Music Jokes And Cartoons Adapted For Singapore

Thanks to:

Jerry Fernandez, Amal Singh, Henry Chua, John Cher.

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2017

The news these days were unsettling. There's the passing away of news reader Duncan Watt; Riem de Wolff from pop duo the Blue Diamonds; Don Williams a country singer, and an election that never was. The great storms and floods in Texas and Florida upset many of us here in Singapore.

Most readers were a little groggy, so  I pulled this post out of the top-hat.

All in fun, no offence meant, for comic relief.

The Elvis Presley tribute artiste called Amal Singh above, who singhs well, was asked what his favorite song was.  

He replied, "Amal Shook Up."  👳

Enjoying his meal, as he usually does, Jerry (Neu Faces) was asked if he was eating torsay. 

He replied, "No, it's Cha Cha Cha-party!"

"Charpati? Kong ho-say. It's Torsay Jerry." 😝 

"My biggest fear is when I die, my wife will sell all my guitars at the second-hand shops for what I told her they cost." 🎸

What The Dukes' bassist, Daniel Abidin would advise his good friends, especially where local politics are concerned.🎸

When Jimi Hendrix was applying to work in Singapore in the 60's, he was interviewed by the management of a local music company.😕

"Here's a song about heartbreak, pain and lost love which I wrote when I was about to quit smoking. Now you know why I look so happy," says Michael Bangar (Silver Strings).

Changi Prison used to allow inmates to bring their own musical instruments for entertainment.🎵

Henry Chua (Quests) told his audience, "My neighbour knocked on my door at 3 this morning!"

He added, "Can you believe it? At 3 this morning! Luckily for him, I was still awake playing the guitar; and John was drumming." 😤

Images: A Personal Collection and Google.

Jimi Hendrix Distorts: Horace Wee Replies Part 2

Horace Wee is one of the foremost professional pop guitarists this side of the Pacific, having been with our local radio station (RTS) for many years and a leader of his own group.  He has a reply to Henri Gann's interesting short comment about distorted guitar sound when I asked him to educate an ignoramus like me.

Thank you Horace.

His article starts here. 

The subject of distortion and a discourse of Jimi Hendrix - the man, his music and instrument has been covered in volumes of books and articles. Guitar distortion existed in various forms from the early 50's recordings. Much of it was by accident and the discovery that it produced musical tones.  Like the tremolo drenched sound of Link Wray's rumble or the bite of Keith Richards' telecaster.

Hendrix pushed the envelope further by playing louder and using larger amplifiers.  Influenced by his background of RnB music and likely listening to blues performers performing on inadequate small amplifiers distorting, were some factors that probably contributed to the crystallization of his musical approach (image: Richards-left, Wray-right).

Black people don't listen to white music. Essentially Hendrix foundation was the Blues. Probably America's greatest contribution to the world's art form.  The distortion on his guitar sort of emulates the growl in a blues holler or shout.  In short the distortion of an electric guitar sound can be equated to a primal scream. Pure raw emotion.

Technically in the beginning, Hendrix's equipment was a regular right handed Fender Stratocaster strung and played left handed, a germanium Big Muff distortion pedal, Vox wah pedal and a stack of Marshall amplifiers. He used a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face as well, mentioned in various articles about Hendrix.


The way he played was the most important element in the final result we all have come to appreciate.

Ah Andy, you have triggered my thoughts.

Horace Wee (left) has peppered this blog with many short anecdotes and comments for some years now. If you key his name in the Search engine on the right bar of this blog you can find many of his contributions.

What triggered this discussion. Read connection here:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2017/03/jimmi-hendrix-distorted-guitar-sound.html

DISCLAIMER:
THIS POSTING IS NEITHER ADVERTISING NOR SPONSORING ANY PRODUCT SHOWN. VIDEO IS FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY. ANY OBJECTION TO VIDEO DISPLAY SHALL BE DELETED.

Images: Google and a Personal Collection.
You Tube Video: Tone Factor.

Jimi Hendrix: Distorted Guitar Sound: The Trekkers

Henri Gann, who lives in California and from Singapore 60's band The Trekkers wrote a comment on Ray Anthony's posting. I thought it needed a bigger space. So here it is everyone. From one guitarist to the rest of you guys out there. Any comment?

Ray Anthony of Singapore playing Jimi Hendrix ? OMG ! That had to be quite a trip!

A few years ago, my brother John who lives in Singapore asked me, " Who's Jimi Hendrix?" The first tune that instantly came into my mind was " Foxy Lady." 

I remember the feeling when I first heard Hendrix on the radio of my '66 Ford Mustang in LA. I was instantly floored by his guitar playing. The year was 1967. 

The DJ's were raving over the happenings at the Monterey Pop Festival. When I was playing the guitar with the Trekkers in the early 60's, distorted amplifiers were negatively thought of as inadequate amplification. And here, Hendrix was able to turn all that distorted guitar sound into very beautiful sounding music. 

Years later, while at a guitar store when I saw a young kid playing Hendrix with the new Guitar God device, I instantly wished I could be that kid. 

Hendrix was indeed the rare guitarist of the century; the star that showed up in our Galaxy once in a lifetime. And as Ed Vulliami from the Guardian stated, "he was the only guitarist who could think of playing like the blues musician Muddy Waters and rock guitarist Albert King combined." 

From: Henri Gann.

My Comment:

Jimi Hendrix' music has also been associated with drugs and fantasy trips, and I must be clear here, nothing to do with Henri's letter to me.  But is his music still popular today? Looking at the number of viewers on his You Tube videos, it has 57 million watching his Watchtower song.

Comment you musicians, especially guitarists out there? What say you?

Horace Wee replies. Click connection:
http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2017/03/jimi-hendrix-distorts-horace-wee-replies.html

Images and Video: Google and You Tube.

Jimi Hendrix Come Alive: Singapore's Ray Anthony

Mr Ray Anthony passed away today on 27th July, 2023. RIP Ray. Condolences to his family...

When Mr. Michael Bangar, who plays rhythm guitar for Singapore pop bands that included The Silver Strings, informed me that he was attending the *Ray Anthony / Jimmy Appudurai gig I asked him if he could cover it for this blog. As usual, he agreed. Mike's knowledge of the genre speaks for itself. 

Thanks Mike for your story.

Hood's Bar n Cafe: Bugis Street, Victoria Street, Singapore: 19/3/2017:

Doors opened at one pm. My buddy Shaikh and myself paid our entrance fee of $20 each, which includes a drink and took up position at the back with a clear view of the goings-on stage wise.

Ray Anthony with his red Fender guitar, son Ryan Marshall on keyboard and original Fried Ice member Gerry (Gerard Bheem) on drums and Felly Chitran on bass guitar. As we watched them do their sound check, we were listening to Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild.

Their first set started at 2 pm. They opened with a Gary Moore song (unfamiliar). After that songs included Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, The Doobie Brothers' Long Train Running, Dylan's All Along The Watch Tower, Purple Haze, Stone Free - all Jimi Hendrix Experience numbers (when Hendrix had Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums).

As in the tradition of the 70's Guitar Hero era, long solos followed between Dad and Son. It was their moment !  After all these years brother Ray Anthony is still as versatile and great as he was.

They ended the set with a Chuck Berry tribute, Johnny B. Goode. And as Ray put it, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we want to pay tribute to a guy who just left us for the big gig up there, Mr. Chuck Berry."

This first set ended at 3.40 pm.

The second set featured a mixed band of two locals and two expatriate members. The band called themselves, Blues 77 and featured Lim Kiang. There was a Chinese gentleman on a guitar, a Caucasian on drums. They all did about half a dozen of their original songs, which were not familiar to many in the audience and myself.

Then *Jimmy Appadurai from The Meltones, Stray Dogs, took over lead guitar and performed Stormy Monday, a blues classic and Fleetwood Mac's My Baby's Good To Me. He was as great as ever and played just like he had done in the late 1960's.

Ray and Company took to the stage again for their third set at 4.35pm. Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall. More of Jimi Hendrix' music followed. There was Hey Joe (when he formed The Band Of Gypsies with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles before his passing), Cry For Love and Them Changes.

Free's, Alright Now, Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water, some more Doobie Brothers and a few more rock classics followed. This set also included drum solos and bass guitar solos towards the end.

The two of us, including John Cher left by 5.45 pm. We did not stay for the jam session gazetted up to 7.00 pm.

Thanks Andy.

Ray Anthony lives in Taiwan while Jimmy A. lives in Cornwall, England.

Click below to read more about Ray Anthony:

https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2017/03/jimi-hendrix-tribute-artiste-ray.html

Images from: Michael Bangar.
Article and images are Copyrighted. 

Jimi Hendrix Of Singapore: Ray Anthony & Fried Ice

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Hood's Bar n Cafe: Bugis/Victoria Street, Singapore: 19/3/2017 @ 2pm:

Here they are folks, guitarist, writer and today's photographer,  Michael Bangar and Silver Strings rhythmist with Ray Anthony, who is also known as Singapore's Jimi Hendrix. He is a south-paw, like a boxer i.e., a left handed guitarist.

It's a scoop. The group Fried Ice who accompanies Ray, is still playing at a venue in Victoria Street now. Gerry Bheem is on the drums and Felly Chitran on bass. 

And the audience in the afternoon at two when they gathered at this place in Victoria Street. Lim Kiang, Jimmy Appadurai and John Cher, the man who's everywhere.

Images: Michael Bangar and John Cher Copyrights Reserved.