For me it was a dream came true to be able to know Tony and Julie, who had for past years then were my idols. I recalled when at one time when Ainul and I attended an international musical show at the then KL Hilton’s Paddock, I was thrilled and marvelled at the virtuosity of Tony’s piano performance and made a wish for myself to meet the man one day.
The same elated me too over Julie when in the early black and white TV days; she was the singing star of the weekly songs entertainment program. I enjoyed her singing and repertoire. Hence when in the 80’s I found both of them the resident band members of the Club, I resolved to find a way to be closer to them. That was when I took every possible opportunity to sing at the nightly dining sessions at the Club. When finally I did become a member of the GC of the Club and assigned as the Entertainment Chairman, that really made my day and after that our friendship became history.
Many a time we get our expose at Radio Malaysia program and TV too, not to mention a special Shell Malaysia Anniversary dinner show when for the first time in my life I got paid RM 1,600 for my part in the show. In fact the whole show was formulated by me much to my delight and thanks to both Tony and Julie who went along willingly. For my Radio program as the Saturday Night Star on three occasions I was paid RM 300 each time, whilst a TV show I received RM 450, which make me wonder just how much the stars of today receive at these stations.
That brings me to the subject of my life ambition. I had all along wanted to be a singer and cut records but somehow I never made it. May be I did not know how to go about it but more so in those days and until today, singing in English, gets you no where. It is the Malay and other ethnic native songs that make the grade for anyone in the local music industry.
By the time I was seriously contemplating to cut records with the help of the late Tony Soliano and Julie Sudiro, there was a fallback on the scheme of events. I could not find nor did I get through to any of the Recording Studios chief's to listen and accept my demo tapes of songs that I did then.
It was Ainul who gave me a Birthday present and took me to a recording studio somewhere in Jalan Bukit Bintang to have a recording tape done on two selected songs. The two songs cost a bombshell to her. She was charged RM 750.00 for it!
That gave us an inkling as to what it would cost to cut records! As regards to Tony, (may Allah bless his soul) it was simply impossible to get him to work on anything serious, a trait mark of his character endorsed by Julie at that time. Proof of fact is that until today, Julie Sudiro, famous as she is, has never cut a record! Just what are my plans for the future as a singer?
I really don’t know.
I still enjoy singing and would readily oblige doing so at any functions be they private or otherwise, whilst at the same time indulging in the in-house karaoke Club competition and the inter-club that follows. I had the priviledge of being invited all the way to Kota Bharu Kelantan by Their Highnesses the Sultan of Kelantan to sing at a Birthday State Dinner. Both Ainul and I had a fully paid flight to the State capital for the occasion. On another occasion, the incumbent Yang DiPertuan Agong , The Raja of Perlis gave Ainul and I a signature watch of the Paramount Ruler for my performance at an Istana function.
All said, I think I have made a dent in the singing community of the royals, for Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Perlis, which is not too bad for my ego!
written by Tunku Farid
edited by Aida Halim
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