Kassim Masdor: Singapore's Top Malay Composer Sudah Meninggal

"Biarlah Aku Pergi"

Passed Away on: Monday Night 20th January, 2014.

Mr Kassim Masdor, born in 1938 and composer of more than 400 songs in Malay, had passed on. He had written melodies and lyrics for many artistes like Ahmad Daud, Kartina Dahari, Saloma, Ahmad Jais, Sharifah Aini and a host of others.

Some of the pop songs include: Nusa Jaya, Bersabarlah Sayang, Biarlah Aku Pergi, Cintaku Satu, Gelisah, Manis tujuh Belas, Selamat Hari Raya.  There's also a combined effort, Kisah Aku Dan Lagu, Kisah Tua dan Tijah and Kembara Rasa, done with good friend Yusnor Ef's lyrics.

He was composer and producer for EMI Records from 1968, after his stint with Shaw Brothers Studios at Jalan Ampas. Masdor left EMI in 1977 and opened his own recording company called, Senada Records.

He had been honoured with many awards both from Singapore and Malaysia. He was last seen on stage when he played at a tribute concert at the Esplanade in September, 2013. Mr. Kassim was 76.

It was the first time I had watched him perform. He was a natural on the piano with his signature hat and simple style. But he was charismatic in so many ways, polite but deep in concentration with the music accompaniment he was playing and listening intently to the band and singers with him on stage.

Rest In Peace Pak Kassim. You have contributed much to Singapore's Malay Heritage and its future.

This article is copyrighted.

Information from friends around and books: 
1) Muzik Melayu Sejak 1940an (Yusnor Ef) 2011, and 
2) Seven Magnificent Composers, a PERKAMUS Publication.

Images: Google.

80s Stellar TV Show With Much Cash Give-Away

Jennifer Yen from Malaysia: 'Younger' 

YouTube Video by: smnsimon00

         


Janet Basco: Carnegie Hall, New York City.

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Money To Be Made:

Whenever the opportunity arises and if it's worthwhile news I would include local pop music items from the 80s and feature television shows that were well received. One possibly successful series that attracted Singapore sitting room audiences had cash vouchers given away to lucky winners which included a top prize of $150,000.  That was a lot of money, and still is today! In one year alone the production gave away about $1.8 million.  This newspiece was reported in a local magazine in 1981. 

Yeah, the 1970s ABBA song, Money, Money, Money on TV Show.

Both Local and International Artistes:

The shows were telecast 'live' and included an array of stars that were household names those years. They included Singapore's Kartina Dahari, Ali Ahmad, Paul Cheong, Tony Castillo, Jacintha and The SBC Dancers. There were guest artistes from overseas and it included Jennifer Yen from Malaysia, Janet Basco and the WEA Dancers from the Philippines, Linda Lou Allen from London and The Wright Brothers from the US.

Jennifer Yen RTM Talentime Winner 80s.

Yes, and these stars were at the peak of their career during the 70s and 80s. The host for this particular show was, Mr Versatile himself, Tan Swee Leong who has been featured on this blog a couple of times. (Check Labels below).

Paul Cheong: when he was at his best. With SBC Dancers.

Tan Swee Leong Show Compere

Carnegie Hall, Malaysian Talentime:

Janet Basco is a Filipino singer. She is known for her hits, You Made Me Live Again, Minsan Pa, and My Girl, My Woman, My Friend  where she sang with heartthrob and countryman Jose Marie Chan, two of the few Filipino entertainers to have ever performed in Carnegie Hall in New York.

She represented Philippines in the 10th Tokyo Music Festival in 1980 and in the Asean Song Festival in Indonesia. She has appeared in numerous concert halls internationally. (Listen to her on Right Bar of this blog).

Jennifer Yen, who was known as Malaysia's singing sweetheart and a winner of the RTM or Radio Talivishen Malaysia Talentime Competition sang selected songs from her two English albums. She was poised and captivating with a pleasantly charming voice that is still recognised today.


Kartina Dahari was honoured in a show @ Esplanade in 2013.

They had been together for many years and appeared on Filipino television regularly in the 80s, sometimes accompanying singers as background dancers but usually highlighted as group performers on stage.  Like Singapore's Sunny Low Dancers during the 60s, The WEA Dancers were just as well-known in the 80s. They proved their talent when they appeared on this show with the SBC Dancers.

Tony Castillo helped to build the music scene in Singapore.

Honoured By Esplanade, Boy Wonder, London, Broadway Jazz

Our own recording artistes Tina Dahari and Ali Ahmad need no introduction since both were regulars on the small screen (19 inches only remember?) over both the English and Malay radio stations. Kartina was featured recently at the Esplanade in 2013 where artistes of yore sang her hits from the 70s.

Broadway Hits from Linda Lou Allen

Tony Castillo was of course the jazz musician and singer whom Louis Armstrong called Boy Satchmo and arranged to have him perform at the Ed Sullivan in the US.  He had a big-band group, The Castillians that played in Europe and the United States.  Boy Wonder Castillo died at 64 in 2010. 

Paul Cheong was a home-grown talent and according to the magazine, "proves that he is capable of much more than cutting albums and spinning discs."  Another artiste in the series, Jacintha is a Singaporean singer and actress, well-known in parts of Asia-Pacific since the '80s.

Linda Lou Allen, based in London in the 80s, sang romantic ballads and Broadway jazz hits during the show. She was known for her versatility, energy and hot numbers.


80s WEA Dancers. They are on You Tube.

So what's the name of this show? Anybody still remember? Let me know. No prizes for the correct answer but it's so easy with clues everywhere. Which show can ever give away so much money?

Information and Images: Radio and TV Times 1981 and Google.
Thanks to Mun Chor Seng.