In my recent WhatsApp, I briefed you on a singer-actress of the 1960s
named Norma (sometimes spelt Normah) Zainal. She began her singing
career in 1964 together with her elder sister Hamidah Zainal and
Noorsiah Yem, forming a trio called "Tiga Serangkai" (Three
Strings), where they managed to record an EP by Philips Singapore.
Norma Zainal (centre) as one of the members of Tiga Serangkai, featured in this 1964 EP:
Tiga Serangkai featuring Rahmah Hassan in their song "Lenggang
Singapura", accompanied by Orkes Rangkaian Lima Sekawan led by composer
Ali Ahmad.
In 1966, she began acting in a Cathay Keris film titled "Jiran
Sekampong" (Neighbors of the Same Village) as a heroine. However, Norma
is more popular playing negative roles in her later acting, such as in
the films "Kacha Permata" (Glass Diamond) [Shaw Brothers'
MFP, 1966], "A-Go-Go '67" [Shaw Brothers' MFP, 1967] and "Kekaseh"
(Lovers) [Cathay Keris, 1968].
Watch "Kacha Permata" here:
Zaiton (the actress, not Siti Zaiton) and Norma Zainal,
two stars from the film "Kacha Permata" (1966) met each other again at a
reunion organized by a Singaporean reporter in 2019.
Norma Zainal showing to Singapore Berita Harian reporters a videoclip
of her performing "Panggilan Rohani" with The Blue Beats in the film
"A-Go-Go '67". (photo credit: Siti Aisyah Nordin) - Article HERE
In
the same films that she acted, Norma also sang "Playboy" in "Kacha
Permata" with the accompaniment of Les Kafila's, followed by "Panggilan
Rohani" (The Call of My Soul)
in "A-Go-Go '67" with The Blue Beats. Another recording work by her is a
song titled "Terima Surat" (Receiving A Letter) from a 1969 EP called
"Dendang Ria", accompanied by the RTS Orchestra. (RTS =Radio &
Television of Singapore). "Dendang Ria" was a weekly
TV Singapura entertainment program, which began its show in 1963. I
read from the "Dendang Ria" record sleeve that by this time, Norma
Zainal had become a nightclub singer. I also saw in e-Bay a decade
years ago another EP done by her, but perhaps it was
an early 1970s release by an independent, small recording company.
Unfortunately, I didn't capture the details.
PANGGILAN ROHANI | Normah Zainal & The Bluebeats | OST A Go-Go 1967
A photo of Sanisah Huri taken from Malaysia's "Berita Harian". She still looks elegant at 71!
I read an article in Malaysia's Berita Harian reporting that Sanisah
Huri will be performing at the Petronas Philharmonic Hall in Kuala
Lumpur next month. I'm so excited to know this, as Sanisah has been my
favorite singer, while the hall is a very prestigious
venue for a concert meant for the elite class of Malaysian society.
Performing at this venue and other prestigious place like the Istana
Budaya is indeed an achievement. I had watched two concerts in Istana
Budaya alone - the first one featuring Ahmad Jais with my best friend
while the other with a group of pop yeh yeh performers
with Yatie.
Sanisah Huri's recording work with The Terwellos, The Hooks, Clique Fantastique and Dendang Perindu on EMI.
Sanisah
Huri has a long singing career from the 1960s until the mid-1980s. In
the film "A-Go-Go '67", she performed "Siapa Gerangan" (Who Is He?)
with a band called The
Terwellos, after which she made an SP (where this song and "Alam Seni"
was included) and an EP with the same band on EMI label. Then, she
recorded with The Hooks (1968), Dendang Perindu (1969) and Clique
Fantastique (1970), before moving on as a solo artist.
Among recording works by Sanisah Huri in Senada, both as a solo artist and as a team member of Suara Perindu.
Her contract with EMI ended in 1974, after which she joined Senada owned
by composer Kassim Masdor, who also composed many hit songs for her,
with lyrics provided by Yusnor Ef. She remained there until 1979. In
1976, Sanisah teamed up with Hasnah Haron, J.
Kamisah and jamaliah Shamsuri as Suara Perindu and managed to cut two
EPs. During the reawakening of pop yeh yeh craze in 1985, Sanisah
re-recorded many of her top hits in an LP by Warnada based in Kuala
Lumpur.
Sanisah Huri's album with Warnada produced in 1985.
Sanisah also appeared in films as an extra. Besides "A-Go-Go '67", she
also appeared in Mat Sentol's direction "Mat Toyol" (1969), singing "Si
Baju Hijau" (The Guy In A Green Uniform), and "Dendang Perantau" (A
Traveller's Serenade) (1979) singing "Hari Jadi"
(Birthday) together with Hail Amir and A. Ramlie.
A GO GO 67 1967 - Siapa Gerangan - Sanisah Huri & The Terwellos
Konsert Ole Ole Tampines - 02 May 2015 dan juga sempana menyambut ulang tahun The Rythmn Boys yang ke 54. Video credit :BloomAbyzz
SANISAH HURI : Renungan Mataku Yang Rindu (senikata)
