Unk Dicko and Shigeto Takahashi...part 2

We met at the foyer of Pasir Panjang Inn. Shigeto was really glad to see me in person. D2 captured these scenes.

Before we took off for the Esplanade, I brought out my ukuleles from the car and handed the Kamaka to Shigeto. Here we were...fine tuning the ukes before we strummed around. He told me he like the sounds of the Kamaka.

This is a very good example of two perfectly total strangers from two perfectly different countries starting a friendship that is bonded strongly by our common passion for the simple ukulele....and for music.

At the Esplanade:

We came upon this pretty setting with suspended lanterns and lampshades with a multitude of shapes and colours

This was just before we had a late dinner at the Waterfront.

Youtube,Ukulele Entertainment...OH CAROL, at 50+ EXPO

This is the 2nd videoclip that was uploaded on Youtube by a friend's son.It is less than 3 minutes in duration.

It captured the mood and the response of the crowd during our Ukulele Performance and Singalong at the 50+ Singapore Expo at the Suntec City on Sunday, 11 January 2009. The song we were playing here was ," OH CAROL! "....the result of one of the numerous requests by the crowd. Before this song, we had already done other requests...DIANA, SUSIE Darling, CINDY oh CINDY, MARRIANE etc... all songs from the late 50's and 60's.So when I got that request for "OH CAROL" by a lady, I went to the Mic and ad-libbed.

Unk Dicko:" Anyone name Carol here?"

Someone pointing to her friend: " Yes...this one here!" ( who responded,"You don't anyhow say ah !" pointing in jest to her friend ).

Then I did something that was so spontaneous ( absolutely unplanned for ), at the spur of the moment thing, that afterwards, many who were present told me they were literally surprised and mesmerised by it all ! That included a few P R people and D2 herself.

What did I do that raised the crowd's cresendo and got them screaming in support?

There were quite a few people filming the scene at that moment. However, I have no idea who they were. If they should share the clip on Youtube then you will be able to get the whole picture of what transpired. Describing what I did cannot capture the actual essence of that most memorable moment when the crowd went yelling and screaming in complete agreement and response to my questions and adlibs. Just believe me when I say the crowd went ..."Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!"

So...it shall remain Unk Dicko's trade secret....for now or until someone upload the video of that segment.

Let's wait and see.

Jamming with GURMIT !

Here are 2 more memorable pictures of us with the latest Ukulele player in Singapore....GURMIT Singh.

Unk Dicko entertains at Bintan!

This year, the NE grassroot retreat was again held overseas..at Bintan Island,Indonesia. The 3 day retreat was held from the 7 - 9 November 2008.,at the Bintan Lagoon Resort.

Our group from Serangoon Gardens was a close knit bunch led by D2.

There were the usual seminars and presentations but unlike the previous one last year...I decided that this time, just this once, unk Dicko would get into the thick of things and make an impact!

I have been through many seminars and serious workshops during my working years. But never once did I witness a guitar or ukulele as part of a seminar session proper. But there must always be a first time for certain things away from the norm. Why do things the same old way every single time?

So...while each team was finalising their mini-presentation of the given topic and D2's team was about to do their part with all the charts etc.., I whispered to her an instant idea that hit me there and then: I will do a special song with my ukulele at the end of her team's presentation as part of it.

The topic they were attacking? To

showcase "their" wonderful township.

The song I sang and played on the uke....."What a Wonderful World " by

Louis Armstrong.

It went down very well as I was told and caught all there by surprise!

So...if anyone ever ask whether a ukulele ever played any part in a presentation proper..you all have the answer right here.

One of the highlights of the stay was the beach barbecue set up for all of us by the resort's F and B.

It was a very nice set-up with a goodly spread of seafood, the sea breeze, lighted fires, scent of woodsmoke and pleasant camaraderie of our large party.

As no live band was present, it was left to unk Dicko to entertain the beachcombers with the all important Ukulele.

A night of lovely singing of some long-forgotten songs by the beach at Waikiki...no,no sorry, by the beach at Bintan Lagoon.
[ In case you are wondering...yes, unk Dicko has been to Waikiki Beach,Hawaii. Has also walked into a number of their unique Ukulele shops and actually played on some of their ukes, including a heavenly 8 stringed ukulele! For a ukelelist like me, going to the legendary beach of Waikiki is like a personal pilgrimage of sorts. See photos and story at my post " PA...Hawaii, Honolulu! " dated Nov 13 2007 at Archives link. ]

Unk Dicko entertains at Batam!

In August last year, D2 and I were at Batam Island Indonesia, for a 3 day retreat. She was there for a grassroot seminar in which she was to do her share of presentations.

As for me, I had a much more relaxing time doing some inshore fishing from the jetty and other spots near the resort.

At dinner time, the 4 piece resort band made an appearance to entertain all diners from table to table.

When they reach our table, those at my table called for me to join them with my ukulele. The band members were surprised but very happy when I pulled out my Kamaka Ukulele. " You play the Ukulele? BAGUS! (good)." It took only a few seconds for me to tune my uke to their rhythm guitar and we were now a 5 piece band!

This band was quite versatile and could do most of the requests called out, including hokkien and mandarin numbers.

For me, it was a breeze strumming along to whatever the song was.

We had a very very good sing along when we did the keroncong numbers they all know and love so well.

Burong kaka Tua, Bengawan Solo, Chan mali Chan, Loy Krathong and some Calypso and cha-cha numbers.

An unforgettable Ukulele duet with a VIP !

Recently, Gongshang Primary School celebrated its 88th Anniversary in a most unique style.
The school opted to move away from the usually formal setting"demanded" of such events...that is, to put on a formal display on the school stage, formal parade and then a formal dinner to round off the night.
Well, as I've said that's usually how it is done in most schools. That's what I've been through too, over 4 decades of involvement in education.
But GSPS decided to do it differently.
And what a DIFFERENCE that turned out to be!



The Guest -of- Honour for the night was none other than the Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Home Affairs.... Mr Masagos Zulkifli.
He is also the MP for Tampines GRC.

The last event of the night was a garden party dinner for guests and visitors which was held in the schools'
eco garden.

Music flowed through the various performances by the pupils on piano, guzheng, horns and bells, choir etc...


To round off the beautiful night of celebration, we had the GSPS Ukulele, Percussion and Singing group consisting of Primary 4 and 5 pupils. I have been coaching the group together with Richard Chee since a month ago.
And they performed admirably!
Even though they only could play 3 or at most 4 simple Ukulele chords.


Then we heard that the VIP wanted


to sing a song with us, towards the end of the dinner.
He came to the performing dais and told me he would like to try the song Burong Kaka Tua.

No problem, I said.
Playing C chord...he felt it was too high for him.
So, I opted for a lower chord.
He went into the song with spirit and gusto and everyone else joined in.





The music that we played that night was in the style of the old kampong...with a keronchong tempo and sung most beautifully by the kids.
Songs like...
Chan Mali Chan
Di Tanjong Katong
Gelang Si-Paku Gelang
Dayung sampan
Rasa Sayang

and for variety, we had others like..
Yellow Bird
Aloutte
The More We are together
What a night! The feedback I got was that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the occasion and especially the music that we provided that night. It was one night they would long remember!

D2 presenting Goodies bag.

Mrs Yip presented each Wuhan pupil with a Goodie bag towards the end of the dinner.
Here we see Mr Fu with my Ibanez guitar still slung over him supervising his kids for receiving the goodies.

Some of the kids taking a peep at what's inside the goodie bag. And here was Sammi casually walking by to say" Hi Mr Yip. "

Little Sammi took this snapshot of me and my Kamaka Ukulele.

The Wuhan teachers did ask me about the history of this particular instrument....as they told me they simply loved the magical sounds it produces.

Well, with my limited Mandarin, I think I managed to tell them the following:-

..... it is more than 25 years old.

..... it is genuine, handmade from Hawaii

..... it is quite expensive

..... and how I came to own it is another story, for

another day!