our songs lagu lagu kita ..... THE All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore The Story of The Stylers During the early 60s, The Shadows were one of the most popular instrumental groups among Singapore teenagers. Anyone who was capable enough to pick up a guitar and strum some musical chords would like to emulate themselves as The Shadows. This was also a boom period for local music with The Crescendos leading the charge towards stardom, followed by The Quests and others. Among the thousands of enthusiastic young lads who chased the dream of The Shadows were four teenagers from the East Coast area – Rahman, Frankie Abdullah, Idros and Randy Lee Keng. They teamed up as a basic band with 3 guitarists and a drummer and named themselves as The Angels, managed by Randy’s Uncle. Rahman was on lead guitar, Frankie on bass, Randy on rhythm and Idros on drums. When Rahman left the group in 1962, John Teo was his replacement on lead guitar and when Idros left, Osman replaced him as the group’s drummer. By then the group’s name has changed to The Rhythm Strikers. Most of their early days’ practice sessions were held at Joo Chiat Terrace. While performing at one of the functions organized by The Cathay Organization, the establishment’s manager, a Caucasian, suggested that the group take on another name change to The Stylers, since they were performing with a lot of style, commitment and showmanship on stage. As the group gained more confidence over time with frequent practices and party gigs etc, they decided to participate in the Cliff Richard & The Shadows contest organized by Shaw Organization in late 1962. To their own surprise, the group emerged as Runners-Up with Apache, 2nd to the eventual winners, The Stompers. Surprised was the feeling because there were more established groups during that period. A group called The Trekkers came in 3rd. Following this success, the group was offered several contracts and gigs over the island and even landed up with a 2-year Tea Dance contract at the popular Celestial Room at Amber Mansion, Orchard Road. Over the years there were more changes to the group’s line-up. When Frankie, Osman and Stewart Chew (vocals) left, Ronnie See (vocals), Douglas Tan (bass) and Alvin Wong (drums) from The Burns joined the group. It was during their stint at the Celestial Room when Robert Song joined the group as well. Robert was also responsible for the The Stylers icon design with two bunny ears on the “S”. In late 1963 or early 64 they had their first recording contract sealed with Miracle Records together All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore with a singer by the name of Maggie. The record was a big success as this was The Shadows FrankieOsman A-Go-GoOff-Beat Cha Cha followed by several more recordings and offers of contracts by different Stewart Chew The Burns Ronnie See recording companies in the region, including live performances at the National The Shadows Douglas Tan Alvin Wong Theatre, Musical Express and Early Bird Shows at the Capitol and Odean During the early 60s, The Shadows were one of the most popular instrumental cinemas. The Stylers were also high on demand in Getais, a yearly event and Celestial Room Robert Song Alvin Wong groups among Singapore teenagers. Anyone who was capable enough to pick up most of the districts in Singapore where they performed would book them one The Crescendos Robert Song Lawrence Lum a guitar and strum some musical chords would like to emulate themselves as year in advance. The Stylers has arrived! The Shadows. This was also a boom period for local music with The Crescendos The Quests Ronald Tham leading the charge towards stardom, followed by The Quests and others. During the 60s and 70s, The Stylers were one of the most popular local groups, 1963 1964 proficient in both Eastern and Western music although they were much better The Maggie Miracle Robert Song John Among the thousands of enthusiastic young lads who chased the dream of The known among the Mandarin speaking masses. They were probably the only Shadows were four teenagers from the East Coast area – Rahman, Frankie local group that released the most records in different languages including Shadows Randy Abdullah, Idros and Randy Lee Keng. They teamed up as a basic band with 3 Mandarin, English, Hokkien, Cantonese, both instrumentals and vocals, and RahmanFrankie AbdullahIdros Randy Lee Keng guitarists and a drummer and named themselves as The Angels, managed by even a few Malay albums. The group produced more than a thousand records Musical Express Randy’s Uncle. Rahman was on lead guitar, Frankie on bass, Randy on rhythm which also included works with other popular artistes from Singapore, Hong The Angels Rahman Frankie Early Bird and Idros on drums. When Rahman left the group in 1962, John Teo was his Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Some of these artistes included Wang Randy Idros Rahman replacement on lead guitar and when Idros left, Osman replaced him as the Chin Yuen, Chang Xiao Yin, Lena Lim, Lin Ying, Victor Wu Kang, Yuli, Chen group’s drummer. By then the group’s name has changed to The Rhythm Jie, Maggie & Judy Teng, Chopstick Sisters, Pearl Sisters, comedians Wang Sa 1962John Teo RahmanIdros Strikers. Most of their early days’ practice sessions were held at Joo Chiat & Ya Fung, Nan Hong, Donny Yap, Kok Peng Kim, Huang Li Qin, Simon Junior, Osman Terrace. While performing at one of the functions organized by The Cathay Chen Kum Cheong, Long Piau Piau, Yao Su Rong, Zhang Wei Wei, Fong Fei Fei, The Rhythm Strikers Joo Organization, the establishment’s manager, a Caucasian, suggested that the Jenny Tseng, Lau Chi Weng, Ervinna, Robin, Lisa Wong, Michelle Xie and Chiat Terrace Cathay Organization ..... group take on another name change to The Stylers, since they were performing Huang Xiao Jun among many others. In addition, the group recorded with more with a lot of style, commitment and showmanship on stage. than 30 different recording companies from the region. The group’s repertoire of Eastern and Western music ranges from A-Go-Go, Off-Beat Cha Cha, As the group gained more confidence over time with frequent practices and Classical Chinese Instrumentals, Soul, Rhythm & Blues and more. The Stylers party gigs etc, they decided to participate in the Cliff Richard & The Shadows contest organized by Shaw Organization in late 1962. To their own surprise, The group’s line-up remained stabilized until 1980 when the late Alvin Wong the group emerged as Runners-Up with Apache, 2nd to the eventual winners, was replaced by Lawrence Lum from the SBC Orchestra. Members of the 1962 Cliff The Stompers. Surprised was the feeling because there were more established Stylers also set up their own recording company with themselves and their Richard & The Shadows Contest groups during that period. A group called The Trekkers came in 3rd. manager Ronald Tham as shareholders. Apache Following this success, the group was offered several contracts and gigs over Like all successful groups in the entertainment scene, The Stylers band also The Stompers the island and even landed up with a 2-year Tea Dance contract at the popular eased out of the entertainment circles gradually in 1990s when Robert Song Celestial Room at Amber Mansion, Orchard Road. Over the years there were migrated to the Philippines while John and Randy decided to venture into other The Trekkers Simon more changes to the group’s line-up. When Frankie, Osman and Stewart Chew business. But their music still lives on till this day and members of the group Junior (vocals) left, Ronnie See (vocals), Douglas Tan (bass) and Alvin Wong (drums) are still active in the music scene. Thanks for good music and memories, guys. from The Burns joined the group. It was during their stint at the Celestial Room when Robert Song joined the group as well. Robert was also responsible for the Compiled by Vernon Cheong with thanks to Randy Lee Keng. Celestial Room The Stylers icon design with two bunny ears on the “S”. In late 1963 or early 01 July 2011 64 they had their first recording contract sealed with Miracle Records together ..... All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore The Shadows FrankieOsman A-Go-GoOff-Beat Cha Cha Stewart Chew The Burns Ronnie See The Shadows Douglas Tan Alvin Wong Celestial Room Robert Song Alvin Wong The Crescendos Robert Song Lawrence Lum The Quests Ronald Tham 1963 1964 The Maggie Miracle Robert Song John Shadows Randy RahmanFrankie AbdullahIdros Randy Lee Keng Musical Express The Angels Rahman Frankie Early Bird Randy Idros Rahman 1962John Teo RahmanIdros Osman The Rhythm Strikers Joo Chiat Terrace Cathay Organization ..... The Stylers 1962 Cliff Richard & The Shadows Contest The Stylers expresses its sincere thanks to the following for their assistance and Apache support, without which this album, would not have been possible: Mr Vernon Cheong The Stompers . Mr Joe Wu (Seattle, WA, USA) . Mr Kevin Woo (Warner Music Singapore) . The Trekkers Simon Mr Andy Lye Foo Yoong (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) . Junior Mr Alvin EH Tan . Mr Robin Lee (Summit CD Manufacture Pte Ltd) . Celestial Room Mr Koh Loon Seng . and all those who have helped in one way or another ..... All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore Digitally Remastered x 2011 The Style Exclusively licensed to Warner Music 09 Ten Thousand Miles 14 Davy Crockett 17 Sunday Morning 19 Medley: Pretty Woman Singapore Pte Ltd CD1 s Our Songs (Traditional) (George Bruns / Tom Blackburn) Organization Pte Ltd (John Cale / Lou Reed) Copyright Control Wonderland Music Co.