One Day When We Were Young(er) ! ...1993.

After featuring the Kg Kembangan singers as they are[ today] in my recent blog posts, I managed to retrieve this 1993/4 old photo from my archives. The occasion was the Annual Dinner and Dance of Serangoon Gardens Civil Defence Co-ordinating Committee that year...some 16 years ago. The G O H was the then MP of Sg Gardens, Dr Lau Teik Soon who was accompanied by his wife. The "Big Boss Chairman" of this CDCC was none other than the late Mr Charlie Tan Boon Seng. D2 was also a key member of this core group....but not unk Dicko. I was serving elsewhere. On this occasion and event, I was invited as a " special Guest Singer" to entertain the assembly. While on stage, I normally look around at all the tables and "invite" certain others to join me. These were people such as Thoo Yang, Charlie, Hum W W and a few others whom I know could sing in tune with me.

We have printed songsheets for all the tables and so it was easy for everyone to join in. There was never any rehearsal for such entertainment and most of the evening's singing or sing-along was pretty much left to unk Dicko's song leading, jazzing-up things, creativity and enthusiasm.

Photo: From left
Thoo Yang, Charlie, wwHum,unk Dicko....1993.

This picture of grand "owl" Thoo Yang was taken at our Singalong today [ 3 April 09 ].

He is still belting out songs of the yesteryears and can remember the lyrics of many of the songs we sing.

Incredible?

Better believe it. Unk Dicko sang some real oldies and he was able to join in word for word, line for line.
I have no doubts at all that keeping himself active by not only organising and leading this Kg Kembangan Singing Group but imagine this....laboriously compiling a 7 volume/file of songs, must have contributed to his sprightly image and outlook at a "young" 85!

Before the session began today, some members went into the CC office to get the free copies of the MCYS Guidebook " Adding Life to Years!"

Seeing that it was really Unk Dicko on the Front cover, they asked me to autograph the copy for them.

I can't ever remember when was the last time I autographed something and made simple folks happy.

Photo:

Kitty and Chris displaying their signed copy proudly.


The news must have spread. Today, we had another 5 new faces and I noticed they brought along a nice songbook from the Peranakan Association. I leafed through it and it looks like a good one.

Before we began, I spoke off the cuff and from the heart....of my hopes for them as a group. I was frank and open. I know they enjoy the music I provide immensely and appreciate it deeply. They don't have to tell me [ although some did]. The Wise Owl knows.


However, there will be certain times and periods that I may not be able to accompany them. I told them such a time is already here, as Unk Dicko's expertise and experience has been requested for by the AYG [ Asian Youth Games] Org Com.

The Games which Singapore is hosting will be held in late June and early July this year. Much organising is needed now.

So, if you are reading this, do remember what I said today. Keep together and continue as you have been doing under the "Grand Owl!"He has not failed you and you should not fail him.

The Singers of Kg Kembangan

Yesterday, I picked up "young" Mr Tan Thoo Yang from his home and ferried him and myself to Kg Kembangan CC. Despite being busy at times, I try my very best to reschedule my activities or commitments in order to join them at their regular Sing along session.

The members of the singing group were alert when I walked in carrying my guitarlee and as usual my ukulele.

They asked straight away what instrument that is.

Photo: Thoo Yang holding my guitarlee which is a "baby" guitar. It produces a mixed sound of both the guitar and the ukulele.

When I started playing on it, they said afterwards,that they like the sound of it. This Yamaha guitarlee was a birthday gift from my wifey nearly 2 decades ago. It has gone on some overseas journey with me. At last count yesterday,the 5 new persons have joined in.

At Kg Kembangan...a Surprise !

This is the 3rd time I have appeared as guest ukulele and guitar musician for the Kembangan Singers at their usual Friday Singalong session. Other than Grand senior Tan Thoo Yang and myself, all the others are "Roses"!
Which obviously begs the question," whatever happened to all the senior menfolk?" I have not the faintest idea why there are no other "thorns" around. Could it be they consider it too much of a hassle...to get up, dress up and make their way to the CC for a Singalong? Or what?

In any case, the number has increased to 14 or 15 on Friday. Among those who turned up were 2 unexpected but most pleasant surprise for me...2 longtime close friends of D2 and myself..... Janet and B Hon! Both retired nurses who are family friends for more than 30 odd years.

We first met when we were members of COMEX Singapore Adventure Club in the 70's...and travelled together on many trips.

Over the years, together with a few others, we have remained a special close-knit group. So it was indeed a re-union of sorts for the 3 of us.

Photo:

Seated... B Hon and Janet are 2nd and third from the right. It was Irene, seated next to Janet, who told them about " a new musician named Mr Yip who can play the ukulele and guitar ..has come to entertain us."

Their curiosity were aroused as they both knew my background from those early days. They thought it might be me! And so it was! It is always wonderful to meet up with friends whom we've not seen for some time. D2 was as excited as I was when I told her later.

In the 2nd half of the session, I taught them a couple of "new" songs ( songs no one were familiar with ).

One was "Ah Chong Sok " which I had played and sung over radio and another was " Negro Spiritual".

I ended with " 2nd Storey Window".. another humourous one which drew much laughter!

Unk Dicko and the Kg Kembangan Singers

Last Friday, I was able to drop in again at the Kampong Kembangan CC which is located off Jalan Kembangan close to Chai Chee area.

The English Sing A-long group led by my good ole friend Tan Thoo Yang had already started on their way down memory lane...when I arrived at 1 pm plus.

Originally, I was not able to make it as I had another appoinment in the afternoon. But managed to reschedule and boy were they happy to see me!

They each have their own copies of filed songsheets which I understand was the work of Thoo Yang.

Many of the songs are from the 60's and even much earlier.

Their singing was even better this week than the previous week.

When I do sing along sessions with seniors over the years ( and I have done countless ),at some point in time I will play and sing some songs that may not be in their collection ...just to see if they too are familiar with them.

I had my ukulele with me and created some magical sounds! Thoo Yang was on guitar.

Usually, this is done impromptu and when they respond I can then gauge the extent of their repertoire and also the kind of songs that can go down well with such groups.

We had a really good session by the time we ended when all stood up again to sing the National Anthem.
Yes...so why are they singing the National Anthem? It seems so out of place you'd think, right?

Well, Thoo Yang told me that some time back when he asked some 0f them if they knew how to sing the anthem properly...the answer was a "No". Thus he thought it good and proper to end the session with this ritual.
So you young folks out there....salute this 85 year old patriot please!

Kampong Kembangan English Sing Along Group

A fortnight ago, I received a call from my good ole' friend Tan Thoo Yang who was a member of S'g Gardens 1st Sing Singapore Champion Team 1988... a 40 strong member group led by me.
It has been more than 2 decades since that historic occasion which was televised live on TV and splashed on the front pages of our newspapers back then.
Thoo Yang told me that he is the leader of the Kampong Kembangan Senior Citizens English Sing-along Group for many years now. They meet up every Friday from 1-3 pm for this purpose. Music accompaniment is provided by him on guitar but as he is now 85 years old ( incredible...he is still driving a car around! ), he finds it a little more difficult to play the guitar as smoothly as before. He was just wondering if I can accept his invitation to join them as a guest musician.
Well, I went out of my normal routine yesterday and accepted the invite. Thoo Yang picked me up at our rendezvous point and what a revealation that was to me personally. Here is an 85 year old, mind you and still able to drive properly, carefully at the correct speed...with no problems as I saw it. Yes, all the way in heavy traffic from Sg Gardens to Kg Kembangan!


Hats of to you.... Tan Thoo Yang!
The singing group is about 20 strong but only half the number was present.
Too Young had his guitar along which was badly out of tune as the tuning knobs were loose. I spent some time to fix the problem and retuned it perfectly.
I had my 2 ukuleles with me...something this group had not had before.
By 12.20 pm, I had started strumming and singing without any song sheets, knowing full well the early birds will join in easily. That set the tone and mood and the session hit off very well as we sang the songs from the compilation they had and from my "special" songbook as well. I played both the guitar and the ukulele depending on the song type. At the end of the session, I was truly amazed when the very last song they sang was "Majulah Singapura", our National Anthem! And they sang it all standing up. This was something new to me...never seen, never happened in other groups I knew.
There is a reason for that. I shall cover it in my next post.