D’ Swooners (with Chris Solano)

June 30, 2009

D'Swooners

They were a Filipino band formed in 1963. They went to Hong Kong and played in nightclubs. In 1965, they recorded “My Sonata of Love” (composed by Vic Cristobal) on the Diamond label which became a big hit. They opened for The Kinks and Manfred Mann in Hong Kong. A Japanese talent scout saw them and took them to Japan. They released two singles and two albums in Japan including the very successful psychedelic GS “Please Please Trina” on Philips in 1968.

Cris Solano (vocals, bass)
Charlie Cajilig (guitar)
Ernie Espiritu (organ)
Ronnie Parina (vocals, trumpet, saxophone)
Eddie Fortuno (drums)

(MY SONATA OF LOVE)
When love was new it was grand
We sat and gazed at the band
They were playing we were singing
Our sonata of love
Why did we quarrel and part
What have you done to my heart
Now I’m prayin’ and keep singing
My sonata of love
Love is just a gamble to lose
Would be too cruel
We can’t go on like this
Without you how could I exist
Nothing to say now you’re gone
Nothing is left but our song
Yet I’m praying and keeping
Singing my sonata of love
Nothing to say now you’re gone
Oh nothing is left but our song
Yet I’m praying and keep singing
My sonata of love

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Vic O. Cristobal 葛士培

June 30, 2009

Vic Cristobal

Filipino musicians and bands started bringing music to Hong Kong’s shores in the 1940s. Generations of great musicians came, and over the years they have wielded a big influence on the island’s entertainment scene. Working quietly behind the scene was Vic Cristobal, the musical genius arranger-musician-composer. When the studios wanted a fuller sound, they always turned to Vic Cristobal and his band. Vic Cristobal also composed the hit song My Sonata of Love as well as numerous film scores including 歡樂今宵 (recorded by Billie Tam 蓓蕾 in the movie 歡樂青春, The Joy of Spring). After retirement, Vic Cristobal migrated to Vancouver, Canada. He continued to be active and mentored many aspiring musicians. The British Columbia’s Richmond Music Festival (dedicated to music development in piano, strings and woodwinds through the areas of performance, instruction, appreciation and presentation) has created a Vic O. Cristobal Memorial Trophy.

Vic Cristobal - EP

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A. Ramlie & The Rythmn Boys

June 27, 2009

A, Ramlie - 1

It was 1965 in Singapore. The Rythmn Boys emerged as the winner in the battle of the bands in the “Dave Clark Five” competition. They were amongst the early leaders of the kugirans pop yeh-yeh, the new genre of Malay popular music. The Rythmn Boys became a household name by first backing singer A. Ramlie. They were eagerly sought and also recorded with singers like S. Mariam, Ramlah Aziz, Novel (from Indonesia), M. Amin, Adnan Othman, S. Ahmad and Shari Omar.

The Rhythmn Boys 101

The Rythmn Boys: M. Ayob Taib (lead), M. Osman Said (rhythm), M. Ali Taib (bass), A. Rahim Razak (organ) and M. Nor Ahmad (drums)

(OH FATIMAH)
Oh Mas Ayu Fatimah nan ayu
Parasnya indah suara merdu
Senyum membawa hati rindu
Buat jiwa bimbang ragu
Oh Fatimah gadis Palembang
Pinggangnya ramping leher jinjang
Pakainya cantik istimewa
Budi bahasa sungguh indah
Oh Fatimah gadis ayu
Indah sungguh parasmu Mas Ayu
Kasih mesramu menawanku
Membelai harapanku
Oh Fatimah gadis manja
Membawa hatiku yang mesra
Bilakah masa kan bersua
Rasa cinta hidup ria

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The Thunders

June 15, 2009

The Thunders

The Thunders from Macau won a pop music contest organized by HKTVB in 1968 which took them to stardom as well as a recording contract with EMI. The winning song “She’s in Hong Kong”, an original composition by band member Rigoberto do Rosário Jr., was released on an SP which sold out immediately. More hit makers followed including “A minha tristeza”, “Summer Fun” and “Macau Terra Minha (my hometown)”. The group disbanded in 1971 shortly after it completed a very successful stint at the famous Mocambo.

The Thunders: Herculano Airosa “Alou” (keyboard), Armando Sales Ritchie (bass), Rigoberto do Rosário Jr. “Api” (lead), Domingos Rosa Duque “Lelé” (rhythm), Manuel Costa (drums & percussion)

(SHE’S IN HONG KONG)
After a long search I’ve made around the world
I met a girl in Hong Kong
She’s the nicest girl in this world
So to her I’ll belong

I had many girls from other countries
But none of them were my right one
The one I love is staying in Hong Kong
So I sing a song, a happy love song.

Now I have someone to call
Now I have a true love to fall
She’s everything good for me
And my love for her
is bigger than the sea

I got no words to tell her
‘Cause I’m happy as could be
I really have fallen for her
As you all can see


(A MINHA TRISTEZA)
Triste que sou, triste que sou
Sem tu ao meu lado, tão triste que nem me lembro
Se fui alegre algum dia
Nem me lembro

Quando os altos cues esplendem a lua
E o mar mumura sobre a praia
Ecoa os meus pensamentos
O teu nome adorado

“Meu amor, numca amei ninguém como a ti.
Apaixonei-me por ti pela minha primeira vista.
Mas, sinto-me tão triste por não ter te encontrado.
Onde estarás meu amor?”

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The Kontinentals

June 13, 2009

The Kontinentals

The Kontinentals, a schoolboy band originated from King George V School, was Hong Kong’s answer to the British Invasion bands and became the first local guitar band to release a single. Its first single with an original composition by bassist Anders Nelsson, “I Still Need You”,  became a big hit in 1963. The Kontinentals had became the top billing act in HK music pop scene when Anders (whose parents were Swedish missionaries living in HK) was drafted into the Swedish military service in 1965. The original Kontinentals disbanded.

The original Kontinentals:(L-R) Mike Souza (organ), Anders Nelsson (bass, vocal), Danny Piry (rhythm), Sidney Fattedad (drums), Roy Davenport (lead), Dave Christian/David Cohen (guitar)

* Anders reformed a new Kontinentals in Sweden and recorded with Anette label briefly. He returned to HK to stay, and recorded with The Inspiration under Diamond Music and later, with his own band MING under EMI.

(I STILL NEED YOU)
When my lights are long
And I’m haunted by the blues
I will think of you
And recall the love we knew
I never thought it could go wrong
And I’d have to pay
Yes, I’ll remember the things you said today
I don’t want you
I don’t need you
I don’t love you anymoreWhen I walk alone
And my friend all say hello
I will try to smile
And pray my tears won’t show
But then at night when our special song rings through my head
I’ll remember the little things you said
I don’t want you
I don’t need you
I don’t love you anymore

I never thought it could go wrong
And I’d have to pay
Yes, I’ll remember the things you said today
I don’t want you
I don’t need you
I don’t love you anymore
But I still want you
And I still need you
And I still love you like before

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Josephine Siao Fong-Fong 萧芳芳

June 8, 2009

Josephine Siao Fong-Fong 111Josephine Siao Fong-Fong 222

As a child star, Josephine Siao 萧芳芳 sang the memorable tear-jerking 妈妈好 Mama Hao in her movie “Nobody’s Child” (1960) which left an indelible impression on an audience of Chinese Cinema and music lovers in the Far East and the world at large. Much like “Hush, little baby”, the song  has become a standard for Chinese lullaby. Many singers have since recorded it in different Asian languages and have had revived it for each generation of new mothers and children at homes, in schools and orphanages around the world.

Josephine Siao’s acting career spanned five decades. She has been a spirited campaigner against child abuse, and founded the End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation (ECSAF). She was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1996.

She was one of the  Seven Princesses of the Cantonese teen movie royalty of the 60’s:  Fung So Po, Sum Ziwa, Connie Chan Po Chu, Josephine Siao Fong-Fong,  Nancy Sit Kar Yin, Wong Oi Ming and Petrina Fung Bo Bo.

妈妈好                                               Mama Hao (Chinese pinyin)

世上只有妈妈好                                Shi shang zhi you ma ma hao
有妈的孩子像块宝                              You ma de hai zi xiang ge bao
投进妈妈的怀抱                                   Tou jin ma ma de huai bao
幸福享不了                                           Xing fu xiang bu liao
没有妈妈最苦恼                                   Mei you ma ma zui ku nao
没妈的孩子像根草                              Mei ma de hai zi xiang ke cao
离开妈妈的怀抱                                    Li kai ma ma de huai bao
幸福哪里找                                            Xing fu na li zhao?
世上只有妈妈好                                   Shi shang zhi you ma ma hao
有妈的孩子不知道                              You ma de hai zi bu zhi dao
要是他知道 梦里也会笑                   Yao shi ta zhi dao, meng li ye hui xiao

(English translation)
Mom is the best in all the world
A child with a mom is so precious
In a mom’s bosom
Is everlasting happiness
Without mom is most sorrowful
A child without a mom is like a weed
Without a mom’s bosom
Where is happiness?
Mom is the best in all the world
A child with a mom is oblivious
And if a child only knew
E’en smiles while asleep

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The Jetliners

June 6, 2009

The Jetliners-1

Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) was the headquarters of the South East Asian Command (SEAC) in WW II. When peace reigned, the popular Radio SEAC became Radio Ceylon which continued to broadcast to the Indian subcontinent as well as to overseas listeners by shortwave bands. Before long, the airwaves were filled with optimism and music from the island country. One of the premier acts was The Jetliners. The group played gigs at the Coconut Grove at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo and the Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay (Mumbai), a stint in Singapore, and finally at The Regent in Hong Kong for a 17-year unbroken contract (1980-1997). They disbanded but got together for two important reunion concerts: Reunion Concert in Melbourne, Australia in 2003, and The Original Jetliners Reunion Concert held in Sri Lanka in 2004.

The Jetliners: Indra Rajah (lead guitar), Anton Gunavijaya (rhythm guitar), Felix Fernando (bass guitar & vocal), Harris Jurangpathy (drums & percussion), Mignonnie Rutnam (vocal & organ). There were several lead singers including Mignonne Rutnam (Mignonne Fernando), Loretta Koch, Aston Koch and Sohan Pieris. Loretta Koch sang the featured song, “Funny how love can be”.

The Jetliners-2

(FUNNY HOW LOVE CAN BE)
There he goes with his nose in the air
Funny how love can be
Wonder why he pretends I’m not there
Funny how love can be, yeah
Funny how love can be
There he is with that look in his eye
Hasn’t got time for me
Does he know how it’s making me cry?
Funny how love can be, yeah
Funny how love can be
*What a thing to happen;
Life without a friend
What a thing to happen;
Funny how true love can end
I can tell that he just doesn’t care
How can I make him see?
I’m in love and it just isn’t fair
Funny how love can be, yeah
Funny how love can be

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