History Channel pays tribute to the legendary Tansri P Ramlee!

(this is part 1 of 2. Follow youtube links within the video page for part two!)

My friend shared this great video clip with me yesterday. She also noted that for her, a Malaysian living in the US, "it's pretty huge" that the History Channel has chosen to do a feature on her beloved national hero - Malay/Singaporean composer, actor, director and timeless cultural icon, Tansri P Ramlee. (I can only hope that someday they'll do a feature on Pop Yeh Yeh too! Maybe they'll consider airing my film when it is released!)

Three-Day Pop Yeh Yeh Reunion concert - This January!!!

When I saw this poster last week, I nearly fell out of my chair.. I have to go to this!

Details:

Where: Istana Budaya - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

When: Friday, January 20, 2012 at 8:30pm until Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:30pm.

Description:

Original Singers with Original Bands :

- Jefridin @ Siglap 5
- A Rahman Hassan @ Orkes Nirwana
- A Halim @ D' Fiction
- J Sham @ The Wanderers
- Kassim Selamat @ Swallows (update: Kassim Selamat will not be attending unfortunately)
- L Ramlie @ Teruna Ria
- Fatimah M Amin @ The Clans
- A Rahman Onn @ Strangers

note: although i just read some recent dialogue on the event page (fb) that some of these bands might not all actually be composed of entirely original members, the singers will certainly be the real deal. I hope it's a huge success, for these artists' sake alone... they're living legends all of them and they will hopefully be welcomed by a sold out audience!

Below: some recent newspaper articles about this three day concert series (Unfortunately I wont be able to make it to this...I had hoped I could but the timing didnt work out)

Apache over Singapore

Joseph C. Pereira - author, music expert, journalist, record collector, mentor, and friend (met with him several times during my stay in Singapore!) has published yet another outstanding book about the Singapore 60s Pop Music Era entitled "Apache over Singapore" (According to Mr. Pereira, "Apache refers to the Shadows hit of 1961. It became a rite of passage for Singaporean bands then")

(I posted an entry about his first book on this subject, Legends of the Golden Venus, earlier in this blog.)




Released on October 2011, this book traces the development of the Singapore Sixties music scene. Publisher: Select Books

Mr Pereira has a really great perspective on this subject, having grown up in Singapore during the 60s. He's been studying this subject for years and he has also released several box set compilations of Singapore 60s music through various record labels in the past few years.

From what I gather, this book is full of fascinating stories, interviews, and rare photographs from the era. Definitely a must-read ! (I still need to get a copy for myself!!)

(Photos copyright J Pereira 2011)

Great article on Cikgu Yusnor Ef - Legendary Singapore Malay Lyricist

Read Article Here

a bit of good news

A week or so ago, I finally received the green light for the The Pop Yeh Yeh music compilation - and it will finally be released in a just a few months time (hopefully this coming January). I am working on the cover art and liner notes now.

Datuk Ahmad Jais

2011 has been a really tough year for Pop Yeh Yeh artists.... Another great artist passed away this past week..
Rest in Peace Datuk Ahmad Jais
March 28, 1936 - Oct 11, 2011

Hasnah Haron

It grieves me to share the sad news that Hasnah Haron passed away today, after a long battle with cancer. She will be greatly missed... She was a very strong woman, and had been fighting the illness for a long time. It seems that she spent her last days with her family, with loving care of her daughter and other family members. I often think back to last summer when I was lucky enough to meet her and have lunch with her at her home in the company of M Fadzil, A Halim, and Hasnah's wonderful family. She made an impression on me with her kindness, wisdom, and generosity that I will remember always.
Her music will live on..