Harry Martinez Students - Star Gazers (Pt II)

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Image: clockwise/left: Peter Chan, Wilfred, Richard Yoong, Edwin, Tommy (Drums).

"We studied for 2 years at St. Thomas School and had our band practices at 618 North Bridge Road. Our band was under the tutorship of Harry Martinez at Siglap Road. The group lasted for almost 4 years, from about 1964 to 1968.

We called ourseves "Wilfred & The Stargazers". Wilfred, a journalist and the lead singer had a voice like Tom Jones.

The band had another vocalist, a female Chinese who had a repertoire of Mandarin & Cantonese numbers but I cannot remember her name.

Star Gazers played Japanese & Malay songs too and with our versatility, we performed most instrumental dance melodies using the rhythm and beat popular in the mid-sixties. These included off-beat cha cha, rock, mambo, twist, waltz, fox trot, a-go go, hala hala and tango.

We came into the limelight after winning the Big Beat Contest at the Great World Park in Kim Seng Road and secured some television and recording contracts. We played at night clubs, tea dances, weddings, birthday parties, variety shows and at the Singapore International Airport at Paya Lebar Road.

Our recording of four instrumental numbers, White Cloud, Horn Pipe, The Lark and Sunday, a contract with Teo Kwang Record Company near the former Cathay Cinema, exposed us to the pop 60s scene in Singapore and we enjoyed the celebrity status those years accorded."

STARGAZERS, RICHARD WANTS TO MEET YOU ALL AGAIN. GET IN TOUCH!

Article edited/Image: Richard Yoong Collection.

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Johnny Lion The Jumping Jewels In Singapore

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

This posting is another one about Johnny Lion and the Jumping Jewels. In April and May, 1964 they came to Singapore as fans cheered them when the aeroplane touched down at Paya Lebar Airport. Apparently the youngsters fought for autographs while waving flags and journals, showing photographs of Johnny Lion and his group.

The JUMPING JEWELS on this EP are: HANS VAN EIJK, lead guitarist TJIBBE VEELOO, rhythm guitarist JOOP OONK, bass guitarist KEES KRANENBURG, Jr, drummer. In three days the singer and group had performed two shows daily, as more than 10,000 fans poured into the middle of town at the Odeon Cinema at North Bridge Road.

According to the blurb on the flip side of Johnny Lion's EP (Ginny Come Lately, Let's Make A Habit Of This, Tra La-La-La Susie and Gypsy Woman - Philips 433 263 PE), "his success is a combination of many things, but not least among these are his instinct for the kind of song that suits his superb voice and his unfailing attention to detail." Similarly with the group, because all these qualities are present during their stage performances and recordings.

The Air Show was not around then at the airport but the crowd was there Jumping for the Jewels.

(Check: January 29, 2009).

Image/original article: Andy Lim Collection.

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Paya Lebar Airport Singapore 60s

Monday, December 29, 2008

This was the old Paya Lebar Airport in the 60s. We used to haunt this very popular night spot where professional bands played during the weekends.

For a drink that costs about $6.00 each we danced the whole night and usually reached home at 4 a.m. The lights were dim, the atmosphere romantic, especially when the bands played soothing instrumentals like 'Theme to Peyton Place' and 'The Godfather'.

Sometimes crooners sang Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra numbers like 'Too Young' and "Fly Me To The Moon'. It was a haven for young lovers. We had no Singapore Air Shows then but lots of singers and dancers flying to the moon like Sinatra.

Image: from National Heritage Board

Original article: Andy Lim

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Old Kallang Airport Singapore - PA Dance Hall

Sunday, December 7, 2008

The photo below shows, from left, Wilfred (rhythm), Danny Boy (drums), Andy (vocals), Audie (boss/bass) and David (lead).

The photo above shows the PA (from NLB Website). If you remember this night or any other night where you enjoyed yourself screaming and rocking at this place do write in to relate your experience. Photographs too will help. I remember it was in 1964 and not in the 21st Century or 2009 where Air Shows are the craze now at our Changi Airport.

Image: From PA Website

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Kugiran Pop Yeh Yeh The Original Silver Strings

'Andy Young & The Silver Strings' at the Kallang P.A. in 1964

As far as I can remember, this gig was one of my first with The Silver Strings. Resplendently dressed, we had suits and pants made by Sam Tailor, a very well established tailor situated at Tanjong Katong Road.

Sam, a Singapore Cantonese chinese was exceptionally skilled in tailoring suits for the famous and was one of very few in the trade to specialise in adorning the 60s Singapore bands and vocalists. And he made tons! Good for him!

But, unlike Sam, we played more for sheer enjoyment than anything else. Money was not an incentive then as we basked in the limelight of musical entertainment.

Image/original article: Andy Lim

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