Stevie Loraine, Terry Marsden, Dukes, Clansmen

Thursday, November 18, 2010

SOME SLEEVES SPEAK:
"Stevie Loraine (left) makes an impact on listeners. The quality of her voice, the feeling and depth in her singing and the instinctive way she has with a song - these belong to one who has been in the business for many years. But not in Stevie's case - for she is an amateur, has never sung in public before this record was made and has never had a singing lesson in her life either! Little wonder, she has been labelled a bundle of 'natural talent' and a recording manager's dream.

So much feeling was put into the song, Moments (written for her by Terry Marsden) that Stevie emerged from the studio with tears streaming down her face. That gives you some idea into the sincerity she puts into her singing.

Listen to the standard, There Goes My Heart; the original composed jointly by Tisana and Terry Marsden: Not Around and the second oldie Watermelon Man and judge for yourself the potential in this new voice.

Stevie's record will not be her last - this girl is all set to reach new heights in the recording world, and she has what it takes too (Philips: ME-0158-SE)."

I think when Zainal Abidin (Dukes bass guitarist) reads this posting he will have comments to make, since the Dukes are responsible for the "basic backing" on this EP vinyl called, Sweet Moments With Stevie Loraine.

Stevie cut another vinyl with The Clansmen (right image) on Philips ME-0196-SE, singing Walk With Me, If You Always Say, Do-Re-Me and It's Gonna Be. The second and fourth songs are originals by Terry again.

The Clansmen sounds like a British group but they are actually our local boys consisting of Abdullah Abu on lead guitar, Derrick Nunis on rhythm guitar, Raymond Lazaroo on bass guitar and Philip Monteiro on drums (back-sleeve cover).

This posting and others with SOME SLEEVES SPEAK labels are only for surfers who do not possess the vinyls but are interested in the information provided about our local bands and singers. There is no intention to waste the readers' time.
Image: Universal Music Singapore. Andy Lim Collection.

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(B) Will The Dukes Be Back To Rock N Roll?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Zainal Abidin is a generous man. He doesn't sell his Dukes CDs but distributes them without charge to his friends, colleagues and business associates. He is, by the way, the bass-guitarist for The Dukes, a well-known Singapore 60s band that kept the rock n rollers on the floor at the Hotel Prince Garni with their beautiful music. He appeared with his group fronted by Winston Walters, Bobby Lambert and other vocalists at the hotel at Orchard Road.

The image shows Zainal with his bass and Billy Martinez (son of 60s music teacher Harry Martinez) on the keyboard. They were both entertaining friends and family at Freddie Kang's birthday treat on August 24th, 2008 at the Riverside Hotel in Havelock Road, where Freddie appears. Freddie was a former keyboardist with The Thunderbirds.

Come on you Dukes supporters, what do you have to say? Will they make a comeback like The Silver Strings, Ronnie And The Burns? Let's hear from you!

Image: Zainal Abidin Collection.

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(A) Zainal Abidin's Love Story With 60s Music

Sunday, February 7, 2010

If music be the food of love, play on? During an indian restaurant dinner in 2009, the above picture shows original drummer Richard Young's wife Alfren, Jerry Murad (lead guitar/band leader), Fernando Young (singer/band manager), Zainal Abidin, (bass guitar), Winston Walters (singer), Paul Shanker (bass guitar after Zainal Abidin) and Zainal Akib (rhythm guitar) together for a 'makan besar'.

The names are familiar. By looking at the photograph can you recognise which band they are in? Is this a re-union of sorts? Will they be back on stage and performing soon? The answer's too easy but let us know.

More about this group after the CNY postings. Check their other postings on: Friday, March 27th 2009/Wednesday, December 31 2008.

Image: Zainal Abidin Collection.

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

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

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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National Theatre, Celestial Room, SEAsia Hotel

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

The whole gang performed within a night at three venues in Singapore. Again, newspaper advertisments from The Straits Times on 12th December, 1964 promoted a gig at the National Theatre at Tank Road and week-end dancing at the Celestial Room, Orchard Road and South-East Asia Hotel at Waterloo Street.

Our boys and girls were having a great time, entertained by The Silver Strings, Keith Locke & The Quests, Bobby Lambert & The Dukes, The Jets, Steven Tan & The Gippslanders, The Midnighters, The Tramps, Zainab Huri and Johnny Nakamura of Sukiyaki fame. Ticket prices were only one, two and three dollars. There was no cover charge for nightly dancing.

The Silver Strings, with Andy, entertained at the Celestial Room and South-East Asia Hotel too. Can anyone remember those days? Do write in to contribute.

(Image: from The Straits Times Press Singapore 12/12/64. National Library Board Singapore)

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Baby Boomer Bobby & The Dukes At Garni

Friday, March 27, 2009

Baby boomers from the U.K. and Singapore jammed the weekly tea-dance at Prince Hotel Garni where The Dukes performed to capacity house at Orchard Road in the 60s. Were there some chaps from the U.S. too?

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The Dukes- Remembering - Tea Dances In 60s

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Discussing Prince's Hotel Garni in the mid-60s is incomplete without mentioning the band that established it as one of the best places for tea dance.

At 200 Orchard Road the large Singapore crowd crammed the dance floor at Prince's Restaurant each Sunday. From 3.30 to 6.45 pm., paying ten dollars for entrance, they shimmied and twisted with The Dukes and singers Bobby Lambert & Winston Walters.

I spoke to Zainal Abidin, band leader and bass guitarist of the Dukes. He is now a retired army captain and business man extraordinaire. He promised to meet me after New Year to explain why he gave away a few thousand copies of his CD above.

Image: CD Cover of Dukes' songs produced by Zainal Abidin and Joseph Pereira.

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Elizabeth & Marilyn. Know Where They Are?

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Do you remember GIRVIN SISTERS? If you do, write and tell us. They were accompanied by The Dukes, another Singapore 60s band, when they cut an EP record singing, "My Drummer Boy," "Dream Up A Dream," "Without You", "L'Edera."

Elizabeth and Marilyn also accompanied Keith Locke and the Quests in their very popular, "Don't Play That Song." Charming, with harmonizing vocals and clear diction make these songs worthwhile listening to.

Image: David Greenfield's MetaFilter Community Weblog/Universal Music, Singapore

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