Reggie Verghese

Last updated

Reginald 'Reggie' Verghese
Birth nameReginald Chua
Also known asReggie
Born16 August 1947
Died17 June 2015 [1]
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar

Reggie Verghese (16 August 1947 - 17 June 2015) [2] was a Singaporean musician and record producer, known as Singapore's first guitar hero of the 1960s. [3] During the 1960s, he was a member of Singaporean band The Quests. [4] [5] He later moved into production, producing work for acts such as Matthew and the Mandarins, Frankie Cheah, Anita Sarawak, Western Union Band, Jennifer Yen and Tracy Huang.

Contents

Career

The Quests

Around 1963, while still in secondary school, he was a member of a group called The Checkmates. [6] In 1964, the guitarist for The Quests, Raymond Leong, had left the group to pursue his studies. Verghese took his place. In a matter of months, the group had a no.1 hit with" Shanty". His guitar playing in the song attracted a lot of attention. Along with Jap Chong, sharing the vocals, he stayed with the group throughout all of the line up changes until the group's break up in 1971. He then moved into production. [7]

Production

In 1977, Verghese produced the debut self-titled album for The Western Union Band which had evolved out of a 1960s group called The Rubber Band and featured songs such as, "Sausolito" and "Howzit". [8] He produced the self-titled album for Matthew & The Mandarins which was released on EMI and contained the song "Singapore Cowboy". [9] The song would eventually become a big hit in Singapore, reaching no. 1. [10] Verghese also produced their next album, II, which was released in 1979 also on EMI. [11]

In 1984, together with Ken Lim and three other partners, Verghese formed Boogie Productions Pte Ltd and took over the recording studio and equipment from EMI Singapore Pte Ltd which had closed down. [12]

Death

Having suffered from heart and liver problems for a few years, Verghese died of heart failure at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on 17 June, 2015. He was 67. [13] [14]

Discography

Album
ActTitleReleaseYearNotes #
Reg GuitarGuitar Sound Of Hit Tunes Regal SREG-95251971
Reg GuitarGuitar Sound Of Hit Tunes Vol.IIIRegal SREG-95411972
Reg GuitarGuitar Sound Of Hit Tunes Vol.6Regal SREG-98281974
Reg GuitarKung FuRegal SREG 98151974 [15]

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References

  1. ↑ "Memories". Memories. Mount Vernon Sanctuary. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Memories". Memories. Mount Vernon Sanctuary. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  3. ↑ Billboard , 27 July 1996 - Page 59 Global Music Pulse, Singapore: - Edited by David Sinclair
  4. ↑ Today , Friday 27 April 2018 - The Quests’ guitarist Reggie Verghese dies By Christopher Toh
  5. ↑ AsiaOne, 4 March 2014 - The Quests' Jap Chong dies from heart attack by Melody Zaccheus
  6. ↑ The Straits Times , 17 June 2015 - The Quests' guitarist Reggie Verghese dies of heart failure - Eddino Abdul Hadi
  7. ↑ Toh, Christopher (17 June 2015). "The Quests' guitarist Reggie Verghese dies". TODAY. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  8. ↑ The Rocky Road: Autobiography By Mr Boogie Woogie, By Rockin Dave - -
  9. ↑ Discogs - Matthew* & The Mandarins – Matthew And The Mandarins
  10. ↑ Bandwagon - Matthew & The Mandarins, Biography
  11. ↑ Discogs - Matthew* & The Mandarins – II
  12. ↑ "LET'S BOOGIE!". Singapore Monitor . 16 August 1984. p. 4. Retrieved 22 September 2023– via NewspaperSG.
  13. ↑ The Straits Times, 17 June 2015 - The Quests' guitarist Reggie Verghese dies of heart failure - Eddino Abdul Hadi
  14. ↑ Today, Friday 27 April 2018 - The Quests’ guitarist Reggie Verghese dies By Christopher Toh
  15. ↑ Discogs - Reggie Verghese, Reggie Verghese Discography, Albums
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