Background:

Prior to 110 Squadron arriving in Singapore, the Sqdn was based at Butterworth and most of us with married families were living in Penang.

During my first few months in Penang I made friends with the manager of the Eastern and Oriental Hotel (E&O) in George Town, Penang. When we discussed music and I informed him that I was a Big Band/Jazz vocalist (stage name Lance Raymond), he invited me to talk to a couple of the local bands that worked at the E&O. I ended up singing with two of the bands in the E&O at the weekends.

Also posted in Penang at that time were the Green Jackets. Some of the Regiments bandsmen used to come to the E&O where I got to know a few of the lads that played Trad and Modern Jazz. With the help of the manager of the E&O, we set up a Sunday Jazz Club and alternated with Trad and Modern Jazz.

A member of one of the local bands that I worked with (Gino, vibes player) used to arrange Big Band music for the Soliano Brothers big band that played at the KL Cricket Club (KLCC) and used to broadcast in KL. I was invited to sing at the KLCC and record/broadcast in KL with the Soliano Brothers. This association with the Soliano family gave me a lead into the music scene in Singapore as several of the Soliano family members were playing and recording/broadcasting on Radio Malaysia and TV Singapura. They were also Session Musicians and played in most of the large hotels in Singapore, including the Raffles.

The Golden Venus Club/Bar:

Ernesto Deroya was the leader of the jazz band at the Golden Venus. He was also married into the Soliano family. I had been told to contact him, when I arrived in Singapore and introduce myself as one of the friends of the Soliano Brothers in KL.

Pictured here is Ernesto is seated at the piano behind me and I am in the white jacket eyeing up the female vocalist.

Radio Malaysia and TV Singapura:

The next picture is when I was invited to record for a Radio Malaysia show at the Victoria Theatre in Singapore. I do not recall what the show was but Van Houten was one of the Sponsors. Notice the ‘limp wrist’ and slim figure. All changed through the passing of time (not the limp wrist).

The following two pics are taken during some shows on TV. One was the Easter Show.

The following two photos are from during a recording of the show ‘’Latin Quarters’’, where we played some Latin Jazz.

The question that I was always asked: ‘did you get paid for all Shows, Radio and TV broadcasts? The answer is yes and I even got paid for ‘repeats’ long after I returned to the UK. YES the C.O. did know, as he used to sign the forms to enable me to get 50% discount for the civil flights back from Borneo to do the Radio/TV Shows.

MY RETURN TO SINGAPORE (Sept/Oct 2005)

On my return to Singapore I made contact with some of the musicians that were still around and playing in the Hotels. Sadly, some of the boys had passed away and some had moved on to KL. However, I did make contact with one of the members of the Big Band that I worked with, Louis Soliano (drummer). He currently has his trio playing at the Ritz-Carlton and I was invited to join the trio to play Congas and get a few vocals in, during the evening.

The last set of pics was taken in the ‘Southbridge Jazz Club’. I had been invited by the boys from the Ritz-Carlton to join them at the jazz club. Musicians being what they are, we all took turns to perform and join in the great musical evening in the club. The trio at the club were fantastic and I only discussed my numbers with them for 2 minutes and you would have thought that we had been playing together for years.

In the last shot I am standing with the leader of the group (on piano) in the red shirt, and the owner of the club.

Regards.

Ray (Rees-Oliviere).