Ronnie Pereira was the lead guitarist and singer of the 1970s band Revolvers. He was popularly known as the Malaysian Carlos Santana for the way he emulated Santana in playing the guitar.
The original Revolvers were Robert Henry Dias (vocalist), Lee Lip Tiong (lead guitar), Ng Seng Huat (rhythm guitar and vocals), Robert Chua (bass) and Raghavan Nair (drums). Later on the band was joined by vocalist Quintin Rozario who replaced Robert Diaz and Michael Magness (of Strollers fame.)The band also recruited the late Christopher Samuel on drums (replacing Raghavan Nair) and Sonny Singharam on rhythm guitar.
They built a reputation in Selangor as an unconventional band playing more than just top 10 covers of popular western dance hits, the rage in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ronnie Pereira a latecomer was originally hired as bassist for his versatility with instruments and his level of discipline in playing. He progressed to the position of lead guitarist when Lee Lip Tiong left to go abroad to pursue higher studies. Cheah Jin Sang the bands manager and patron consented to Ronnie Pereira taking over lead guitar on Lip Tiong's departure. Magness and Rozario also moved on around that time, with Tony (Bertie) Netto joining on keyboard and vocals prior to Freddie Fernandez joining the band on Netto's departure as the band's keyboard player and overall director of its musical direction.
Pereira survived many of the personnel changes and musical directions of the band in his time. He performed with them for 15 years until he left to pursue solo interests at the age of 33. Changes to the band's musical direction was only made possible largely because Pereira was a pillar of the group and a catalyst for cohesion and change within the band.
Balancing the egos of those that came and went was not easy although it came naturally to him. Never a bad word for anyone he knew regardless of their own sometimes uncomplimentary opinions of the man. He was unique as a person and more so as a musician.
The Revolvers grew in popularity for their carefully choreographed lively performances, tight three-part harmonies (relatively unknown at the time) selective well-rehearsed guitar instrumental breaks and their stage presence. Ronnie Pereira's ability to transform himself into any style of guitar player live on stage was a specific attraction to the band in those days. It was a quality that remained with him till his death in 2007.
The Revolvers were regulars in residence at the Glass Bubble in Jaya Puri Hotel, now known as Petaling Jaya Hilton and had another long-term residency at the Tin Mine at the old KL Hilton in the early 1970s. The Revolvers released three albums under the direction of Freddie Fernandez on their own label Beta Records.
In each of these, the character of Ronnie Periera was somewhat subdued and only subtle in its presence owing perhaps to poor and dated record production techniques.
Pereira was overshadowed by the enormous scope of Fernandez's commercial and musical ambitions within the band and perhaps outside of it. Pereira was always introverted and shy. Freddie was outgoing and self assured, equally talented with a greater nous for the business side of the industry. A great improvisor, Pereira had a knack for picking up tunes and improvising, something not terribly appreciated in the Malaysian music scene then.
Pereira was a family man and did not wish to venture into the unknown yet lucrative world of commercial music in an emergent Malaysia of the 1980s. He preferred the security and intimacy of the club circuit and a regular 9–5 job to go with it. Although very gifted with the guitar (self taught) he remained in the shadows of others and perhaps was his own obstacle to greater success.
Whilst some other members of the band went on to international acclaim in Australia like Tony Netto, the vocalist and keyboard player of the Revolvers during Ronnie's time, Pereira continued to play locally and hold down his full time job as a lab assistant at the La Salle school in Kelang till retirement. He is survived by his wife Jane and daughter Lesley, an only child.
Pereira died October 13, 2006 at 5:40 a.m. at the Klang General Hospital. He had been a diabetic for 11 years and succumbed to the effects of an infected wound that had not healed for two months. His brother Jude a Police Superinetendant and his sister Agie were by his side along with his wife Jane and daughter Lesley when he died. They were a close knit family. A well attended service publicised by Freddie Fernandez was held at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang. Ronnie was buried at the Meru Catholic cemetery in Klang.
He is survived by his wife Jane and daughter Leslie.
Malaysian "Carlos Santana" dies, The Star, October 14, 2006.