Research: Music in the 1960s

Beginnings:

• mid-1950s, Radio Malaya started Talentime, a competition that showcased good singers and musicians
• attracted a strong following in Malaysia and Singapore
• at this time, most music acts consisted of vocal groups
• in late 1961, Cliff Richard and the Shadows played at the Happy World Stadium
• one of Singapore's earliest electric bands, The Stompers, formed in 1958 and led by Wilson David. 
• thi was the landmark performance introduced the format of a lead singer backed by an instrumental band featuring the electric guitar 
• it had a significant impact on the local audience at a time when electric music was becoming increasingly popular
• various other foreign acts performed in Singapore throughout the 1960s, including the Rolling Stones in 1965
• number of local musicians cited the Cliff Richard performance as a turning point
• as teens in the 1960s, they gathered with friends to listen to records released by British bands, and the they inspired them to form their own bands
•  most picked up music skills through trial and error, imitation, practice and experience as they did not have formal training in reading music or playing instruments

Height of popularity:

• local bands often performed at military camps, mess halls and servicemen's clubs; as well as at dance halls, and on television and radio
• other venues for live music: Singapore Badminton Hall and the National Theatre
• popular nightclubs such as the Golden Venus at Orchard Hotel also gave bands regular exposure by employing resident bands, such as The Checkmates, The Quests and The Trailers
•  Naomi and the Boys, The Quests, The Cyclones and The Trailers were among the bands to release original compositions that did well on the local charts
• the first time in 1964, the original Quests song "Shanty" became the first song by a local band to reach the top of the Singapore charts, displacing The Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better" at No. 1, where it stayed for 12 weeks.
• local 1960s music featured the sounds of what are referred to today as pop, rock and blues
• demonstrated the multicultural diversity of Singapore and a blend of Western and Asian influences, with a number of homegrown bands performing songs in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil
• bands were so popular locally and in the region that at times they used to stir riots 

The end:

• economic pressures and the unsustainability of a full-time career in music led many musicians to settle down to more conventional full-time jobs and families, while others moved overseas or were drafted into National Service
• withdrawal of the British meant that the demand for local bands to perform decreased
• since local music was heavily influenced by the West and the government was campaigning to reject external cultural influences, any event featuring live music was banned
• never regained popularity of commercial appeal

My summary:

This article shows evidence of how the Western countries influenced our country in terms of music. The immigrants, although they were diverse, had the common passion for British music. This in effect brought about youngsters trying to find their talents and this brought about local bands. The people came together for their common love of music, how ever it was with a tinge of Singapore's uniqueness. The government also tried to reduce Westernization by stepping up measures to ban stage performances so as to retain our originality. This showed that the people, although of different races, ame together to maintian a harmonious society.

http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1658_2010-04-15.html

- Mani