Senior stories Horace Wee

 MUSIC PEOPLE AND PLACES

by Horace Wee

A child born in the turbulence of a World War and the Japanese invasion of South East Asia, time may have dimmed many memories. Yet I still recall short vivid flashes of vision and sound from those early years. Rose syrup sunsets at Port Dickson when my father perched me on the veranda railings and my aunt rattling a bamboo pole to chase away a musang (wild cat). The rumbling sounds of British military vehicles on a road in Kuala Lumpur/Malaya after the Japanese surrender and the long hot trip by rail to Singapore.

Returning to the British Colonial administration of Singapore, streets were rather chaotic .Vendors with push carts, make shift stalls or just baskets were everywhere. The music trends were still reminiscent of the pre-war era. Crooners such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Eddie Fisher, cowboy singers Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, Doris Day, Patsy Kline, Loretta Lynn, the Andrew Sisters and many others were popular with songs like Cruising Down The River, Truly Truly Fair, Doggie in the Window. The professional musicians who had joined the Japanese Syonan orchestra returned to playing at live entertainment venues. For cheap entertainment, the public flocked to amusement parks like The Great, Happy and New World where one would find stalls selling everything from household goods, snacks, and simple games such as an air rifle shooting gallery. Occasional trade fairs offered more choices. At times, a female vocalist singing in Mandarin would permeate through the crowd noise. In shopping areas such as Rochore, South Bridge Roads and Chinatown, from dingy shops, one would also hear the sounds of the Rediffusion cable radio network blaring Western and Chinese music interspersed with simple advertising jingles.

On warm evenings, with the scent of the sea along the East Coast road, many would head for the seaside at the end of Bedok. Rows of carts lit by hurricane and carbide lamps would be serving local delicacies like “rojak”(local shrimp paste tossed salad ) and toasted cuttlefish served with spicy sauces.

The Expatriates

The islands ambience at the shipping crossroads was certainly a lure for many visitors to stay.

Slava Tairoff a White Russian, came via Peking China. He was the bandleader at then exclusive British Tanglin Club as well as the President of The Musicians Union in 50/60s. After many years he left for Australia.

Louis Moyser a Hungarian, played in the Radio Malaya/Singapore orchestra and gave violin lessons at his flat in Eu Court. So did Dirk Kalf a violinist and Dutchman who lived at then distant Serangoon Gardens.

Dan Hopkins was a drummer who also worked in the Radio Orchestra

Filipinos also came and many were prominent in music circles. 

The Anciano family formed The Far Eastern School of Music successfully teaching many students. There was also Fred Libio, Villanuevas, Buenaventuras, Bacsafras, Lachicas and music powerhouse the Solianos. Others such as trumpeter Olympio Galauras family were apparently from a visiting circus.

 

The guitarist Ike Isaacs worked here and subsequently left for London/Europe where he worked as a studio musician. He spent his latter years playing with jazz violinist Stephan Grappellis band.

Dick Abel a guitarist of Dutch descent hailing from Indonesia led the Radio Malaya (Singapore) Orchestra after the previous leader Cor Rife. He moved to London, after which Gus Steyn a pianist and Dutchman who also came via Indonesia succeeded Dick Abel as the orchestra leader. 

Gus Steyn moved to Kuala Lumpur and led the Radio Malaysia Orchestra for a number of years before passing away. Ahmad Jaafar took over the leaders baton until his retirement.

Caesar Alano a Filipino and Les Weddell from Britain both held successively the trombone chair in the radio orchestra. Caesar left for Thailand and Les returned to the UK. 

Johari Salleh a local trumpet player eventually became the music director for Radio Television Malaysia.

Trudy Connor and Eddie Gomez were a piano playing couple popular at hotel lounges.

Many local musicians and performers made their mark.

Violinists Susheela Devi, Clara Verghese, Alphonso Anthony, Julai Tan, pianists Theresa Filmer (nee Khoo), Charles Lazaroo and trumpeter Tony Castillo were among them.

Singers Saloma, Julie Sudiro, Kartina Dahari, Peggy Tan and Ahmad Daud were popular during those days.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Professional musicians supplemented their income giving formal music lessons. Victor Dogget was a successful piano teacher as well as a music critic. Madeline Aitken had an almost larger than life reputation for successful results with piano examination candidates. For violin lessons its unforgettable to mention Goh Soon Tio who discovered the Chinatown violin prodigy Lee Pan Hon.

Music shops were limited, mostly dealing in pianos with additional items like violins. Keller Piano, Nang Heng, Petrof Piano and Season Music were some, with shops like Swee Lee at the Capitol Building and TMA at High Street expanding eventually to sell wind instruments, guitars, drums and other related items.

Music material was largely limited to books, the radio and records, with an occasional recital from a renowned classical performer like violinist Isaac Stern and popular performers such as Johnny Ray, The Platters, Cliff Richard with the Shadows and even the Rolling Stones in the early 60s.

Musicians would tune to the Voice of America with Willis Conover on shortwave radios to listen to the latest trends in jazz. Many small shops, piano stores and even the night street markets sold records. The dedicated record shops would have been Kwang Sia, Multichord with Supreme and The Attic coming later.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Live performances were everywhere, catering for the diverse races. Chinese Opera (Wayangs) on flimsy stages for many Chinese dialects, Malay dancing (Ronggeng), cabarets, bars, hotels, night clubs from upscale to rougher ones offered many choices to listen, drink or dance to favourite music. Operations were until midnight with an extension to 1am on Saturdays or on the eve of a public holiday. 

With the building of international hotels in the 60s, hotel lounges became very popular. The more formal concerts were held at The Victoria Memorial Hall and Theatre. International performances like the Holiday On Ice, would have been staged at the Happy World Stadium and occasionally some at the Badminton Hall. When the National Stadium was built at the foot of Fort Canning, visiting performers like Shirley Bassey, The Yardbirds, Hollies and local variety shows with artists like Rita & Sakura performed there.

At the beginning of Orchard Road was the Golden Venus located at the basement of the Orchard Hotel. This was where everyone would be directed to if they wanted an evening of jazz music. Pianist Ernesto Daroya held court as the resident bandleader of a quartet together with vocalists Mariam and Ronnie Ong. Officially it was the hotel bar and dining room that became a night club after 10pm.Visiting musicians would sit in during those nights and at times if one was lucky, some famous jazz musician would be seen jamming with the band. Musicians from the British Royal Air Force band would also participate in these sessions. There was Johnny Hicks, Chris Ede on drums and Roger on tenor saxophone. Weekends could turn out chaotic as members of the British Forces would populate the club. Drunken brawls at times interrupted the evenings. Sunday afternoons were jazz jam sessions until the management found by the mid 60s, pop music bands were more lucrative.

Across the road was The Barberella at the Ming Court hotel. Imported bands like the Pitiful Souls, Black Fire Prophecy would share the spot light with local bands such as The Trailers and my own group Crossroads. Along the adjacent Orange Grove Road is the Shangri-La Hotel. A five star hotel that boasted a supper club The Tiara at the top floor, a bar and a club at the basement called the Lost Horizon. The Xperiment and Western Union, popular local bands, would perform there and at the Peacock bar, famous Singapore cowboy Matthew Tan would entertain country music fans. Francis Yip from Hong Kong, Pilita Corrales from the Philippines and a variety of international acts performed at the Tiara. The multi purpose ballrooms would also present musical shows such as The Three Degrees and Trini Lopez.

A short walk from the Barberella, was the Singapura Hotel where a top notch Filipino band led by Romy Posadas featuring his wife Rita on vocals would be performing. The dining room and club would on occasion host shows such as The Ginny Tiu Sisters fresh from their movie It Happened At The Worlds Fair with Elvis Presley. At the Pebbles piano bar, the couple of Trudy Connor and Eddie Gomez would entertain. Into the early seventies, local band Tania would become famous, appearing nightly in full painted faces. The adjacent Hilton hotel offered live music at the Spot Spot as well as lounge acts. Across the road was the non-descript Ban Chuan bar, where many of my long departed friends spent their evenings getting drunk.

The Malaysia Hotel, closer to the Botanic Gardens had its own club called The Pub. At its peak, Heather and the Thunderbirds was its resident band. At the junction of Orchard and Scotts Road stands the Lido cinema. Notable because there was a popular restaurant and night club on the upper floor called the Rose DOr. The local band Flamingos gained their popularity with performances at this club. A weekly night market (Pasar Malam) would line the foot path from the Singapura Hotel to this junction, offering assorted wares, snacks, records, cassettes, toys and everything else that could be sold.

Turning the corner to Scotts Road were still more offerings. The Tropicana building contained a restaurant and a supper club featuring nightly shows, a pop music club The Rasa Sayang that featured renowned bands like Eddie Katindig from the Philippines and even ones from Italy. Adjacent was the Bistro, with a horse shoe shaped bar counter that featured a solo performer in the middle. Permanent fixtures were Filipino singer/guitarist Tony Mihares and local musician Ernesto Valerio. At the International building behind, the Ginnivy coffee house featured country music from performers like Don Nonis.

The British Tanglin Club provided nightly music while the American Club had a quartet on weekends led by Michael Tseng at the piano. The Goodwood Park Hotel at the opposite side would occasionally present special shows. A notable evening was one by Millie Small when she had her hit song My Boy Lollipop as well as performances by world renowned jazz clarinettist Tony Scott and the appearance of legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong. The long time resident band there was led by Lionel Buenaventura. Further in, the Carriage Bar at the York Hotel was where the later edition of the band The Thunderbirds entertained nightly to loyal local fans. 

 A short walk away, the Hyatt Hotel provided live entertainment and included Romy Katindigs band (Eddies brother) as well as intimate female vocalist and pianist duos at its lounge. Back to Orchard Road, the Princes Hotel Garni had the popular songstress Julie Sudiro with the band led by saxophonist John Lee. It was renamed the Pink Pussy Cat in the 70s and featured Albert Venturas funk band. At the Mandarin Hotel, perhaps most memorable must have been the number of years the talented pianist Jimmy Chan played solo at the hotel lounge entertaining countless guests. The Cockpit hotel, tucked away above Orchard and Clemenceau Avenue featured a quartet led by the pianist Sam Gan and close by was Bill Baileys Coconut Grove. Legend has it that this was the inspiration for the song Bill Bailey Wont You Please Come Home.

In the heart of town, on the rooftop at the Adelphi hotel was a combo band led by husband and wife Winston and Theresa Filmer with the Neptune Theatre and Night Club not too far away. Regally standing along Beach Road, The Raffles Hotel still exudes its presence today. This grand dame was the favourite place for the expatriates in Singapore and the band in attendance was led by the legendary musician Gerry Soliano.

There must have been demand for open air venues as there were a string of places with music and dancing all along the east coast. The rooftop at the Ambassador Hotel, Sea View Hotel where you actually saw the seaside, Ocean Park Hotel, Tanjong Inn, Penang Way. Along the west side of the island, the popular WestPoint complete with the strains of the Hawaiian steel guitar. It certainly captured an islanders mood.

Bars such as Tobys Paradise at Tanjong Pagar catered for a rougher clientele. Many young musicians paid their musical dues there.

An eclectic mix of establishments ranged from a Malay dance venue {Ronggeng) that was behind the Roxy cinema, to a bevy of female Mandarin vocalists at The Singapore Hotel in Geylang. Chinese restaurants such as the Peking and Cathay restaurants with bandleaders Fred Libio and Jose Daroya respectively, would accompany Mandarin singers to entertain lunch and dinner diners. Some, like The Air View and Southern Cabaret in the Chinatown area, offered lunch time music in addition to their nightly operations. The cabarets at the Great, Happy and New Worlds, were dance halls at night where tickets were sold for a dance with the lady hostesses. These had slightly larger bands and were led by Cecil Wilson and Tony Leong.

Late night owls extended their enjoyment heading out to the airport lounge at Paya Lebar, as it closed late at 1or 3am. The band included Erwin Dragon, Nick Singh, Winston Nerva, Freddy Dias and Jerry Teng. Others would head for a late supper at Bugis street, a ramshackle run down area with food and drink stalls. Entertainment was from the transvestites parading and the frantic scurrying of large gutter rats. It was a favourite place for members of the British Forces to end the night. 

For many part time musicians, there was always the opportunity for additional income. It was almost a prerequisite to engage bands for birthday parties, anniversaries and weddings. Function halls at Fraser & Neave and the Police Training School were regularly booked for company and event functions. During the year end festive season, the Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore Cricket and Recreation Clubs at the Padang hosted special evenings. Similarly, private clubs like the Island Country Club, Singapore Swimming Club had season festivities. The British forces stationed here were another source that required bands during weekends and special occasions. From the Fairey Point for officers and the RAF NCO clubs at Changi to the MacGregor RAF club at Tengah, with Seletar, the British Military Hospital and The Pengaran Barracks in Johore/Malaya as well, there was always a choice for a weekend musician.

The Golden Star Night Club at Dublin Road (Later Shindig), Shamrock, Baron, El Amigo Night Club, The Kelong at the Cathay, Talk of the Town, Neptune Theatre and even The Singapore Lady a pseudo riverboat appeared to match the pace of the changing 70s. Upstart Ginos Au Go-Go pioneered the concept of the discotheque. In the mornings, the Early Bird Show at the Odeon Cinema with Larry Lai and Tan Swee Leong always attracted a large audience eager for weekend entertainment.

OTHER FORMS OF WORK IN THE MUSIC PROFESSION

The general public thinks, musicians earn their living from playing only at live music venues. Music recordings, arrangements, orchestral scores, music copyists, concerts, television, film, video production and teaching all require musical services.

In the 50 and 60s, Singapore was the centre of the Malay film and music industry with activities at Cathay Keris at East Coast Road and Shaw Brothers at Jalan Ampas/Balestier Road. These film productions made stars of P. Ramlee, Saloma and trumpet boy wonder Tony Castillo. 

AND THE MUSIC DIED

Many have wondered today if the musical excitement and activity of the early days could ever be rekindled. Besides the changing times from an era that had only limited choices of entertainment, a number of events caused the downward trend.

A crackdown with raids by the authorities in the 70s on night spots as being havens for youths and use of drugs, a 100% increase in entertainment tax for live entertainment venues, cancellation of many liquor licences, a club dress code of only national dress or coat and tie, a ban on long haired males rang the death knell and closure of many clubs. A policy that viewed the current Western youth values as decadent. As restrictions eased a few years later, the discothèque (disco) and the opening of karaoke in public places offered a lower cost alternative for musical entertainment, thus ending many a musicians livelihood. In the mid 80s with a financial recession, hotels requested that a ruling requiring the equivalent number of local musicians to be hired for every foreign band imported to be waived. This brought in a flood of cheap Filipino bands who were more entertainers than musicians. The one for one policy of importing foreign musicians was intended to allow only entry of high calibre bands in order to encourage the raising of standards as well as protect the local music industry. This ruling was never reinstated.

Malaysia in the 80s implemented a policy that all music including advertising jingles for use in the countrys broadcast and other related outlets had to be produced in Malaysia by Malaysians. This largely affected the advertising and film industry in Singapore with the subsequent loss of the Malay film and music industry to Malaysia.

Todays easily available multimedia choices for entertainment, does not encourage music as a profession. Yet many persevere. Like the cogs of a gear to keep turning, there has to be an industry that demands the services of musicians, bands and performers. Exposure and promotion from television, radio, live events, recordings, the internet and the generation of a regular audience following are all a part of this. Live music continues to thrive in the world, coexisting and embracing technology. In the face of declining sales of recordings, many musicians and performers have found touring and promoting their recordings at concerts a lucrative option. It seems with technological advances, its back to performing live once more. Just like in the old days.