A Note From Leroy Lindsay: October 19, 2009

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

I have just read this note below by Leroy Lindsay today while going through my postings. Apologies to Leroy. I did not have an 'alert mail' notice previously. If you read this posting please leave your email address and I shall provide you with the emails of The Mysterians. Thanks, Andy.

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Note from Leroy:

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"It has been a long time since I have seen something written about my old friends and backing group, The Mysterians. I have returned to Singapore a few times since 2000, but have been unable to meet up with any of the boys.

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The Mysterians was a group ahead of its time, with a group of tremendous musicians. We would have sold more records if we had decided to record the kind of music that was in demand at the time in Singapore, but we decided to record the songs that we liked. Our 'T' dances were always well attended on Sundays though.

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It was a pleasure to work with the Mysterians, and I am happy that their contribution to 60's music in Singapore is being discussed."

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Nice work,
Leroy Lindsay.

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Image: From record cover: Cosdel CSP 1010. Andy Lim Collection.

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(D) Jamaican Jive, Combo Band, Not Belafonte

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

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

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(C) Rhythm & Blues, Jamaican Leroy Lindsay

It was only much later that the group had a regular tea dance slot at the Flamingo Nite-Club in Great World. In retrospect, because of the high musical standards they set themselves to play, there were some who felt that the Mysterians could have been more popular if they had more exposure and played in more stage and TV shows and not kept to themselves. Of course this is only an assumption. Guess their fans will never know.

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Due to work commitment, the Mysterians never went on tours to Malaysia like the other groups. The closest they went to was Johore Bahru, the Malaysian State across the Causeway and about half an hour from Singapore, where, according to one Mysterian, "we were mobbed and chased by Malaysian fans."

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There were also some enthusiasts who felt that the group was ahead of its time. They were not the typical 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows' band as Mike did not sing Cliff Richard songs but compositions by British and American rhythm and blues groups.

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By the time they backed Leroy Lindsay on Cosdel/CSP 1010 (image), they were fully R & B. Personally though, were they? This was before other Singapore 60's blues groups came into the picture.

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Part 3 of a series about The Mysterians.

Image/Original article: Andy Lim.

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(B) Mysterians Singapore 60s - Truth Revealed

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Many people have heard of the Mysterians but do not know much about them. Now the truth is revealed as masks are taken off and each bandmate reveals his identity to the public.

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Early Days: Image shows from left, Tony Kwek who is on lead, Bernard Chin or 'Mike' sings, Victor Lam drums, Jeffrey Tan is on rhythm, Patrick Khong is on bass and William Toh (seated) is the keyboardist. Victor, the original drummer of the Thunderbirds, joined the Mysterians when his group wanted to pursue music full time. They had another guitarist, Richard Yeo who had since passed away in a road accident on June, 19th, 1965.

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Why is the group wearing masks? Four members of the group, including their manager, were in the civil service and since moonlighting was not allowed, they decided to play music incognito and for pleasure.

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The Mysterians were never interested to be pop stars and juggling shift duties was a problem. The band ended up playing occasionally, gigs were turned down and they did not appear in many of the pop shows. They were so mysterious that even other pop bands members did not know who they were! But they were 'exposed' in their recordings with Leroy Lindsay. Why?

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(This article is Part Two of an essay by a former band member who wishes to remain anonymous. The first posting (A) is on September, 2nd 2009.)

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Image/Original article: Andy Lim.

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