KHAN, Richard Benjamin
Performing Arts in Singapore (Music),
Accession Number 003111
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 4
Total Reels
- Joseph C Pereira
Interviewer
- 03:38:11
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 4
Metadata
- 10 Jan 2007
Recording Date
- 00:54:23
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Family background. Lived in Bras Basah Road. Family had bookshop business along Bras Basah Road. Studied in Braddell Rise Primary and Raffles Institution. Got interested in music in Secondary two and neglected studies. Transferred to Monks Hill Secondary. Enjoyed hanging out with musicians in bands like The Checkmates and The Thunderbirds. How his role miming as a drummer in a Television show brought him recognition and got him seriously into music. Bands interviewee played with in his early days when still schooling.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 4
Metadata
- 10 Jan 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His views on The Bee Jays. Played at British Army Bases. Instruments played by the band. Invited to join band group, Surfers. Related incident of a member of Surfers whom he replaced. His experience in a recording studio. His time with the Surfers; gigs in Bangkok, Hotels and Clubs. Type of music they played. Vocalists Peter Diaz, Jay Shotam and Evans Barnabas. Compared music scene in Bangkok with Singapore. Good drummers of the 1960s. Left EMI records and the Surfers had own label, Baal.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 4
Metadata
- 17 Jan 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:44
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Transition from being Surfers to October Cherries. Reasons for band leaving EMI to start own label Baal. Did mainly studio recordings and a few concerts in Singapore and Malaysia. Big fan base and household name. Limited market; used different names to try to break into other markets. Went to England, end-1969. Problems encountered at immigration. Not allowed to disembark, went to Brussels and based themselves in Ostend. Had some success in Europe. Their song “Beautiful Sunday”. Was homesick and manager arranged contract for 2 months to play at Hotel Intercontinental in Karachi. Had a ‘hairy time’ in Karachi coming in contact with warlords and factions who were armed with guns.
Went back to Europe but each member went to different places as they split up the tasks of management among themselves. Interviewee stayed in Germany. Explained “rag-jobbing”. Returned to Ostend, did cover for EMI with rights to EMI in Europe and Baal the rest of the world. Manager then arranged tour to India in 1974. Had corporate sponsorship and prestigious gigs lined up. Two weeks into tour, lead guitarist Peter Diaz walked out of the band. Flew in guitarist, Chris Vadham of Western Union Band to continue tour. Did not complete tour; reasons. New line up for October Cherries which lasted a month. Interviewee got married, went to Canada. Interviewee left October Cherries.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 4
Metadata
- 17 Jan 2007
Recording Date
- 00:48:35
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
About music of Surfers and October Cherries. Felt he was more musical. Listened to classical and psychedelic music. Mentioned World Hits Series they did with EMI which was a cover version of Top Ten round the world. Artistic struggle the band had trying to grow as musicians at the same time remained commercial. Talked in depth about their landmark recordings and how some of them were re-released with different titles.
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