P Ramlee
Malaysian Bard P. Ramlee, a movie star with the Thousand-Watt smile made Shakespearian level tear jerkers and comedies. Many featured simple Malay life steeped in traditional folklore. An engaging actor, P Ramlee painted out performances for the common folk.
A wonderful accomplished multi-instrumental musician, composer and a sexy crooner.
Here's a quick Take on a classic from P Ramlee.
Ahcii Ahcii Buka Pintu / Original performance
The Strollers
The Strollers Malaysia's premier band (still Active), with Front-man the Late Great Nand Kumar were Idols of young musicians like me.
Breaking out in the 70's when the zeitgeist of the period was moving out of Flower Power, VW vans and getting into sex, drugs and hard rock, they have been heavily mis-labelled as Psychedelic. The Strollers were just simply melodic, relatable and quickly secured a legion of fans. I remember watching them play a mean crispy version of Pick up the Pieces by the Average White Band during college in 1976.
Gems like Just as I am, Do what you gotta do and Silly joke will be remembered by a Malaysia generation.
A recent update from a fan indicates that a reunion concert in Mar 2023 was sold out in an hour. Never, ever underestimate Old Musicians!
Quicks takes:
Just As I am
Do what you gotta do
Links to the Band:
Compilation
2022 Concert with Bassist Billy Chang and Drummer Hassan Idris