Before Henry Suriya (image) became the pop crooner during Singapore 60s, not many fans knew he was a boxer. According to the newspapers then, he was an "amateur boxing champion who gave up trading punches for singing.
Henry Suriya had won many prizes in singing competitions but was also an expert at swinging competitions as he was feather-weight champ in the Singapore Youth Boxing Championships in 1957.
His father, who was also a boxer, urged Henry to give up the game and as an inducement presented Henry with a guitar on his 18th birthday. Henry never looked back, learnt to play the guitar and started singing sentimental songs.
During an interview with Henry, an old schoolmate, he wanted to emphasise that he only sings in his own original style. We all know that Henry. We have been listening to your songs for a long time now.
More about Henry Suriya in future postings.
(Interview by: Andy Lim. All Rights Reserved.)
Image: lst recording in 1966, accompanied by his brother Robert Suriya and The Boys.
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