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Western Union Band

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Western Union Band
OriginSingapore
GenresPop, Rock
Years active1971 - 1980
LabelsLibra, EMI
Past membersBenji
Tony Chong
Abel Gan
Rennie Ho
Danny Lim
Peter Mangkok
Shediq Marican (aka Ziani Shedick)
Chris Vadham
Daniel Wee

Western Union Band was a band from Singapore in the 1970s. They had major hits in Singapore and Malaysia with "Driving Me Crazy", "I've Found My Freedom" and "Sausalito".

Background

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The band was a made of men from Indian, Chinese and Malay origin. They played regularly at the Moonshine bar in Katong.[1] The group evolved out of Rubber Band which was formed in 1969 by Chris Vadham. Vadham had previously been in a band called High Ground.[2] Bass player Tony Chong was founding member of the early 60s band The Thunderbirds, whose biggest hit was in 1966 with "My Lonely Heart".[3]

Career

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Before the year of 1971 was out, the group had released the singles, "My Lady" bw "Stepping Thru" and "Something About You" bw "Driving Me Crazy".[4] Both of them were on the Libra Records label.[5]

Hits

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For the week ending February 19th, 1972, their song "Baby, Driving Me Crazy" was at no.6 in the Malaysian Top 10.[6] A month later, for the week ending March 18th, the song was at no.4.[7] For the week ending April 8th, Billboard had recorded "Something About You Baby" at no.7.[8]

In May, on the 27th, they were in the Singapore top 10 at no.9 with "Ive Found My Freedom".[9] The following week, the song was also in the Singapore Top 10 at no.8.[10] For the week ending June 24th, the song was at no.8 in Singapore, but it had hit the no.1 spot in Malaysia.[11]

Their song Sausalito was at no.1 in the Malaysian Top 10 by August 26, 1972.[12]

Members

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  • Rennie Ho ... vocals
  • Chris Vadham ... guitar, vocals
  • Abel Gan ... keyboards
  • Tony Chong ... bass
  • Shediq Marican (aka Ziani Shedick) ... drums
  • Danny Lim ... guitar, flute
  • Peter Mangkok ... bass
  • Daniel Wee ... drums
  • Benji ... vocals[13]

Discography

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Singles
Title Release info Year Notes
"My Lady" / "Stepping Thru An Empty Time" Libra LRSP 008 1971
"Something About You Baby" / "Driving Me Crazy" Libra LRSP 009 1971
"I've Found My Freedom" / "Don't Say You Don't" Libra LRSP 010
"Sausolito" / "Showbiz" Libra LRSP 011
"Walkin' Proud" / Instrumental Levi's LEVI'S-1 1975 [14]
Albums
Title Release info Year F Notes
Western Union Band EMI EMGS 5010 1977 LP
We've Got Love EMI EMGS 6038 1978 LP
Western Union Band EMI 7243 8 53398 2 0 1996 CD [15]

Later years

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Chris Vadham died in Watford, England on February 26, 2007 from liver cancer.[16]

In 2014 Tony Chong was in a band called Tru-Blu, whose members included Gerry and Michael Pereira who had been in The Mccoys and Duncan Anthony who has been with Tin Pan Alley, Rusty Blades and New Breed.[17]

References

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