HO, Chris Wai Chee @ Chris Ho
Performing Arts in Singapore (Music),
Accession Number 001686
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 11
Total Reels
- Ang Choon Kiat (R1-4), Pat D'Rose (R5-11)
Interviewer
- 04:58:14
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 11
Metadata
- 13 Sep 1995
Recording Date
- 00:31:18
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Personal and family background. Grandmother adopted him as her son. Strict, traditional Chinese family upbringing. How he was exposed to pop and rock music. Rediffusion had a big influence. Family were critical of pop singers. Music was a solace and what it meant to him. He was a bright student and teachers' pet. Would sing in front of the class. Parent's were very concerned about education and had hopes for him to be a professional. Exposure to pop culture in junior college. Spent a lot of time listening to music in private.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 11
Metadata
- 13 Sep 1995
Recording Date
- 00:31:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Became more adventurous in his taste for movies and TV programmes. Radio presenters and what he thought of them. Records and music shops in the sixties. Described concerts and the audience. Most unforgettable concerts and why. Talentime and the people involved. Few artistes visited Singapore back then and people were underexposed to music. "Sterile" atmosphere of the seventies music scene. Mainstream music typified by Tracy Huang contrasted with underground Malay rock and metal bands. Sponsored rock concerts held at National Theatre. How he started as a part time DJ on Rediffusion. Family's reactions. First on-air experience.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 11
Metadata
- 15 Sep 1995
Recording Date
- 00:11:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Awarded the Most Outstanding Asia Pacific Radio Personality in a competition held in Australia. High point in career was doing Friday night series "Ready Steady Go" in early 80s. Low point of career. Used to be more concerned about feedback and how listeners respond. How he related to listeners. (11 min.)
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Reel/Disc 5 of 11
Metadata
- 3 Dec 1996
Recording Date
- 00:30:13
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*How he became a DJ. Trained on the job. His audition. His first shift. Started in Rediffusion while in army. He was in the Music and Drama Company. Platform to train himself up. Relative importance of DJ-ing, writing and singing. Song writing sporadic and a catharsis. Was a regular music columnist for Straits Times starting around 1983. Concerned to encourage the local music scene, dilemma as a performer and reviewer. Impact of his reviews on local performers. As a DJ he prefers to focus on the music and not personality or the programme.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 11
Metadata
- 3 Dec 1996
Recording Date
- 00:29:42
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Forte in new music and rock and roll. His influences. Do not consciously groom himself as DJ. Award in 1987 - Most Outstanding Asia Pacific Radio Personality. Describes Gail as a big influence - star DJ at Rediffusion in the early seventies. University academic exercise on "The Subculture of Rock in Singapore". Radio Batam revamped radio broadcasting for Singapore. Switchboard and technology in broadcasting. Current training and recruitment at Radio Corporation of Singapore (RCS). Broadcasting standards and styles then and now. His family, relationship with his mother, and his stepfather. Continued DJ-ing after graduation despite objections.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 11
Metadata
- 9 Jan 1997
Recording Date
- 00:30:53
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Was co-host for a television series - Sony Betamax Show and became a household name. Was paid very little. Disagreements with family and moved out in his 20s in unhappy circumstances. Brought up by grandmother but mother moved back with him when he was 18. Grandmother and mother both felt possessive towards him and he was caught in the middle. Described days of living alone. Present relationship with his mother. How childhood years shaped him. Described his mother. How he missed having a father. Grandmother and her relationship with his grandfather. Rebelled against Chinese traditions.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 11
Metadata
- 9 Jan 1997
Recording Date
- 00:28:59
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Grandfather was a famous opera singer, relationship with grandmother. Importance of marriage and family. Grandmother abused mother. Encouraged him to have a family but Grandmother disapproved of teenage relationships. Prospects for people who want to go into music. Prospects for potential recording artistes in Singapore. To be sustainable, have to venture out and capture a greater audience. Offered an opportunity to record an album. Plans for his recording career. "Sunburn" nominated by Perfect 10 Music Awards for best local song. His singing and song writing style. Talked about his albums.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 11
Metadata
- 9 Jan 1997
Recording Date
- 00:28:01
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*His role in promoting local music is to give exposure to music that he thinks is good. What he thinks is good music. The authorities and the local music scene. Future direction of the local music scene. People are becoming more involved but still do not recognise our own talents. How our local music and artistes have evolved and current state of development. Factors that influence the local music scene. Infrastructure used to be very lacking but much better now. Spoke at MIDEM (The Asian arm of the Cannes World Music Market where operators in music industry meet to network and explore new business). Asia in Hong Kong in 1995. Singapore's status in the world music scene.
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