Y
NOTES ON NOTES
Music store director visits America and finds
Top record stars planning
Some of America's top recording stars are beginning to focus their eyes on Southeast Asia, and many of them are planning trips to this area, said Mr Ren da Silva, Managing Director of the Diamond Music Company the other day.
the
Their initial order was for ten million LPs and this in itself is quite fantastic.
Mr da Silva just returned a giant sized bottle of their pro- to the Colony from an exten- duct. sive business trip to United States and Japan. He met young artistes like
Bobby Vec, Johnny Nash, A
Paul
Anka and
Connie
Francis, and all of them, without exception, expressed
dates have not been fired due series of very heavy to his engagements in the US.
"I also spoke to Johnny Nash and he seemed most enthusiastic about visiting us
trips in
this
A challenge direction
branching out as featured
soloists.
ces, on his return to the States from his tour.
Mr. da Silva, on behalf of with closed a deal Diamonds, Cadence, Chancellor and Cana- dian-American records to release their discs here. This means that for the first time the works of people like Frankie Avalon. Johnny Fabian, Eddie Hodges, Tillotson the Cordettes and Don Shirley, will be available.
"We also plan to put out a Little LP very soon. This is the latest innovation in the music 45 business. It is a record of
but containing six rpm size
be played at
33-1/3 speed.
"Connie is quite prepared revealed his power by the man- out of hand. A monster has been tunes which can the desire to visit Southeast to record some of her big hits
ner which some of the most created, and try as they might, push in the busi- the big companies cannot
"These
little dises will cost Asia, particularly Hongkong. in Chinese specially for this promising artistes
com- this genie back into the bottle." less than half the price of an LP "Paul Anka will definitely be market-and she plans to go ness are rallying to his
the Berlitz School of pany."
Continuing, Mr da Silva said and will enable the collector to visiting the Colony in the not to
The famous Bud and Travis too distant future, but the exact Languages to learn pronu duo have also split and are now that rock and roll was still too chose. his material with greater
of instru- care." said Mr da Silva. ciation.
big, and the flood And here is a challenge to
mental pieces has snowed under a number of very beautiful all Hongkong lyric writers. If
During his tour, Mr da Silva ballads, mainly because disc much any of them feel they can
aspects of jockeys just have too write Chinese lyrics to any of discussed many
record industry with material to handle. Connie's numbers, they are the
Teenagers in America are invited to send them along to some of the most influential
the business, and gradually becoming aware of the me, here at Diamonds, and I men in
but it is the will forward it to the respon- came to the conclusion that beauty of ballads
'tenteens" (under 13s) who have the major sible authorities in the US.
companies are become the biggest buyers of
the growing singles, and they have "Connie too wants to come disturbed by
pushed of "single" the sales of rock and roll and to Hongkong and is quite deter- popularity mined to do so when she finds records and the smaller com- prevented the rise of the ballads.
She is so busy at panies. the time. present it isn't funny."
Unspoilt
"Bobby Tee would come on one conditon—he wouldn't have to work in a nightclub, but ca stage. I liked Bobby. He was nice and young, friendly and
compiezły unsport.
Changes
Singles
Pat
"Then of course, there was
"I also ran into Pat Boone Connie Franria. I haven't met anyone quite like this young
"The minor labels are getting while I was there" said Mr da The last six months have been lady. I'd say she is the hardest of great importance in the US. the bulk of the singles trade, Silva, "and Pat was very cut da and this in a large measure, is up about the entire Manila working person in the business music industry, said Mr
of the bigger com- incident." He is very bitter She never SETIES to get tired. Silva. Many changes have taken the fault She is surely "Miss Perfer place, particularly among groups panies. In order to gain business, about the whole thing and in- tionist. She just made a new Dave Guard has left the Kings- they rented out their studios and gists he was utterly mis- television series released through ton Trio, Tony Willian's has placed the pressing facilities at
unkind ABC and sponsored by the broken away from the Platters the disposal of these small com- quoted." Pat is alleged to
for a nominal have said some very makers of Brylcream.
and is now a soloist with the panies in return
fee. But now things have got things about Manila audien- The sponsors are currently on fast growing Reprise label a giant sales campaign and are "Reprise is growing very fast giving away free,
influence Connie because of Sinatra's a Francis LP that is not on the and his recording, film and contacts. He has masket, to everyone purchasing nightclub
NEW MEMBERS
(Continued from Page 1) HENRY KWOK, 21, student, 126 Shaukiwan road, ground floor, Hongkong. BETTY HUI, 17, student, 9 Pennington street, 3rd
floor, Hongkong. BENNY LO, 18, student, 33 Queen's-road East, 3rd floor, Hongkong.
•
SPECIAL WELCOME TO JOSE da SILVA, 17, student, Avenue Conselheiro Fer- reira D'Almeida 95E, Macao.
NEW
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RAMBLER CROSS COUNTRY STATION WAGON
Here's one of America's latest "compact" cars, smooth, smart and streamlined. The Rambler has all the most ad vanced Dinky Toys features plus gleaming plated bumpers and radiator and a special fuggage rack in black plastic. Length 4 in.
DINKY TOYS
DINKÝ TOYS No. 155
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Hit Parade
By Mitch Meredith
The big mystery man both that
in
the 'pop' world and of jazz has been and still is Ray Charles. Most people argue about Ray. No one is quite certain as to his rightful place in the music world.
Hailed by some as a genius. and finding others indifferent to him yet wondering what all the fuss is about. He has, incidentally, a new hit on the British charts. The name is "Hit The Road Jack" and al- ready it's well on its way to the top. As to be expected,
the number is an out-and-out Rhythm and Blues tune.
Perhaps it is because of his style of singing that he ap- proaches jazz. It is instru- mental in its phrasing, much like that of many of the great jazz singers (in par- ticular Louis Armstrong).
However, he shows a great interest in modern jazz and has waxed an album with Milt Jackson. I thought I'd mention him this week be- cause it's possible that we'll be hearing some of his music on our hit parade soon. Re- member "What'd I say"?
★ ★ ★
The Dave Brubeck Quartet starts its third British tour November 18. The not personnel has group's been changed; Paul Desmond
ca
alto), Gene Wright (bass) and Joe Morello (drums). After its London show, the group is to start a European tour which will last 16 days.
Not much has been heard about the possibility of a visit from Cliff Richard since
Mitch Meredith
I last mentioned it. By next week I hope
to have some concrete news!
THE TOP TEN
1. A Girl Like You — Cliff Richard
A Wonder Like You Ricky Nelson Michael The Highwaymen Cinderella
2.
3.
-
4. 5. Sad Movies
-
Paul Anka
(Make Me Cry)
Lennon Sisters
7.
6. Big Cold Wind
Without You
Pat Boone
- Johnny Tillotson
8.
9.
Riders In The Sky -
10.
My Claire de Lune
Lawrence Welk
Steve Lawrence
I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door Eddie
Hodges
Hits Here and There Dept.
BRITAIN
(1) Walking Back to Hap- piness .... Helen Shapiro,
(2) Michael..
waymen.
.The High-
(3) Wild Wind. John Leyton.
AMERICA
(1) Runaround Sue
Dion.
(2) Hit The Road Jack
Ray Charles.
(3) This Time
Troy Shondell.