The news arrived via a direct message on Instagram: “Uncle Bill Forbes has passed away. No more Ladies of Calcutta or Aa-Chaa England.” A name familiar among those growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, Forbes was a star among stars like Cliff Richard and Tony Brent. Perhaps his alias Kal Kahn will ring a bell when the song Ladies of Calcutta is mentioned.
The 1938-born singer from Ceylon made it to the top after moving to England and finding a place on the Oh Boy! TV show, the first teenage all-music show on British TV. This was shortly after he was signed by Columbia. Though he never visited Calcutta, a song of his will forever remain associated with the city. In the vein of Peter Sellers and his song Goodness Gracious Me (with Sophia Lorene), he recorded Ladies of Calcutta, the lyrics of which will make you double up in joy.
The ladies of Calcutta will steal your heart away
Yand when it has been stolen you say
… Dhani Dhani Deh.
Bill Forbes on the Oh Boy! TV show
While he was signed to Columbia, he was approached to sing for a different label (Oriole) but that was only made possible by changing his name. So was born Kal Kahn in 1963 but only for a couple of songs, recorded in a baila style. Ladies of Calcutta was originally a German instrumental titled Tivoli Melody composed by Heino Gaze, which became Take Me Dreaming. Werner Muller Orchestra recorded it as Kalkutta Liegt am Ganges and Lawrence Welk Orchestra recorded it as Calcutta… well, there’s more! Popular American group The Four Preps got into the action with a version containing lyrics by Paul J. Vance and Lee Pockriss. Of course, Kal Kahn had his way with the lyrics.
During his Ceylon days, Forbes started working part-time for Donavan Andree, who launched and promoted several singers on the beautiful island nation. Soon, the Forbes magic was there for all to hear and see, so much so that the action soon moved to England.
In the UK, a milestone moment arrived for Forbes with a cover of Too Young which charted in December 1959. Bill’s other musical life was lived with The Contrasts, a band that had John Armitage. In 1958, he put in regular appearances at the Bread Basket coffee bar in Tottenham Court Road.
Bill ultimately gave up show business in the mid 1970s and settled in Huddersfield but forever remained keen about music.
In case you want to remember the man, today would be a perfect day to visit YouTube and play Aa-Chaa England.
English people sleeping in the sun to get a tan,
Pouring oil upon their faces like a frying pan,
Funny thing about it is they all go rosy red,
Next day when the peeling starts they’re crying in their beds....
