Unk Dicko and Minstrels entertaining today at Suntec City.

The Active Ageing Carnival 2011 was officially launched yesterday, Saturday April 2nd at Suntec City Convention Centre by Minister Lim Boon Heng. I was at the official Opening together with several past Active Ager Winners.
From my estimate the number of people who came has certainly increased over the previous years. It was jam-packed with not only the older folks but also younger people.

My Minstrels and I entertained the visitors with a selection of songs from 1.10 - 1.40 pm.

Today we will make our 2nd appearance at 2.20 pm at Level 3 with another super selection of songs.
Quite a few people have been requesting for Unk Dicko to do a solo of IZ Kamakawiwo'ole 's version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow".
I did a tiny portion of it on the FM 90.5 programme on Friday night with the Richmonds.

If there's time, I will do a full SOLO version ( my own version following the style of the great IZ ) at the Carnival this afternoon during our scheduled performance.
Time: 2: 20 pm - 2. 55pm
Venue:  Demo Performing area at Level 3.
Don't miss it.  Bring along your video camera if you wish to.

Ps:  At 10 am sharp, at the Main Stage at level 4...I shall be modelling some sports attire together with my 4 year old darling grandson 'baby T'.
Never done one before. This is the first time I'm actually doing a routine to music. Same for baby T...it's absolutely terrifying for him!
No idea whether he might just go on strike at the very last minute....still.
He's only doing so because of me. Love him!
Cheers!

My Minstrels and I making some music- 2 April 2011

Unk Dicko and the Minstrels entertaining the crowd

A Tribute to those who came forward!

Here is a photo of another fan who came forward to request for "country and western" songs.

I warmly welcomed him..his name is Barney.., to join us at the Mic.
When we later had a break, he took out his name card and handed it to me.
He told me he simply love the old time favourites, especially country songs.

Another who came forward was Mona and Tang Wing Kee, my 2 fellow Active Ager Award winners 2008. Mona could not resist singing some of her favourites with us!

We had generated so much fun, spirit and camaradie among the seniors and oldies that day.

La Bamba !

During the 2nd Day Performance at the 50+ Expo, Suntec City, we had different people from the crowd who came forward enthusiastically to sing with us.
Some requested for songs that are easy to play and to sing as well. But others were obviously a little more sophisticated.
Like this gentleman here..he was singing and grooving so much that he eventually came up to me and asked if we could play " La Bamba".
I told him, " No problem. You sing and we'll play for you. "
He was very particular about the starting key and once I worked that out ...he was a revealation. He got the crowd really worked up with his oomphs and gyrations. They asked for more and so we launched into a few latin numbers. We ended with "Speedy Gonzalez"...and "Moose" ( that may be his nickname) was terrific!

Let's Sing Another Song !

When I was still a Primary school kid in Geylang English School back in the 1950's ...I remember a song I love very much. It was not from the radio that I learnt it from. It was a song I picked up during my very early scouting days by chance. It was not normally sung at campfires so that's why nobody knows it today. However, we used to sing it when we went camping...especially by the sea.

The reason I am recalling this song is the feeling I felt that day when Suhaimi came to sing with us. It was such a lovely feeling similar to the lyrics of this long-forgotten song called,

" Let's Sing Another Song ".

The full lyrics as I remember it....

Let's sing another song

Before you leave me

We are having so much fun

Parting grieves me

There goes our voice again

Everything is fun

Singing is so much fun

Let's have another one

Before we say goodbye.

Down by the seaside

That's the place we meet

Lot's of sailing and rowing

Everyone is happy

Only good fellows there

And when we're bound to say goodbye

We're sure to say goodnight!

So, let's sing another song...

It's Keroncong time with Suhaimi Yusof !

Towards the later part of our 2nd Day's performance...celebrity actor and comedienne Suhaimi Yusof dropped over at our pavilion again. He had sung with us the day before and must have enjoyed himself so much he could not resist the sweet music coming from our performing area.
I was happy to welcome him back again!
With him around I decided to go "keroncong" with a medley of popular keroncong-style hits.


We had so much fun and laughter doing the well-known Rasa Sayang with him contributing a pantun here and there.
Here you see him truly singing away the blues!


He was a real funny chap, a real joker if I may say so. A terrific livewire for any party or to spice up things.

Suhaimi was truly a crowd favourite much like Gurmit Singh. And it was a privilege to have played for these two top stars.