Sudirman Arshad
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| Born: | 25 May 1954 Temerloh, Pahang, Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Died: | 22 February 1992 Lucky Garden, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Occupation: | singer, actor, lawyer |
Sudirman Hj Arshad (25 May 1954 - 22 February 1992) is the no 1 Asian Singer from Malaysia before Siti Nurhaliza. He is known as the 'Singing Lawyer', the 'People Singer' and the 'Elvis of Malaysia'.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Sudirman was born on 25 May 1954 in Temerloh, Pahang. After refusing to take a scholarship to further his study in Science, he continued instead with Law and received his degree from Universiti Malaya and was called to the bar and became a practising lawyer.
[edit] Career
He was named 'Malaysia's Singing Ambassador' by Malaysia Tourism Development Board. Singing the famous tune "To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia" that was promoted with famous American Hollywood singer and songwriter Carol Connors (Emmy, Grammy and Oscar nominated). Referred to as the Singing Dynamite by Singapore journalists. His singing brought him everywhere in the world from Australia (standing ovation in Sydney and Melbourne) to Japan, Kuwait and was given a standing ovation before a 100% foreign crowd paying table at Hawaii, USA at Waikiki Hotel. In Melbourne Hilton the 500 guests packed the ballroom screaming More! More! More! renting the air. Being patriotic, Sudirman uttered, "Come to my country and we'll show you that we are a kind and hospitable people".
His singing won many local competitions from Bintang RTM (1976) to Music TV3 and Berita Harian Popularity contest. Topping Malaysian, Brunei and Indonesia charts with songs such as "Merisik Khabar", "Milik Siapakah Gadis Ini" and "Sampaikan Salam".
1st local singer to be allowed to perform in The Paddock at The Hilton KL and was singing ambassador for companies such as Proton, Malaysian Airlines, Honda Cup and honoured pioneer card member with Hong Leong Bank.
Musicians who have played for him seems to be the best in Malaysia too. They include people like Boon, Jay Jay (singer guitarist), Mac Chiew and Jenny Chin. Many young beautiful women from models to Miss Malaysia then had dreams of working for Sudirman to perform as his back up dancer. The successful ones include Joanne (Zainal Abidin's wife), Samantha Schubert and Linda Jasmine Hashim (now one of the leading dancing choreographer cum teacher in Malaysia's famous real TV program Akademi Fantasia).
Many muslim leftists however detested his concert performances. Some even threatened and distributed warning pamphlets of "something would happen" during his UKM Bangi performance concert to deter people from attending. The concert was even postponed following protests from UKM students Union, its academic staff association and the dean of the Islamic Studies faculty and six other student body. Sudirman's fans however turn up in force crowding the hall leaving some of those overflowed, crying from outside. One would expected a somewhat inhibited performance but Malaysia's top entertainer went about every corner of the crowd crooning his hits. The final verdict: One campus resident said "At last something alive has come here". (Irony is that a couple of years after he died, UKM made a Sudirman karaoke competition).
He was also a writer (he writes book of his life "Dari Dalam Sudir", cartoons and weekly article column for magazines and some local newspapers). One of his book writing for children was recognized the Best by Mobil-Mabopa. (A Mobil Oil book writing competition).
Produced an album for his nephew 'Atai' under Sudirman Productions of which Atai himself made a couple of hit songs that topped the charts then in 1985. Sudirman also became Malaysia's first successful singer cum entrepreneur providing Malaysia's most famous carbonated drink SUDI (which broke 5% of carbonated drink market within 6 months operation - with business magazines and TV programs from Australia to Hong Kong featuring the drinks) and opened a franchise of Sudi Shoppe apparel. He was also a champion for malaysian music industry taking on the role as Vice President for Singers, Musicians & Composers Association of Malaysia - PAPITA, calling out veteran singers and rumored to fought EMI to have great composers such as M.Nasir to work with him.
One of his exploits in cinema include a rather beautiful film, "[Kami]" (Malay meaning "Us") which was released in 1982. He played the lead in a heart-wrenching tale where two destitute orphans find each other amidst the cold, harsh realities of Kuala Lumpur street life. This memorable film also spawned an enduring track, "Pelangi Petang" (Malay meaning "Evening Rainbow") which is acknowledged as an iconic song in Malaysia's music industry even today.
His 1986 open air concert in Chow Kit Road was Malaysia's one and only attempt having 100,000 crowd to the street on Monday night. It jammed the stretch of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Muda to Jalan Raja Alang. Several fainted, many left with fond memories, a few suffocated and were rushed to the hospital due to pack of crowd pushing and shoving. The STAR - KL came to a standstill and it had nothing to do with the recession but with a one man, malaysia's top entertainer, an electrifying performance and most memorable night.
Simon NApier Bell, the manager for WHAM (George Michael's band group) referred him as the Institution of Malaysian Music industry.
His song came out top of the charts everytime an album is released. At one point, his song "Merisik Khabar" went up as no 1 for 2 months while his second song "Milik Siapa Gadis Ini" from the same album came in second and then went up as top for a few weeks after "Merisik Khabar"
In 1989, Sudirman won the title " Best Performer" in Asia Music Award 1989 contest at Royal Albert Hall, London where Leslie Cheung (Hong Kong Megastar), Anita Sarawak (Singapore Diva), Epo (Japan), Kuh Ledesma (Philippines) and many other singers who represented their own respective countries participated.
He was known by many in the 80s as "Malaysia's No 1 Entertainer".
In Singapore he had a strong following as was evidently seen when he made a concert in Singapore's Kallang National Stadium in August 1987. Girls and even moms were biting their knuckles and people came from all walks of life an race. Excerpt Kelvin Tan Look Siew Director of Singapore Armed Forces Music & Drama company "We wanted to bring down a prominent artist from the region and Sudirman's name automatically cropped up".
NST Singapore - "He now knows where he can go if he tires of Malaysia".
Tunku Abdul Rahman: ayahanda harap anakanda berjaya selalu.
EMI London took him on to work together with Stock, Aitken & Waterman (British producer trio who took on Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Risk Astley) for world market and he recorded an album but time was not on his side.
[edit] Deaths
Sudirman was rumored to have died from AIDS. The cause of his death became a topic of discussion among the media with some speculating that his actual cause of death was covered up to protect his reputation. Recently, his sister announced that he died from a stroke known as cerebrovascular.
He died at 4.00 am in the morning on the 22 February 1992, aged 37, at his sister’s (Datin Radiah) house, at Lucky Garden, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
He was brought back for burial in his hometown Temerloh, Pahang and was buried at Chengal Muslim Cemetery, Temerloh near the graves of his parents.
[edit] After Sudirman's Era
Naturally, his work was only recognized (by some) after his demise by giving him an award by AIM (Anugerah Industri Musik) and a street named after him at his hometown Temerloh named Jalan Sudirman.
Recently 2006 though Malaysian member of parliament from Sri Gading regard Sudirman not as a great singer that could even take on the member of parliament himself...
[edit] Famous quotes
"Title is not the measurement of a man but by his contribution" - Sudirman
Patrick Teoh : The dimunitive singer's popularity has gone from strength to strength, and he has visited almost every town in Malaysia, thrilling audiences with his dramatic stage act.
Malay Mail : If Malaysia ever needs "people power", Sudirman can be counted to deliver
Jenny Chin: Im proud to be a part of Atai's album. He's something else and has a bright future
Dr Mahathir: I feel very saddened for the lost of someone that has blossomed the country in the entertainment world. His loss will be felt by the whole nation because during his lifetime he was loved by so many.
[edit] Films
- Kami (1982)
[edit] Albums
- Nilai Cintamu
- Salam Terakhir (1992) (Last albums)
[edit] Songs
- Tanggal 31 Ogos
- Tegakkan Bendera Kita
- Apa Khabar Orang Kampung
- Adat Berkasih
- Ayah dan Ibu
- Antara Hujan dan Air mata
- Air Mata Kasih
- Anak Dagang
- Aku Pengangur
- Basikal Tua
- Berpisah Akhirnya
- Balik Kampung
- Berdendang Anak Dara
- Biarlah ku sengsara sendiri
- Bila wajahmu kubayangkan
- Bimbang Terluka lagi
- Cinta
- Chow Kit Road
- Dilema Dunia Cinta
- Dia Tiada Lagi
- Dari Jauh Ku Pohon Maaf
- Di manakah nilai cintamu
- Gadis Impian
- Gerimis
- Hujan
- Hujan Semalam
- Hanya Nyanyian
- Hati Rindu
- Hilang Berganti
- Image
- Jali-jali
- Jauh di sudut Hati
- Jangan Kau Curiga
- Joget Kenangan Manis
- Kasih
- Ku Pandu Laju (Bersalah)
- Ketenangan Jiwa
- Kerana Mata
- Kuala Deli
- Kehadiranku
- Kau akan Kembali
- Kul It
- Sebuah Cinta dan Harapan
- Sengsara Sendiri
- Mari Bergembira
- Merisik Khabar
- Mat Disko
- My Morning Star
- One Day in Your Life
- Orang Muda
- Patah Hati
- Pujaan Hatiku
- Pelita Hati
- Pelangi Petang
- Pesan Abang
- Punch Card
- Salam Terakhir (Last songs)
- Sepetang di Pinggir Bukit
- Selamat Malam Sayang
- Sengsara Sendiri
- Sri Sarawak
- Terasing
- Tetapkan Hatimu
- Tak Perlu Diucapkan
- Teratai Menjelma
- Toyol
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Warisan
- You Walk away with Nothing
- Untukmu
- Namamu Seindah Wajahmu
- Hari Itu Dalam Kenangan
