THE recent Musicians for Malaysia charity concert, themed Rocking For A Cause, brought together some of the country's best-known bands that rose to fame across the club and restaurant circuits over the last six decades.
The annual fundraiser, which channels its proceeds towards musicians in need, took place at Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS) in Petaling Jaya and featured three hours of non-stop live music.
A total of 21 musicians — mostly veterans — received honorary plaques for their contributions to the music industry.
The concert was held alongside a dinner attended by 560 guests from across the Klang Valley, Melaka, Johor, and Penang, with some travelling from as far as the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Musicians for Malaysia (MfM) honorary secretary Latifah Abdullah shared that the event successfully raised RM85,500.
The evening paid special tribute to active veteran performers aged 75 and above. Ten musicians suffering from illnesses and in need of medical assistance will benefit directly from the proceeds.
Among the 21 honoured musicians were Alfred Ho, Tinoy Soliano, Radha Krishnan, Frankie Tan, Ruzlan Omar, Rusli Musif (Olie of Heavy Machine), Royston Sta Maria, Kenny Tay, and MfM president Francis Danker.
Latifah said: "This is the fourth edition of our MfM showcase and it once again celebrates musicians whose careers have helped shape the country's musical landscape. Each of the recipients was given a plaque in recognition of their contribution to the development of the industry."
She added: "We want to recognise them because no one has ever given them such recognition, despite their long involvement in the music industry and the fact that they continue to work to this day."
VETERANS
The veteran bands entertaining guests throughout the show included Electric Orgasm, Goblokes, Heavy Machine, Lighthouse featuring Vijay David, Os Pombos, The Polymaths, and The Studio 10 Experience.
Among the soloists, Australian-based singer-songwriter Royston (Roy) Sta Maria and evergreen songstress Datuk Francissca Peter (Fran) were easily the biggest names.
Anyone who grew up in the 1980s would instantly remember them as the Malaysian "Donny & Marie Osmond" of that era: Roy & Fran.
While some die-hard fans hoped the iconic duet partners would take to the stage together for classic hits like 'Siapa Dia Sebelum Daku', they focused instead on their respective solo smash hits from the 1980s.
Fran opened her set with several trademark songs, starting with 'Sekadar Di Pinggiran' — the song that won the inaugural Anugerah Juara Lagu in 1986. The crowd sang and waved along as Fran sportingly pointed her microphone towards the tables.
Her upbeat hit 'Oo La La Tropika' was another crowd favourite, recalling her heyday, performed in signature colourful outfits and iconic 1980s "high hair".
"We're here to have a great time going down memory lane and reliving those magical moments of Malaysian music. I'm truly happy to reunite with many old friends, and I promise I'll be back as long as I can," said Fran, who was accompanied by her mother, Alice Peters.
Fran, who has released 10 solo albums, was the first Malaysian artiste to win Best Song at the Asean Song Festival in Kuala Lumpur in 1987.
Her last major concert was held at Istana Budaya in 2011 to mark her 33rd year in the music industry — a sold-out, three-night event accompanied by a 33-piece orchestra, with Roy as premier guest star.
ANTICIPATED REUNION
When Roy took to the stage, he delivered his legendary composition 'Mulanya Di Sini' alongside Freedom, the band that made it famous.
It was a highly anticipated reunion for the popular 1980s group. Founder member Shuib paid tribute to Roy, the band, and their late original lead singer, Seha Abu Bakar, while archival images of the original line-up flashed across the big screen.
Roy, 74, who now lives in Perth, Australia, noted that the song has become an enduring national anthem.
"My composition has travelled across generations, been performed by countless musicians and four decades after it was first penned, it continues to find its place in popular culture," he said.
'Mulanya Di Sini' achieved its breakthrough when it represented Malaysia at the third Asean Song Festival in 1986, finishing second before appearing on Freedom's 1987 debut album.
Roy added that the track has featured in countless television commercials over the last 40 years.
The duo released two albums around the turn of the decade before going their separate ways in 1984, though they still catch up in Kuala Lumpur every few years.
IMPERSONATIONS & ENTERTAINMENT
The third major star was Datuk Leonard Tan, fondly known as the "Singer with a Thousand Voices" and the "King of Jingles".
The singer, actor, and comedian is celebrated for his spot-on impersonations of icons like Louis Armstrong, the Bee Gees and Tan Sri P. Ramlee.
Looking sharp in a Nehru jacket, Tan belted out classics including Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline', Lionel Richie's 'Stuck On You', Whitney Houston's 'Greatest Love Of All', and Al Jarreau's 'Spain', stepping off stage to let delighted diners finish his lyrics.
Tan, who sings seamlessly in English, Malay, and Chinese, said: "I believe that as a Malaysian, mastering our country's languages is a goal worth striving for."
Emcee Radha (aka The Black Stallion), 75, kept the event lively. The veteran singer and presenter earned his racehorse nickname due to his knack for mimicking fast-talking racing commentators and galloping hooves.
"More importantly, it reflects my high-energy stage presence — whether I'm singing, performing comedy, presenting radio shows, or hosting live events," he said to warm applause.
Rounding off the evening, veteran group Electric Orgasm marked its 50th anniversary, taking guests back in time with covers of local and Western classics.
The band's star line-up included Radha, Roy, Fauzi Marzuki, and Nasser Abu Kassim — all of whom went on to forge successful solo careers.
dchua@nst.com.my
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