Sudirman Arshad
Encyclopedia
Dato' Sudirman Haji Arshad DIMP, JMN, AMN, AMP (25 May 1954 – 22 February 1992) was a Malaysian singer and songwriter
. He was known as the 'Singing Lawyer', the 'People's Singer' and the 'Elvis of Malaysia'.
, Pahang
as the youngest of seven children born to Hj Arshad Hassan and Ramlah Dahlan (the first stateswoman in Pahang during the 1950s). His passion for singing and entertaining started at a very young age, when his siblings and neighbors would happily let him entertain them.
Sudirman Arshad completed his secondary education in Sultan Abu Bakar School (SABS), Kuantan
. After turning down a scholarship to further his studies in medicine, he studied law instead and received his degree from the University of Malaya
. He was called to the bar and became a practising lawyer. He married Kamariah Jamaluddin in 1981, but divorced her three years later.
Best Singer (1976) to Muzik-Muzik TV3
Best Performer and Berita Harian Popularity contest
Most Popular Artist. He topped Malaysian, Brunei
and Indonesia
charts with songs such as "Merisik Khabar", "Milik Siapakah Gadis Ini" and "Salam Terakhir". Songwriters who have supported him in the past include S. Atan, Manan Ngah, Michael Veerapan and Syed Harun. Even today, his songs are popularly played especially during National Day and Eid Fitr.
Sudirman was also the first Malaysian singer to perform at The Paddock at the Hilton of Kuala Lumpur in 1983 and was the singing ambassador for companies such as Proton
, Malaysia Airlines
, Honda Cup and honored pioneer card member with Hong Leong Bank
. He was known for his versatility and sang Malay, Indian and Chinese songs with outstanding choreography. He was even known to have sketched the portrait of a fan while singing.
Local musicians who have played for him include Alex Boon, Jay Jay (singer guitarist), Hillary, Mac Chiew and Jenny Chin. Local women who have performed with him as his dancers (whom he refers to as "The Girls") include Joanne (Zainal Abidin's wife), supermodel Samantha Schubert and Linda Jasmine Hashim (now one of the leading dancing choreographer cum teacher in Malaysia's reality TV program show Akademi Fantasia).
Some Muslim fundamentalists and leftists detested his concert performances. Some even threatened and distributed warning pamphlets of "something would happen" during his Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
(UKM) Bangi
concert to deter people from attending. The concert was postponed following protests from the UKM students union body, its academic staff association and the dean of the Islamic Studies faculty and six other student bodies. This incident was captured by Zainuddin Maidin (then journalist, now former Minister of Information) in his book "The Other Side of Mahathir". He narrated that the then-Prime Minister had called a few ministers to his residence to review the situation as the issue reflected Malaysia's position in terms of modernization. The meeting led to the conclusion that the show had to be allowed to go on. Sudirman's fans turned up in force. He went about pleasing the crowd, crooning his hits. One campus resident said, "At last something alive has come here." The negativity surrounding the UKM incident was not long-lasting. The irony of it is that, a couple of years after Sudirman's death in 1992, UKM held a Sudirman karaoke competition.
Sudirman produced an album for his favourite nephew, Razman Azrai, under Sudirman Productions. Also known as Atai, he had a couple of hit songs that topped the charts in 1985.
In April 1983, Sudirman sang a song for the late Puan Sri Saloma
titled "Mama". When Sudirman approached her shortly before her death, Saloma didn't believe him that he wanted to make a song about her.
In 15 April 1986, Sudirman held an open air concert on Chow Kit Road
, which was the first time ever that a street concert drew a 100,000-strong crowd on a Monday night. It jammed the stretch of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
, Jalan Raja Muda to Jalan Raja Alang. Several fans fainted in the crowd, a few suffocated and were rushed to the hospital. A Malaysian English tabloid, The Star
, wrote that "Kuala Lumpur came to a standstill and it had nothing to do with the recession, but with one man, Malaysia's top entertainer, an electrifying performance and most memorable night".
Sudirman's songs topped the charts with every new album that he released. There was a time when his song "Merisik Khabar" climbed up to the #1 position for two months while his second song "Milik Siapa Gadis Ini" from the same album came in second and stayed at the top for a few weeks after "Merisik Khabar".
In 1989, Sudirman won the title "Best Performer" at the Asia Music Award 1989 contest at the Royal Albert Hall
, London
. There, Leslie Cheung
(Hong Kong), Anita Sarawak (Singapore), Epo
(Japan), Kuh Ledesma
(Philippines) and many other singers represented their respective countries.
As Sudirman was known by many as "Malaysia's No 1 Entertainer", he was chosen to perform for Malaysia's SEA Games closing ceremony in 1989 and many others such as the opening ceremony of Sepak Takraw competition, Merdeka, New Year and other national functions. In most cases, he would use his own money to ensure a successful concert.
Sudirman Arshad also had a strong fanbase in Singapore, as evidenced from a large turnout during his concert at the Kallang National Stadium
in August 1987. People came from all classes, races and ages. Kelvin Tan Look Siew, Director of Singapore Armed Forces Music & Drama company, said, "We wanted to bring down a prominent artist from the region and Sudirman's name automatically cropped up."
EMI London
took him on to work together with Stock, Aitken & Waterman (British producer trio who took on Kylie Minogue
, Jason Donovan
and Rick Astley
) for the world market with a song titled "Love will Find a Way". He was brought to The Beatles
famous Abbey Road Studios
and recorded the album, but died soon afterwards.
One of his books for children was recognized the best by Mobil-Mabopa, a Mobil
Oil book writing competition.
Moreover, he was also a journalist and columnist, who wrote on various serious issues. One journalist puts it, "It was quite difficult for us to concentrate on our job. The person sitting across the table during the meeting is a celebrity!" Those he interviewed include Tun Ghaffar Baba.
, which was released in 1982. It was about two destitute orphans who find each other amidst the Kuala Lumpur
street life. This film also spawned a track, "Pelangi Petang" (Malay meaning "Evening Rainbow"), which has been heralded as an iconic song by Malaysia's music industry.
(before it was taken over by Berjaya Group
in 1989).
to Hong Kong
featuring the drinks. Within six months, Sudi broke five per cent of the carbonated drink market. Later, Sudirman opened a franchise of Sudi Shoppe apparel and a Sudi restaurant.
He was Malaysia's first singer to be on the cover of Malaysian Business and Asian Business magazine. He had a business office atop the UBN Shangrila Tower and Sri Hartamas. He also served as Vice President of the Singers, Musicians and Composers Association of Malaysia (PAPITA).
, . He died at 4 a.m. on 22 February 1992 at the age of 37 in his sister’s (Datin Rudiah) house in Kuala Lumpur after 7 months suffering from pneumonia.
Hundreds took part in his funeral procession. First, his remains were sent to his hometown in Temerloh
, Pahang
. Later, he was laid to rest at Chengal Muslim Cemetery, Temerloh, near the graves of his parents.
Emmy, Grammy and Oscar nominated singer and songwriter Carol Connors
. He was referred to as the 'Singing Dynamite' by Singapore
an journalists. His singing brought him standing ovations in Australia
(in Sydney and Melbourne), Japan
, Kuwait
and the United States
(Hawaii
). Simon Napier-Bell
, the manager for George Michael
's band Wham!
, referred to Sudirman Arshad as the 'institution of Malaysian music industry'.
Sudirman's work was recognized by the industry when he was posthumously awarded an Anugerah Industri Muzik
award and a street was named after him in his hometown of Temerloh. PAPITA created an award especially categorized under his name, which to this date has yet to be won by anyone.
In the Malaysia Book of Records, Sudirman Arshad was given a posthumous award together with P Ramlee, Mokhtar Dahari
, Tun Ghafar Baba and Ramasamy Letchemanah (Mighty Man).
26 July 2010, The National Choir paid a tribute to the late entertainer by organizing a concert in conjunction with the KL Music Festival 2010 having 1,000 audience present.
However, Sudirman Arshad has somewhat been controversial. In April 2006, the Malaysian member of parliament from Sri Gading
, Datuk Mohamed Aziz, commented that he regarded Sudirman as a "mediocre singer" and that he "could not even take on the member of parliament himself."
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. He was known as the 'Singing Lawyer', the 'People's Singer' and the 'Elvis of Malaysia'.
Early life
Sudirman was born on 25 May 1954 in TemerlohTemerloh
Temerloh is a town in Central Pahang, Malaysia in Temerloh district. Located about from Kuala Lumpur along the Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur trunk road, Temerloh is the second largest town in Pahang after Kuantan. It is situated at the junction of the Pahang River and the Semantan River...
, Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
as the youngest of seven children born to Hj Arshad Hassan and Ramlah Dahlan (the first stateswoman in Pahang during the 1950s). His passion for singing and entertaining started at a very young age, when his siblings and neighbors would happily let him entertain them.
Sudirman Arshad completed his secondary education in Sultan Abu Bakar School (SABS), Kuantan
Sultan Abu Bakar School (SABS), Kuantan
Sultan Abu Bakar School is a secondary school situated in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. It is entitled as a Premier School by the Malaysian Ministry of Education due to its excellence in academic and co-curriculum....
. After turning down a scholarship to further his studies in medicine, he studied law instead and received his degree from the University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
. He was called to the bar and became a practising lawyer. He married Kamariah Jamaluddin in 1981, but divorced her three years later.
Music
Possessing of a clear piercing tenor with a surprising breadth of range and dynamic control especially at the extreme high end, Sudirman's voice was instantly recognizable every time one of his songs are played in local radio or television. His ability to act through his voice is evident from songs such as "Bercanda di Pasiran Pantai", a Latin-flavored duet with Anita Sarawak which displayed the sultry quality of his voice. His unique talents had helped him to win many local competitions from Bintang RTMRadio Televisyen Malaysia
The Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia, DBA Radio Televisyen Malaysia , is a Malaysian state-owned public broadcaster. It owns and operates a number of radio and television stations in Malaysia, based in Kuala Lumpur...
Best Singer (1976) to Muzik-Muzik TV3
TV3 (Malaysia)
Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad or TV3 began broadcasting on 1 June 1984 as Malaysia’s first commercial television station. It is part of Media Prima Berhad group of companies. It now transmits opened broadcasting business private 24-hours a day, 7 days a week since 1 January 2010...
Best Performer and Berita Harian Popularity contest
Berita Harian
Berita Harian is a major Malay language newspaper in Malaysia. Its Sunday Edition is called Berita Minggu. It was founded on 31 August 1957, which also marks the date of Malaya's independence...
Most Popular Artist. He topped Malaysian, Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
charts with songs such as "Merisik Khabar", "Milik Siapakah Gadis Ini" and "Salam Terakhir". Songwriters who have supported him in the past include S. Atan, Manan Ngah, Michael Veerapan and Syed Harun. Even today, his songs are popularly played especially during National Day and Eid Fitr.
Sudirman was also the first Malaysian singer to perform at The Paddock at the Hilton of Kuala Lumpur in 1983 and was the singing ambassador for companies such as Proton
Proton (company)
Proton is a Malaysian automobile manufacturer headquartered in Subang Jaya and Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, with a manufacturing plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak. Founded in 1983, it was Malaysia's only carmaker until the establishment of its competitor and arch-rival, Perodua, in 1993...
, Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
, Honda Cup and honored pioneer card member with Hong Leong Bank
Hong Leong Bank
Hong Leong Bank is a bank in Malaysia.Hong Leong Bank was founded by Mr LAM Ji Chiew and began its operations in 1905 in Kuching, Sarawak under the name of Kwong Lee Mortgage & Remittance Company. The company granted loans against the security of export commodities such as pepper, rubber and other...
. He was known for his versatility and sang Malay, Indian and Chinese songs with outstanding choreography. He was even known to have sketched the portrait of a fan while singing.
Local musicians who have played for him include Alex Boon, Jay Jay (singer guitarist), Hillary, Mac Chiew and Jenny Chin. Local women who have performed with him as his dancers (whom he refers to as "The Girls") include Joanne (Zainal Abidin's wife), supermodel Samantha Schubert and Linda Jasmine Hashim (now one of the leading dancing choreographer cum teacher in Malaysia's reality TV program show Akademi Fantasia).
Some Muslim fundamentalists and leftists detested his concert performances. Some even threatened and distributed warning pamphlets of "something would happen" during his Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The National University of Malaysia is a public university located in Bangi, Selangor which is about 35 km south of Kuala Lumpur...
(UKM) Bangi
Bangi
Bangi is a small town situated on the south of the district of Hulu Langat, in Selangor, Malaysia. It is roughly situated between the towns of Kajang and Putrajaya , and is linked to KTM Komuter commuter train services via the Bangi Komuter station...
concert to deter people from attending. The concert was postponed following protests from the UKM students union body, its academic staff association and the dean of the Islamic Studies faculty and six other student bodies. This incident was captured by Zainuddin Maidin (then journalist, now former Minister of Information) in his book "The Other Side of Mahathir". He narrated that the then-Prime Minister had called a few ministers to his residence to review the situation as the issue reflected Malaysia's position in terms of modernization. The meeting led to the conclusion that the show had to be allowed to go on. Sudirman's fans turned up in force. He went about pleasing the crowd, crooning his hits. One campus resident said, "At last something alive has come here." The negativity surrounding the UKM incident was not long-lasting. The irony of it is that, a couple of years after Sudirman's death in 1992, UKM held a Sudirman karaoke competition.
Sudirman produced an album for his favourite nephew, Razman Azrai, under Sudirman Productions. Also known as Atai, he had a couple of hit songs that topped the charts in 1985.
In April 1983, Sudirman sang a song for the late Puan Sri Saloma
Salmah Ismail
Puan Sri Datin Amar Salmah binti Ismail,AMN or better known as Saloma was a Malaysian film actress and singer. She was the third wife of the film actor, director, singer, and songwriter Tan Sri P. Ramlee.-Biography:...
titled "Mama". When Sudirman approached her shortly before her death, Saloma didn't believe him that he wanted to make a song about her.
In 15 April 1986, Sudirman held an open air concert on Chow Kit Road
Chow Kit
Chow Kit is a sub-district in central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is located around Jalan Chow Kit and is enclosed by the parallel streets of Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. It is named after the tin miner and municipal councillor Loke Chow Kit. Today the area features a large...
, which was the first time ever that a street concert drew a 100,000-strong crowd on a Monday night. It jammed the stretch of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is the famous road and streets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This road is named after the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman.-Attractions:...
, Jalan Raja Muda to Jalan Raja Alang. Several fans fainted in the crowd, a few suffocated and were rushed to the hospital. A Malaysian English tabloid, The Star
The Star (Malaysia)
The Star is an English-language, tabloid-format newspaper in Malaysia. It is the largest in terms of circulation in Malaysia, according to the . It has a daily circulation of between 290,000 to 300,000...
, wrote that "Kuala Lumpur came to a standstill and it had nothing to do with the recession, but with one man, Malaysia's top entertainer, an electrifying performance and most memorable night".
Sudirman's songs topped the charts with every new album that he released. There was a time when his song "Merisik Khabar" climbed up to the #1 position for two months while his second song "Milik Siapa Gadis Ini" from the same album came in second and stayed at the top for a few weeks after "Merisik Khabar".
In 1989, Sudirman won the title "Best Performer" at the Asia Music Award 1989 contest at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. There, Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing , nicknamed elder brother , was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "one of the founding fathers of Cantopop", and "combining a hugely successful film and music career".In 2000, Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central...
(Hong Kong), Anita Sarawak (Singapore), Epo
EPO
-Organizations:*EPO Gaming An Entertainment Poker Company based out of Austin, TX*EPO , a Belgian publishing company*European Patent Organisation or its main organ the European Patent Office, a public international organisation...
(Japan), Kuh Ledesma
Kuh Ledesma
Kuh Ledesma is a popular Filipino pop and jazz singer. She is known in the Philippines as the "Pop Diva". Kuh Ledesma has been performing for 25 years in the music industry which encompasses more than 300 concerts, numerous awards in the Philippines, and 18 albums in the Philippine recording...
(Philippines) and many other singers represented their respective countries.
As Sudirman was known by many as "Malaysia's No 1 Entertainer", he was chosen to perform for Malaysia's SEA Games closing ceremony in 1989 and many others such as the opening ceremony of Sepak Takraw competition, Merdeka, New Year and other national functions. In most cases, he would use his own money to ensure a successful concert.
Sudirman Arshad also had a strong fanbase in Singapore, as evidenced from a large turnout during his concert at the Kallang National Stadium
National Stadium, Singapore
The Singapore National Stadium was located in Kallang. Opened in July 1973, the National Stadium was officially closed on 30 June 2007 and has demolished to make way for the Singapore Sports Hub and New Singapore National Stadium which is expected to open in 2014.The stadium has played host to...
in August 1987. People came from all classes, races and ages. Kelvin Tan Look Siew, Director of Singapore Armed Forces Music & Drama company, said, "We wanted to bring down a prominent artist from the region and Sudirman's name automatically cropped up."
EMI London
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
took him on to work together with Stock, Aitken & Waterman (British producer trio who took on Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
, Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
and Rick Astley
Rick Astley
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
) for the world market with a song titled "Love will Find a Way". He was brought to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
famous Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
and recorded the album, but died soon afterwards.
Literature
Sudirman Arshad wrote his autobiography Dari Dalam Sudir in addition to some cartoons and weekly columns for magazines and some local newspapers such as Karangkraf.One of his books for children was recognized the best by Mobil-Mabopa, a Mobil
Mobil
Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
Oil book writing competition.
Moreover, he was also a journalist and columnist, who wrote on various serious issues. One journalist puts it, "It was quite difficult for us to concentrate on our job. The person sitting across the table during the meeting is a celebrity!" Those he interviewed include Tun Ghaffar Baba.
Acting
Besides singing and writing, Sudirman also acted in a film called KamiKami (film)
Kami is a 1982 Malaysian drama film. It is notable as being the only feature film featuring Sudirman Haji Arshad, a successful Malay singer dubbed the "Singing Lawyer" as he was a law graduate from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur...
, which was released in 1982. It was about two destitute orphans who find each other amidst the Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
street life. This film also spawned a track, "Pelangi Petang" (Malay meaning "Evening Rainbow"), which has been heralded as an iconic song by Malaysia's music industry.
Television
Sudirman also successfully hosted Malaysia's TV gameshow "Keluarga Bahagia Singer". This program was sponsored by SINGER Malaysia,a subsidiary of Singer CorporationSinger Corporation
Singer Corporation is a manufacturer of sewing machines, first established as I.M. Singer & Co. in 1851 by Isaac Merritt Singer with New York lawyer Edward Clark. Best known for its sewing machines, it was renamed Singer Manufacturing Company in 1865, then The Singer Company in 1963. It is...
(before it was taken over by Berjaya Group
Berjaya Group
-Corporate Profile:The Berjaya Corporation group of companies’ history dates back to 1984 when the Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun acquired a major controlling stake in Berjaya Industrial Berhad from the founders, Broken Hill Proprietary Ltd, Australia and National Iron & Steel...
in 1989).
Charity work
Sudirman vwas also well known for his charity work with which he helped invite veteran artists in the slots of his singing shows aside from giving them generous donations. Money charity for mosques and people in need was something he would do willingly. During his life, he had also adopted and brought up an Indian boy from a poor family and he would actively seek charity work through the PAPITA (Malaysian Singer Association).Business
Moreover, Sudirman Arshad also became Malaysia's first successful singer entrepreneur promoting Malaysia's most famous carbonated drink Sudi with business magazines and TV programs from AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
featuring the drinks. Within six months, Sudi broke five per cent of the carbonated drink market. Later, Sudirman opened a franchise of Sudi Shoppe apparel and a Sudi restaurant.
He was Malaysia's first singer to be on the cover of Malaysian Business and Asian Business magazine. He had a business office atop the UBN Shangrila Tower and Sri Hartamas. He also served as Vice President of the Singers, Musicians and Composers Association of Malaysia (PAPITA).
Death
On 17th July 1991, Sudirman was admitted to Pusat Perubatan Tawakkal Kuala Lumpur (ICU) for 4 days. It was reported that he collapsed while singing at ButterworthButterworth, Penang
Butterworth is the principal town of Seberang Perai in the state of Penang in Malaysia. Named after William John Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements , Butterworth was established in the mid-19th century as a landing place across the channel from the capital of Penang, George Town...
, . He died at 4 a.m. on 22 February 1992 at the age of 37 in his sister’s (Datin Rudiah) house in Kuala Lumpur after 7 months suffering from pneumonia.
Hundreds took part in his funeral procession. First, his remains were sent to his hometown in Temerloh
Temerloh
Temerloh is a town in Central Pahang, Malaysia in Temerloh district. Located about from Kuala Lumpur along the Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur trunk road, Temerloh is the second largest town in Pahang after Kuantan. It is situated at the junction of the Pahang River and the Semantan River...
, Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
. Later, he was laid to rest at Chengal Muslim Cemetery, Temerloh, near the graves of his parents.
Legacy
Sudirman Arshad was named 'Malaysia's Singing Ambassador' by the Malaysia Tourism Development Board (MTDC). He was the voice behind the MTDC (Malaysian Tourism Development Corp) tune, To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia which was composed by AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Emmy, Grammy and Oscar nominated singer and songwriter Carol Connors
Carol Connors (singer)
Carol Connors is a retired American singer-songwriter. She is perhaps best known as the lead vocalist on The Teddy Bears' single, "To Know Him Is To Love Him", which was written by her bandmate Phil Spector.-Biography:She was the lead singer of the pop vocal trio known as The Teddy Bears, which...
. He was referred to as the 'Singing Dynamite' by Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an journalists. His singing brought him standing ovations in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(in Sydney and Melbourne), Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
). Simon Napier-Bell
Simon Napier-Bell
Simon Napier-Bell has undertaken many jobs in the music industry, including bandboy, manager, producer, songwriter, journalist and author and gourmet...
, the manager for George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
's band Wham!
WHAM!
Wham! were a short-lived British musical duo formed by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in the early 1980s. They were briefly known in the United States as Wham! UK due to a naming conflict with an American band....
, referred to Sudirman Arshad as the 'institution of Malaysian music industry'.
Sudirman's work was recognized by the industry when he was posthumously awarded an Anugerah Industri Muzik
Anugerah Industri Muzik
Anugerah Industri Muzik , is Malaysia's music award-giving ceremony. It is the Malaysia's equivalent of Grammy.-Best Album:-Best Song:...
award and a street was named after him in his hometown of Temerloh. PAPITA created an award especially categorized under his name, which to this date has yet to be won by anyone.
In the Malaysia Book of Records, Sudirman Arshad was given a posthumous award together with P Ramlee, Mokhtar Dahari
Mokhtar Dahari
Allahyarham Dato' Mokhtar Dahari was a Malaysian Association football player from Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. He was one of the best players in Asia in the 1970s and is known as the best Malaysian footballer during that time, a legend in Malaysian football...
, Tun Ghafar Baba and Ramasamy Letchemanah (Mighty Man).
26 July 2010, The National Choir paid a tribute to the late entertainer by organizing a concert in conjunction with the KL Music Festival 2010 having 1,000 audience present.
However, Sudirman Arshad has somewhat been controversial. In April 2006, the Malaysian member of parliament from Sri Gading
Sri Gading
Sri Gading is a town as well as parliamentary constituency in Johor, Malaysia, located in the district of Batu Pahat, along Jalan Kluang - Batu Pahat . It lies south-east of Batu Pahat town, north-west of Ayer Hitam and west of Yong Peng.-Origin of name:The name Seri Gading means 'The Gorgeous...
, Datuk Mohamed Aziz, commented that he regarded Sudirman as a "mediocre singer" and that he "could not even take on the member of parliament himself."
Awards
- Penghibur TV Terbaik, Anugerah Seri Angkasa, RTM 1978
- "Malaysia's Singing Ambassador" MTDC 1985 ("To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia")
- Persembahan Terbaik Anugerah Juara LaguAnugerah Juara LaguAnugerah Juara Lagu is a popular annual music competition in Malaysia, organized by TV3. It features the best musical and lyrical compositions of each year it is held...
TV3TV3 (Malaysia)Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad or TV3 began broadcasting on 1 June 1984 as Malaysia’s first commercial television station. It is part of Media Prima Berhad group of companies. It now transmits opened broadcasting business private 24-hours a day, 7 days a week since 1 January 2010...
,1987 - Ahli Mangku Negara by Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang di-Pertuan AgongThe Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
1988 - Penyanyi Lelaki Popular, Anugerah Bintang PopularAnugerah Bintang PopularAnugerah Bintang Popular which is originally called as Anugerah Pelakon/Penyanyi Popular, is an award presented annually by Berita Harian of Malaysia to recognize excellence of professionals in the entertainment industry, including the film industry, as well as record industry...
Berita Harian 1989 - Asia's Number One Performer 1989. Salem Music Award London
- Malaysia Guinness Awards
- Ahli Mahkota Pahang by Sultan of PahangSultan of PahangSultan of Pahang is the title of the constitutional head of Pahang, Malaysia. The current sultan is Ahmad Shah. He is the Head of the Islam in the state and the source of all titles, honours and dignities in the state.-History:...
,1990 - Johan Mangku Negara by Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang di-Pertuan AgongThe Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
,1992 - No. 1 Malaysian singer (from New Straits TimesNew Straits TimesThe New Straits Times is an English-language newspaper published in Malaysia. It is Malaysia's oldest newspaper still in print , having been founded as The Straits Times in 1845, and was reestablished as the "New Straits Times" in 1965. The paper served as Malaysia's only broadsheet format English...
) - Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP),carrying the posthumous title of 'Datuk' by Sultan of PahangSultan of PahangSultan of Pahang is the title of the constitutional head of Pahang, Malaysia. The current sultan is Ahmad Shah. He is the Head of the Islam in the state and the source of all titles, honours and dignities in the state.-History:...
,2009
Studio albums
- Teriring Doa (1977)
- Aku Penghiburmu (1978)
- Perasaan (1979)
- Anak Muda (1980)
- Lagu Anak Desa (1980)
- Lagu Dari Kota (1981)
- Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star (1981)
- Lagu Cinta (1982)
- Abadi (1982)
- Images (1983)
- Orang Baru (1984)
- Lagu Dari Sebuah Bilik (1984)
- Kul It (1986)
- Orang Kampung (1986)
- Asia’s No. 1 Performer (1989)
- Salam Terakhir (1992)
- Sudirman - Jauh Di Sudut Hati (1992)
- Sudirman - Balik Kampung (1993)
- Sudirman - Setelah Kau Tiada (1995)
Compilation albums
- Koleksi 16 Lagu-lagu Terbaik (1986)
- Pilihan Sentimental Emas (1987)
- Lagu-Lagu Rakyat (1989)
- Koleksi Klasik (1991)
- Sudirman - DwiDekad (1996)
- Nilai Cintamu (2000)
- Sudirman - 24 Greatest Hits
- Sudirman No.1 (2002)
- Sudirman Penghibur No.1 (2002)
- Sudirman II 40 No.1 Dalam 1 (2003)
- Memori Hit Sudirman (2004)
- Sudirman - Memori Sentimental Hit (2005)
- Sudirman -Dwi Intan
- Sudirman - Timeless (2006)
- Koleksi Emas Aidilfitri
- Alunan Sukma Sudirman & Sharifah Aini
- Memori Hit Melayu Deli
See also
- TemerlohTemerlohTemerloh is a town in Central Pahang, Malaysia in Temerloh district. Located about from Kuala Lumpur along the Kuantan-Kuala Lumpur trunk road, Temerloh is the second largest town in Pahang after Kuantan. It is situated at the junction of the Pahang River and the Semantan River...
- PahangPahangPahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...