Monday, March 28, 2011
JAMES CHOA: KEYBOARDIST WITH 'THE FLAMINGOS' AND SINGER WITH 'THE GAY LADS', HAS PASSED AWAY. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
Showing posts with label James Choa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Choa. Show all posts
Goodbye James, You Tried Your Best. We Love You.
JAMES CHOA: KEYBOARDIST WITH 'THE FLAMINGOS' AND SINGER WITH 'THE GAY LADS', HAS PASSED AWAY. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
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(D) Jamaican Jive, Combo Band, Not Belafonte
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
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The Mysterians only single on Cosdel with My Girl Les and *Forget The Time sold quite well even though there was not much airplay on Radio Singapore or Rediffusion. Even today people still remember Forget The Time. Singer Mike left the band after the record was released.There were two more releases afterwards, a single, You've Got To Move On and Searching, and an EP, Forever, They Lied, Is Everything Alright and Down In The Valley. But this time around the band had Leroy Lindsay (image) from the U.K. fronting them. And Searching had shades of Jamaican jive and combo backing. I love the exceptional presence of the harmonica (mouth-organ) in Is Everything Alright?
There were also changes in the band line-up when Michael Gan and Charles Koh replaced Mike and Jeffrey Tan. From 1970 to 1979, James Choa (check previous postings) from The Flamingos Combo and Gaylads vocal group, joined the Mysterians. James Choa is one of the best keyboardist in Singapore.
With new members came a new policy and although they retained the group name, they identified themselves during their performances. They had nothing to hide. The third record (image) shows the very distinguished studious looking gentlemen with their glasses.
Image: from EBay. Original article: Andy Lim
(2) Canadian Influence: Local Vocal Groups
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Remembering the late 50s and 60s, James Choa (check his posting earlier) recalled the good old days of radio and his own vocal quartet, The Gaylads who played to full houses in the nightspots in Singapore with their band, The Flamingos. They sang songs by The Diamonds, like, Little Darlin', etc. Now there are hardly any pop quartets that have survived in Singapore. But we have cappella groups though.
In fact in the late 50s and early 60s another vocal group called The Three Bambinos were just as popular. Then came The Crescendos and The Sundowners who were able to cut records with international labels.
Incidentally, most of the Singapore vocal groups discussed came from the Katong area in the East Coast. I wonder why?
Image: Universal Music Singapore.
Original article: Andy Lim
Singapore 60s Music. Singapore Blue Diamonds
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Off the cuff: After winning the Singapore Blue Diamonds contest, James Choa and the rest of The Gaylads (popular 60s group with The Flamingos - Posting: April, 9th, 2009) were given a singing contract and arrived in style at the Merlin Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, to be resident vocal group at the Harlequin Room with a full band to accompany them.
They were driven all the way, by car from Singapore to KL, by Tan Swee Leong at the helm of his Ford Anglia. Mr Tan, a celebrity himself, was also the MC for their shows and James remembered they had a fascinating 3 weeks at the hotel.
Since it was the 60s they had time to see the sights in KL during the day and had comfortable accommodation at the hotel itself. Besides a full allowance, The Gaylads were also provided with whatever creature comfort they needed during their stint at the Merlin.
(Image: The real Blue Diamonds with Anneke Gronloh. From National Heritage Board, Singapore.)
Singapore 60s - JAMES CHUA with The Gaylads
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Yes, GayLads but they are far from being 'gay' because the word simply means 'happy' in the good old days. And happy were the folks who watched them for the first when they participated in the Singapore Blue Diamonds Competition in the early 60s. They clinched the title with The Antarctics acquiring second place.Andy Lim interviewed JAMES CHOA (image: front) recently when he related his musical experience and career as a member of the GayLads and The Flamingos Combo.
"I started singing at the age of 17 in 1959 as a singing group called, The Gaylads with classmates, Philip Goi, Charles Koh and Razak Rahman (image: from left). We won a few talentime contests including the title of "The Blue Diamonds of Singapore" when both The Blue Diamonds and Anneke Gronloh were in Singapore. They were part of the panel of judges for the competition.
After winning the title we were featured in the first few RTS (Radio, TV, Singapore) shows called POP INN and DENDANG RIA. We sung for the very first LIVE show in Singapore, produced by well-known ballet dancer, Mr Vernon Martinus.
In the mid-60s the group enlarged from a singing group to a combo band and included in the group was Jimmy Chan, pianist (currently at Marina Mandarin Hotel), Audie Yusoff and Sidek (took turns to play lead guitar), Tommy Tan was at the drums and Robert Song, percussionist/singer. The combo carried on till 1970 but was disbanded because Charles Koh went into the medical profession and became a successful gynaecologist in the U.S.
I became a teacher and subsequently a sales person at an MNC. Since my first love is music, I learnt to play the keyboard and joined another group called, "The Mysterians" but we played only for private functions and at the camps at Sembawang.
As the years passed, I played and sang at the restaurant called, "House Of Peranakan" at the former Hotel Negara when it was first opened in 1998. I am still performing there now but the hotel has a new management and it is called The Claymore. I used to play every night but during the latter part of 2006 I performed only thrice a week.
Jimmy is now a full time pianist at Marina Mandarin. Philip, Razak, Sidek and Tommy as far as I know, are still actively involved in their own business or working with some companies. Audie Yusoff has passed on."
And what is one wish that James has today? "To continue playing on the keyboard and sing. Do come to see me at The Claymore Hotel and enjoy *peranakan food too. Great combination!"
For your information James plays, standards, jazz, country, rock and roll, especially hits from the 50s and 60s. For some musical memories check him out!
*Peranakan food is Chinese/Malay cuisine which originated from Malaka (Malaysia) and Indonesia.
Another Manhunt completed!
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