Looking Back: Country Music With Maxine Brown

Sunday, February 6, 2011

THIS POSTING IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT

If you are not familiar with the music of the 50s and 60s Maxine Brown's Looking Back To See - A Country Music Memoir - is the book to grab from the shelves of our National Library. The Three Bells (1959) is one of the biggest hits of all time and gave Maxine Brown, her sister and brother international stardom. And the story begins...

Mini review:

Maxine Brown shared stages with everyone, from unknowns to the knowns like Rick Nelson and Elvis Presley. "She saw Elvis at the beginning of his incredible, tragic ride" when she devoted one full chapter to travels with the King.

Then there were Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash and pieces of advice - "Lousy bands can mess up the greatest singers..." - from the people she met during the times of boogie-woogie, swing music, television, horror movies, The Kennedys, space flight, hula hoops and "nickel Cokes."

Country Music People magazine says it all, "This is the story of The Browns... It is also the story of rip-offs, frustration money woes, and the harsh truths about fame... Told in a spunky, no-holds-barred, immensely readable style with plenty of juicy anecdotes (blurb)."

If you have the time and interested in country music, this is the book to check out. And who are the Browns, in case you are not familiar with them? Her book tells all.

Image: Cover of "Looking Back To See - A Country Music Memoir" by Maxine Brown, The University of Arkansas Press (2005), USA. From: National Library Board, Singapore. NLB: 782.421642

Original article: Andy Lim.

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Of Wedding Bells, House, Baby, Papa And Mama

Monday, November 29, 2010

(a): 'Mama looka Boo Boo,' they shout.

Their mother tol' them, 'Shut up your mouth,

That is your daddy.'

'Oh no. My daddy can't be ugly so!'

'Shut your mouth, go away...'

(b): Somebody bad stole de wedding bell

Somebody bad stole de wedding bell

Somebody know but nobody tell

Cause somebody bad stole the wedding bell

Who's got the ding, dong, who's got the bell...

The songs I listened to during my youth are the ones I still remember today. The tunes and lyrics spin in my head all the time and can be turned on immediately. It's like clicking on to the song-list of an mp3 player or an i-phone. The explanation follows the list below:

l. Where Will The Dimple Be? - Rosemary Clooney

2. House Of Bamboo - Earl Grant

3. Looking For Henry Lee - Jo Stafford

4. High Noon - Frankie Laine

5. Ivory Tower - Gale Storm

6. Papa Loves Mama - Donald Peers

7. Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell - Georgia Gibbs

8. Mama Looka Boo Boo - Harry Belafonte

Can you still remember the songs you love?

1> Rosemary Clooney (image), who is George Clooney's aunt, used to be a pop singer in the 50s and 60s and her version of, Where Will The Dimple Be (1955) was a favourite on Radio Singapore's request programme, Calling All Hospitals where Maisie Conciecao was the DJ (we use the term, 'announcer' those days). It was the most requested song for a baby dedication. And KK (Kandang Kerbau) Hospital was the maternity hospital then.

4> Tall and lanky actor Cary Cooper, the male lead in High Noon, was one of the icons for Westerns. The movie was a hit when it was shown in Singapore, drawing crowds at the cinemas. High Noon, the song (1952), by Tex Ritter, was a request favourite and played on the air everyday. The Frankie Laine version was more popular locally.

6> When Papa Loves Mama (1960) came on the air, it became the anthem for many Singapore families and a favourite for dancing the cha-cha-cha. The original and only version I know is by Donald Peers; so in this instance it's the song, not the singer. The giggling girl accompanying Peers could be Joan Regan.

7, 8> The other novelty tunes on my list, Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell (1954) and Mama Looka Boo Boo (1956) must be heard to be appreciated. With humorous lyrics and a grand calypso beat, these two classics are hardly played on the radio today. The Georgia Gibbs version of SBSTWB is unavailable on You Tube. MLBB by Belafonte is on You Tube, accompanied by Nat King Cole (side-bar). Great songs for kids too!

(c): On the baby's knuckle, on the baby's knee,

Where will the baby's dimple be?

Baby's cheek or baby's chin

Seems to me it'll be a sin

If it's always covered by the safety pin...

Shall we discuss the other songs on another posting? Are you familiar with any of these songs?

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Ronnie Ong Black Hills Of Dakota, 10,000 Miles

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Ronnie Ong also recorded Buttons And Bows, together with 10,000 Miles on Side One and on Side Two: The Black Hill Of Dakota and Dear Heart And Gentle People.

Recorded in Singapore: TNA TEP 213 EP. (image), the selection is 1950s cowboy songs. Blogger knows all the songs and sings them too.

Do you remember Ronnie Ong? Would you like to tell us about him? Do share with us your memories as Ronnie Ong was popular in the 60s too. He is also a crooner and sings jazz standards. Where is Ronnie Ong now?

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78 RPM - Gene Autry 'Buttons & Bows' Country

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Sung by Bob Hope to Jane Russell in the 1948 film, Paleface, Buttons and Bows won the Oscar that year for best song. It was written by composer Jay Livingston and lyricist Ray Evans, a prolific team who have written a great many hit songs including, To Each His Own, Golden Earrings, Mona Lisa, Silver Bells, Que Sera Sera, Dear Heart, and Tammy.

You Tube on the right side-bar features Roy Rogers (2nd video). Blogger saw this movie as a child at the Queen's Cinema, Singapore. It was a real treat for a boy! Gone, one full circle.

As the world goes into the second decade of the 21st Century, blogger goes forward into the late 40s and managed to get a copy of Gene Autry's, Buttons And Bows on 78rpm, MR3814 Regal Zonophone. A new year's gift for S$1.00!

On the flip side is, A Boy From Texas - A Girl From Tennessee sung by our yodeling cowboy. Like they say, the world is full of coincidences because blogger found these 78s just after he met David Row a few days before. Row is known as Singapore's Gramophone Man with an array of antique records, record-players and cabinet speakers in his keep. Another story, another posting!

Do you have stories and records you might want to share on this blog? Let us know.

Record Information: http://www.jaycmunns.com/Tracks_7-8.html

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

You Tube: By Filmkiste.

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(2) Davy Crockett, Fess Parker, Sixteen Tons, Ernie Ford - Beginnings Of A Rugged Society

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

TOP TUNES INFLUENCE: 1955/1956.

It all happened in Singapore in the mid-50s. When streets were narrow and traffic light, young boys in primary schools were pulling their parents to the movies to watch Fess Parker as Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier (image). With a beaver hat and thin rifle, he had youths gasping in awe when Crockett, "killed him a bar (bear) when he was only three." Blogger rushed to the Capitol Cinema in North Bridge Road to watch the movie.

Some students cycled from Woodsville Road on their rickety bikes to the same destination. And Tennesse Ernie Ford was thudding the bass with his heavy rendition of, Sixteen Tons, warning everyone with, "and whadaya get... another day older and deeper in debt."

But the one song in 1955 that started nearly every Singaporean rockin' and rollin' was Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock, so when the doors of the cinemas opened to screen this Alan Freed movie, every one flocked and stampeded to watch it. (Check posting, February 10th, 2009).

For Singapore 60s baby boomers it was Cliff Richard and The Shadows. But in 50s Singapore, Bill Haley And His Comets hit the joints. Then came the greatest of them all...
Image: http://www.passionweiss.com/

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

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(5) Country Western 60s: Singapore Cowboys

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

They are one of the best bands in Singapore and they specialise in Country and Western Music. Matthew Tan is the vocalist and plays rhythm guitar, Michael Png plays steel/acoustic guitar, Richard Danker plays bass, while Derrick Danker is on lead guitar. Phillip Monteiro plays drums.

For their EMI the group recorded, Singapore Cowboy, Broken Lady, Lucille, Daytime Friends, That'll Be The Day, Legend In My Time, City Of New Orleans, Movin' On, Margaritaville, It Was Almost Like A Song, Lovesick Blues, Play Born To Lose Again, From Graceland To The Promised Land and The Last Farewell.

For Part II, on EMGS they recorded, Let's Put The Sing In Singapore, Love Or Something Like, I Can Almost See Houston From Here, Honky Tonk Downstairs, *Stranger, Shenandoah, Get Down Country Music, Leaving YOu Is Easier Than Wishing You Were Gone, Tulsa Time, North To Alaska, More Than Just A Memory and Showboat Gambler.

*Female vocalist of the 70s Tracy Huang accompanied them in Stranger. Both recordings were produced by Reggie Verghese, engineered by Vincent Lim and strings arrangements were by Martin Pereira.

Information: EMI Records (Long Play Vinyls). Image: Back Cover of EMGS5016 - Andy Lim Collection. Original Article: Andy Lim

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(4) Singapore Cowboy/Cowgirls: Matthew, Mandarins/Crescendos/Naomi/Henry Suriya And The Boys/Sakura/The Dukes

When our Singapore dudes and dames started singing their cowboy songs, most of the songs were imported from the Wild Wild West. They were simply covers and these included, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Naomi & The Boys), Silver Threads And Golden Needles (The Crescendos), Lonesome Town (Bobby Lambert & The Dukes), Love Is A Golden Ring (Henry Suriya & The Boys). Sakura Teng too recorded, I Don't Care If Tomorrow Never Comes and The Surfers with, By The Time I Get To Phoenix.

But one dude who covered many cowboy songs is Matthew Tan with his group The Mandarins. Matthew wrote two songs, Singapore Cowboy and Let's Put The Sing In Singapore. He is the only Country singer from Singapore who recorded at Nashville, Tennessee.

They used to play at the Hotel Negara, Singapore and were popular during the 80s oil boom, when many American oil riggers were stationed on the island. They were also at the Peacock Lounge, Shangrilla Hotel. Today they seem an almost forgotten local talent, except to country music fans.

Lately, they have been performing at a Singapore private club. In hand, there are two albums of popular country and western songs on the EMI Singapore label titled, Matthew and The Mandarins, I and II. Having heard them on record and having seen them perform at the hotels, there is no doubt that they are a talented country and western group.

Image: http://image56.webshots.com/

Original article: Andy Lim

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(3) Roy Rogers - Country/Western Music 50s

These names must sound familiar to some people. Buck Jones, Hopalong Cassidy, Wild Bill Elliot, Rocky Lane and Tom Mix. With cowboy movies, the basics were there. And along with the goodies came the melodies. Country and western songs!

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(2) Country Western Influence: Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Roy Rogers, Hank Williams, Frankie Laine, Jim Reeves, Glen Campbell

Sunday, August 9, 2009

During the earlier years in Singapore there were already many songs from the treasure chest of country oldies. Songs like, Dont Fence Me In (1945), by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, not forgetting Gene Autry, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (1945) were in existence on 78rpm records. Then favourites like, Your Cheating Heart (1952) and Jambalaya (1952) by Hank Williams followed. His own personal choice was Cold, Cold Heart (1951).

Frankie Laine's High Noon (1952) Rawhide (1958) were also best sellers as the theme of the rough and tough in country music gripped Singapore, "And I must face a man who hates me/Or like a coward, a craven coward/Or like a coward in my grave..."

People who came to the US from Europe composed songs like the Texan Fraulein (Bobby Helms), and Little Dutch Girl (George Morgan). The influence was gradual though, so when Elvis Presley emerged with his first movie, Love Me Tender (1956) followed by Loving You (1957) with songs like, Lonesome Cowboy, A Lotta Livin' To Do and Hot Dog, most pop music enthusiasts went agog. Country and rock were combined. Johnny Cash joined the scene with, I Walk The Line (1956).

Then Rio Bravo (1959) hit the big screens in Singapore. Tough John Wayne, sexy Dean Martin and teenage idol Ricky Nelson held everyone to ransom with My Rifle, My Pony And Me. Marty Robbins with El Paso (1959), known as a gunfighter ballad, kept Singaporeans singing this elaborate tale of 13 verses for months on end. Then Jim Reeves, who had earlier hits provided his rendition of, *He'll Have To Go (1959) and Johnny Horton with, North To Alaska (1960).

When Glen Campbell, By The Time I Get To Phoenix (1967) hit the trail and John Denver came with Leaving On A Jet Plane (1967) and Take Me Home Country Roads (1971), the Country and Western craze woke the baby boomers up!

The Singapore 60s cowboy craze erupted when our local boys and girls came with twanging acoustic guitars and hawaiian guitars as back-up. Not many Fenders appeared on stage then. The CW craze had begun.

Then, shades of Ferlin Husky, a cowpoke from the hills of Pasir Panjang, Singapore, emerged! He was Rocky Wong and appeared on stage in full regalia, with his cowboy suit, guitar and hat. He could have been the first Singapore cowboy. (earlier posting: August 9th, 2009).

This journey, discovering country music from the 50s to the 70s, is a personal one and the songs are milestones along the way.

*Singapore Karaoke Favourite: Jim Reeves', He'll Have To Go (1959).

Image: http://cnet.com.au/

Image: http://spout.com/films

Original Article: Andy Lim

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(1) Country Western Music Influence: Lone Ranger/William Tell Overture/Calamity Jane/Doris Day/Elvis Presley/Frankie Laine

**************************************************************************Writing about Country and Western music is not an easy task, especially when the internet has nearly 70 million hits for this genre of music. So I thought it best if I wrote on the subject based on my own personal journey.

Many young Singaporeans in the 50s learnt about cowboys and native indians from US comic books as these were easily available. They were cheap, cost about 30 cents each and an enthusiast with little money, could buy one and amuse himself with it for a day or two. Movies were also affordable as a seat in a cinema was priced 50 cents. The comic book I read was, The Lone Ranger and the movie I saw was Winchester '73.

Winchester '73 (1950) is an American cowboy movie released by Universal Pictures (image). It starred James Stewart, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis. There were many movies like this one that drew long queues, partly because of its line-up of great stars and because entertainment was rife in Singapore. Cinemas became magnets that drew large crowds.

The western cowboy theme, with its galloping horses, buffalos, stetson hats, Colt 45s, rough and tumble fight scenes and 'red indians' pulled people out of their homes. The music connection came when Calamity Jane (1953) hit Singapore with its singing and pistol-packin', prairie girl. The movie and Doris Day were a hit. Everyone clamoured to watch it. And one of the songs in the movie, Secret Love (1953) became a classic!

The Lone Ranger (1956), a cartoon comic strip about a masked Texas ranger, his horse Silver and side-kick Tonto (image), also became a television hit before it was screened in the theatres and the theme music was the 'cavalry charge' finale of Gioachino Rossini's William Tell Overture, now inseparably associated with the series, which also featured many other classical selections as incidental music.

Because of these cowboy movies and comics, Singaporeans soon became addicted to this particular genre. Simultaneously, the guitar strumming, cowboy yodelling (Slim Whitman) and whistling singers (Roger Whittaker), sealed the deal for these 'singing cowboys' who sing 'cowboy songs' or later known as Country & Western music in the 60s.

Image: http://thereelimage.co.uk/

Image: http://showmanshooter.com/

Original article: Andy Lim

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60s Country & Western Influence: Rocky Wong

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Taken from: http://www.modcentric.blogspot.com/ - August, 30th, 2008.

"A recent quirky local 60s find. This EP is best described on its sleeve as for, 'Country and Western Numbers With The A-Go-Go Beat'. Says the sleeve: 'Rocky Wong, the Singapore Hill Billy Singer, also nicknamed as the Cowboy from Pasir Panjang Hills, and whose style of singing resembles that of Slim Whitman, is no stranger to the music scene.

Rocky had competed in the All Malaya Amateur Talentime Competition during the 50s and had since then appeared in many variety shows, nite clubs, the British Forces, Radio and Television."

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National Day Singapore 2009 - Celebrates 60s Music 60s - Silver Strings, Jerry, Neu Faces, Matthew, Vernon, Gypsy and Others Esplanade

Sunday, August 2, 2009

There will be a journey of our local music from the 60s to the 80s during the National Day weekend from August, 7th to August 10th, 2009.

The Silver Strings and Guest Singers, Jerry & The Neu Faces, Vernon Cornelius, Matthew (image) and the Mandarins, Gypsy, Robert Fernando, Clement Chow and other stars will perform.

The venue is the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre and begins from 7pm up to 10.40 each night. The Silver Strings family and Jerry's Neu Faces will appear on Friday, 7th August. Entrance is free.

The show is organised by Singapore Press Holdings.

Image: crookedturrent.files.wordpress.com

Information: The Straits Times Press Singapore

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