the following readers who like or love this posting:

Freda Hanum

Colin Colin

Stephen Han

Rose Khoo

Ann Rowena Lim

Somkid Lakhawat

Francis Anthony Rozells

Becky Hofmann

Xu Xiwen

Ser Kiong Tan.

[l] "Close your eyes and drift away. Yes music certainly sooths the savage beast. Together they blend in a piece of artwork so intense. Well done." [Cedric Collars].

Follow the comments as they increase by the day...

Someone Needs Help Badly, Will You Give Some? Covid Days

                                                                 

 Ralph McTell: Streets of London Video: wildfiremedia.   

UP TO 1800 VIEWS                

[This article has been updated from 29th December, 2012. Perhaps we could give away some, if we have a little to spare...]

Used as a teaching aid in a Singapore school textbook some years ago, this international pop anthem about the street poor was first recorded in 1969.  It is the third time I am posting *Streets of London on this blog. I would probably post it again in another year to remind us of the squalor, deprivation and loneliness of many homeless people in this world today. Some things never change.

When you are sipping that glass of champagne and slurping the caviar, tucking into succulent chicken rice and downing it with Tiger or just watching the ushering in of New Year 2021 on  TV please remember the very poor who need our help.

I am not being hypocritical but perhaps just two Singapore dollars placed in the hands of someone who needs the money is sufficient. Or more if you wish. Depends on how much your heart (not head)  is willing to give. Don't force yourself. If you can't, don't.

Watch the above video to the end because it's different from the others available on You Tube. wildfiremedia who produced the clip had an interview with Ralph McTell on the streets of  London. 

If you can spare something, check out the list below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_voluntary_welfare_organisations_in_Singapore

Video: from wildfiremedia on You Tube.

The streets of London today - 2020 and now. We have the poor in charity homes in Singapore. Do help them if you have some to spare. 

Streets of London is written by Ralph McTell, first recorded for his 1969 album Spiral Staircase but not released in the United Kingdom as a single until 1974. It was his greatest commercial success, reaching number two in the UK singles chart, at one point selling 90,000 copies a day.

As McTell explains on the video it could be any street in any big city in the world. He was inspired by an older song called, Poor People of Paris (1954) made good by Les Baxter and Orchestra. I remember this one, do you?

Over two hundred artists have made covers of this song including Cliff Richard, Blackmore's Night, Mary Hopkin, Raffi, Sam Hui, Sinéad O'Connor, Schooner Fare, Anti-Nowhere League, Roger Whittaker, Cleo Laine,  Cat Stevens Oskar Weise/Tom Brner, Tommy Korberg  and Liam Clancy. Its popularity was also the subject of a comedy sketch on BBC show Big Train.

McTell celebrated his 70th birthday with a concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, on 7 December 2014 (video clip below).

Read more from wikepedia.^.

Ralph McTell with John Williams 70th Streets Of London Live. On YouTube since 2016. Video from the man himself. Thank you sir.

1956 HITS ARCHIVE: The Poor People Of Paris - Russ Morgan. Video by the45prof.

Images: Google.

Steve Ho Singapore Chinatown Busker Boys Heartbreaker

Steve Ho

UP TO 6,000 VIEWS, A DOZEN COMMENTS

Meeting Steve Ho:

I met Steve the first time at a hotel lounge where he was singing and playing the drums. Steve has those rugged features with the typical John Mellencamp boyish cut, looking tough like a rock star in his red jeans, bracelets and dangling neck ornament.

True to his band name, Steve will definitely break hearts. Like Elvis, he addresses me as 'Sir' and 'Yes ma'am' when he answers to the pretty ladies surrounding him. 

Steve's English diction and powerhouse vocals are distinctive and separate him from other local singers that I have heard. His versatility shows in his ability to sing in Cantonese too.

He is very different from many of the Singapore band boys I met. Besides, Steve writes very well and after some persuasion, he emailed me the article below.

He's just starting his musical journey and if you guys are reading this, give him that big break he needs. Check him out at the busking points specified below.

Thanks, Steve for the interview.

Singapore's New Pop Icon:

"I started very late in music and mostly jammed with friends in rented studios during my younger days. It happened in the 90s when the love for music within made me want to express myself.

It was only in mid-2013 when I joined a band called Still Alive as a vocalist.  We indulged in Classic Pop Rock and sang Bad Company (Rock Steady, Wishing Well); Deep Purple (Smoke On The Water, Sail Away); Bon Jovi (You Give Love A Bad Name, Bed  Of Roses). My other rock heroes are Firehouse, Skid Row, Pink Floyd and many more.

I am able to draw a Chinese crowd with rock numbers like; Beyond's (Hoi Foot Theen Hoong, Putt Zoi Yau); Sam Hui's (Tar Koong Zai, Kwai Ma Seon Seng); Alan Tam's (Pung Yau). My specialty I think. Besides singing, I play the drums. 

Steve Ho's crowd in Chinatown was vibrant as the locals and tourists danced to the rhythm of the group's hot music.

UP TO 3,000 VIEWS

Gigs All Over Singapore:

We performed at various locations in Singapore for about 3 years, namely at Clementi and West Coast CCs, Azucar at Beach Road, 1° 15 in Sentosa with this same band, before branching out and forming my own band in 2016.  We called ourselves, Steve and The Heartbreakers. We performed at a couple of clubs at Beach Road and Tanjong Pagar for about a year and a half. We then called it quits. 

"Why quit suddenly?"

Sadly, Andy, we did not get paid!

Back To Basics:

I returned to driving a taxi for a living but soon realized that my true calling was (and still is) to sing and perform to a live audience.

After driving for some years and suffering ill from the livelihood (being a taxi driver is tough), I gave it up. It was then that I decided to try out busking in public for a means of living. I got myself a license in mid-2018 and have started the practice ever since. 

I intend to sing and drum and share my music (as long as I possibly can), with anyone and everyone who loves music. When people ask me about "wearing a uniform" rule, I tell them I am a true blue Rocker and do not conform to such rules. We stick to simple Ts and jeans.

I sincerely believe that music transcends all boundaries. Music brings perfect strangers together with music as the common language, and it does not need to be understood! We just flow with it!" 

video.

Busking Today:

In Chinatown, the crowd went where Steve went with his boys. The locals and the tourists enjoyed his music as the pretty young Caucasian girls from Australia, the US, the UK, and other European countries rocked to his music. The local Chinese loved his Cantonese melodies with a huge following from HongKong and mainland China.

With his musician friends, Robert Koh (image above: on guitar with Steve), the current lead guitarist with the band Blues Express, Patrick 'Tiger Baits' Koh and Peter Han (seen seated with bongo drums in the video), famed co-founder and ex-lead guitarist of the 80s superband, Tokyo Square, they have found a niche for themselves again. 

No advertising stunt; the crowd at Steve Ho's road concerts are huge. Go see him and his band.

Steve and Peter Han (from Tokyo Square) below are now playing inside the air-conditioned Thrift Shop at the Salvation Army Building across from Hillview MRT @ Upper Bukit Road from 2.30 to 6/7pm on Saturdays.

Catch them live guys and give all the cash you've got.

Articles and Images are the properties of Steve Ho. 

YouTube Videos from William Tan.

Copyrights Reserved.

The Late Hamdi Sinwan: By Michael Bangar

The Late Mr Hamdi Bin Sinwan is in the centre with writer Michael Bangar on the left.

A Tribute:

A tribute here for our dearly departed brother in music - the late strolling vocalist and guitarist Mr Hamdi Bin Sinwan who left us on 23 April 2018. He had been unwell and out of action these past few years. 

For those of you who don't know him, Mr Hamdi has been a Strolling Musician almost all of his many many years in the Singapore music scene. Based on information he shared with us strolling trios, he was a member of strolling trios like Los Amigos, Los Santos, Los Pintos, Los Chicos and others. 

He shared the stage with almost all of the well known strolling musicians here. He performed with them in some of the major hotels and restaurants from Orchard Road to the Marina Square area and neighbouring countries.

A very gifted musical talent, brother Hamdi sang and played excellent lead and rhythm on his acoustic nylon-stringed guitar. His range covered many musical genres and his repertoire stretched through many decades. 

Besides English and Spanish, he also sang in many languages like Italian, German, Korean, Hindi, and our 3 local languages and dialects. He had been involved in some daytime busking at Wheelock Place, Orchard Road. Some of you might have seen him perform solo there. He stopped when his illness made him lose his voice.

A true musical talent that is going to be sadly missed by all who knew and played with him.  Salutĕ!

CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.

R.I.P. Hamdi.

Written by Michael Bangar.

The image and article have been copyrighted.

Disclaimer: 

This tribute is published because Michael Bangar personally knows the deceased and because we care. If for any reason there are objections to this posting, please write on the Comment page, and this message will be deleted.

Wild Attractiveness: Taiwan Lady Drummer A Hit

 MORE THAN 3

 UP T0 17,000 VIEWS, 50 CHATS, COMMENTS

Seen this video nearly a year ago but if you missed it, turn the speakers out loud.  This percussionist's stories are all over the internet.  She has more than *three million views and about 200,000 likes on her Facebook.  So Danny Boy, John Cher, Oliver Bala and the other Silver Strings drummers who helped us during our gigs, can you beat this one? 

She has confidence and plenty of class! From the You Tube recording this young and pretty lady does an eyeful and entertaining street performance with the drums before her. 

Yes, she is a busker on the streets of Taiwan.  But what a busker!  According to a comment on this posting, her name is Luo Xiao Bai (羅小白) but calls herself S. White (Small White = Xiao Bai?).

She is not giving a drum display but is accompanying a song she is listening to from her ear-piece.  Watch her right hand and drumstick twirls. She's at one with the percussion, an artistic blend. Enjoy!

DkS398 says:

I'm a young drummer myself (17) and I wasn't really that impressed with her skills, like everyone else saying she's a amazing and stuff.

The title 'amazing' goes to guys like Marco Minnemann, Buddy Rich, Louie B., Chris Coleman, Royster Jr, Steve Gadd, Gene Hoglan, Mike Mangini, Mike Portnoy, Steve Adler, Bernard Purdie, John Bonham, Keith Moon and list continues. 

Those guys are amazing and great drummers. I'm not trying to be rude but from an honest, experienced drummer's point of view, she's not bad. Really she's not, but she is definitely not amazing.

min suga says:

Damn, this girl so unbelievably amazing and the thing I really, really love other than the awesome drumming, is the way she looks. I don't know if anyone else noticed but she looks so, so, so happy and is enjoying her time. I love it !

At her level, she is pretty amazing. You can't compare her to Gene Krupa can you?

anonymous says:

I tell you, she is the best female street drummer I've ever seen. Showmanship is of utmost importance for street drummers. The ability to twirl the sticks in a number of ways and to throw and catch the stick as it comes down, while in play is awesome. 

It is a veritable skill what every drummer would naturally wish to have. It is an amazing talent that won the admiration so many spectators as many other drummers could not do. Showing skin and even resorting to tricks like burning of the drum sticks that 

I saw in one vid are cheap attempts to charm spectators. But they simply are not what you would consider as talent and not worthy of praise.

Comment anyone?

Statistics:

Name: Luo Shiro (羅仕茹) 
Stage Name: Luo Xiao Bai (羅小白), S. White 
Date of Birth: 23 May 
Place of Birth: Taipei, Taiwan 
Zodiac Sign: Gemini 
Religion: Christian 
Height: 161 cm 
Favourite Food: Marshmallow 
Favourite Colour: Blue, White, Black 
Singer: Hebe (田馥甄).

Images: Google.
*6 million plus viewers on 2nd November, 2015 and rising.
  23,822,184 views on 29th April, 2017.