WE have just lost Etta James, one of the first ladies of soul. Read all about her from Wikipedia.
Etta James Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012) was an American singer whose style spanned a variety of music genres including blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and jazz. Starting her career in the mid 1950s, she gained fame with hits such as Dance With Me, Henry, At Last, Tell Mama and I'd Rather Go Blind. She faced a number of personal problems including drug addiction before making a musical resurgence in the late 1980s with the album The Seven Year Itch.
She is regarded as having bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and is the winner of six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2001 and the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1999 and 2008. Rolling Stone ranked James number 22 on its list of the 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time and number 62 on the list of the 100 Greatest Artistes.
Born in Los Angeles to an African-American mother and a British-American father, James never knew her absentee father's identity. She received professional vocal training at five from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes Of Eden Choir at the St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. She soon formed a girl group The Creolettes and met musician Johnny Otis who became their mentor. As lead singer she recorded Dance With Me, Henry in 1950. James eventually left the group (which was renamed The Peaches after a name change suggested by Otis). As a solo artiste, James had an R&B hit Good Rockin' Daddy and began a relationship with singer Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows. One of her childhood friends BB King dedicated the song Sweet Sixteen to her. From the 1960s to 1970s she had major hits as If I Can't Have You, Spoonful, All I Could Do Was Cry and My Dearest Darling. She also sang background vocals on Chuck Berry's Back In The USA. Her debut album At Last was released in 1960 and included the title track, I Just Want To Make Love To You and A Sunday Kind Of Love. In the same year she released the album A Second Time which contained The Fool That I Am and Don't Cry Baby. In 1961 she released the hit single Something's Got A Hold On Me and Stop The Wedding. In 1963 came the hit single Pushover and the album Etta James Rocks The House. In 1967 she released the hit single Tell Mama and I'd Rather Go Blind. In the 1970s came Losers Whispers, I Found Love and Out On The Street Again. In 1989, James released the albums Seven Year Itch and Stickin' To My Guns. She also had a duet with hip-hop singer Def Jef titled Droppin' Rhymes On Drums. In 1992, she released the album The Right Time and in 1993 came the Billie Holiday tribute album Mystery Lady: Songs Of Billie Holiday. The latter album won James her first Grammy for best jazz vocal performance in 1994. In 1995, she released her autobiography A Rage To Survive and recorded the album Time After Time. In 1998 came the album Etta James Christmas. In 2000, she launched the blues album Matriarch Of The Blues. In 2008, Beyonce Knowles played James in the film Cadillac Records. James' final television performance was in 2009 in Dancing With The Stars. She sang At Last. James is survived by her husband Artis Mills whom she married in 1969. They have two sons Donto and Sametto who performed with her in some concerts.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Izwan Pilus - A Rising Star Dead In His Prime
It is shocking and saddening that Melakan actor, singer and TV personality Izwan Pilus has passed away today of a lung infection at only 34.
A winner of Bintang RTM (Stars Of RTM talent search) and its subsequent host, he was the elder brother of Astro TV personality and Akademi Fantasia 7 (Astro reality talent show) runner-up Aril Pilus.
RIP Izwan. U will be missed.
A winner of Bintang RTM (Stars Of RTM talent search) and its subsequent host, he was the elder brother of Astro TV personality and Akademi Fantasia 7 (Astro reality talent show) runner-up Aril Pilus.
RIP Izwan. U will be missed.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Bye Ricky And Joe! You Will Be Missed!
Boxing and Hong Kong entertainment lost two major icons this week - Joe Frazier and Ricky Hui.
Read all about them here. From Wikipedia.
JOE FRAZIER
Joseph William Frazier, (January 12, 1944 - November 7, 2011) was a former Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a brief comeback in 1981.
Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating the likes of Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali on points in the highly-anticipated Fight of the Century in 1971.
Two years later Frazier lost his title when he was knocked out by George Foreman. He fought on, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali, and beating Quarry and Ellis again.
Frazier's last world title challenge came in 1975, but he was beaten by Ali in their brutal rubbermatch. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. He made a comeback in 1981, fighting just once, before retiring for good.
The International Boxing Research Organisation (IBRO) rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. He is an inductee of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
After retiring Frazier made cameo appearances in several Hollywood movies, and two episodes of The Simpsons.
His son Marvis became a boxer - trained by Frazier himself - although was unable to emulate his father's success.
Frazier continued to train fighters in his gym in Philadelphia. His later years saw the continuation of his bitter rivalry with Ali, in which the two periodically exchange insults, interspersed with brief reconciliations.
Frazier died of cancer on November 7, 2011.
He hailed from Beaufort in South Carolina.
RICKY HUI
Ricky Hui Koon Ying (August 3, 1946 - November 8, 2011), who died of a heart ailment last Tuesday, will always be remembered as a gifted comedian from Hong Kong.
He was one third of the iconic Hui Brothers who also included comedian, producer and director Michael and singer, composer, lyricist and producer Samuel Hui.
Ricky was born in Guangdong and migrated to Hong Kong in 1950. His father was a violinist. In 1972, he joined Shaw Brothers productions as an actor and his early films included The Lizard, The Sugar Daddies and Hong Kong 73.
He later appeared with his brothers in The Private Eyes (1976). Other notable films he starred in were Games People Play (1979), The Contract (1978) [with his brothers], From Riches To Rags (1979) [directed by John Woo], Chicken And Duck Talk (1988) [with his brothers] and The Magic Touch (1992).
Ricky was also a talented singer who released 7 albums.
Read all about them here. From Wikipedia.
JOE FRAZIER
Joseph William Frazier, (January 12, 1944 - November 7, 2011) was a former Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a brief comeback in 1981.
Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating the likes of Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali on points in the highly-anticipated Fight of the Century in 1971.
Two years later Frazier lost his title when he was knocked out by George Foreman. He fought on, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali, and beating Quarry and Ellis again.
Frazier's last world title challenge came in 1975, but he was beaten by Ali in their brutal rubbermatch. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. He made a comeback in 1981, fighting just once, before retiring for good.
The International Boxing Research Organisation (IBRO) rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. He is an inductee of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
After retiring Frazier made cameo appearances in several Hollywood movies, and two episodes of The Simpsons.
His son Marvis became a boxer - trained by Frazier himself - although was unable to emulate his father's success.
Frazier continued to train fighters in his gym in Philadelphia. His later years saw the continuation of his bitter rivalry with Ali, in which the two periodically exchange insults, interspersed with brief reconciliations.
Frazier died of cancer on November 7, 2011.
He hailed from Beaufort in South Carolina.
RICKY HUI
Ricky Hui Koon Ying (August 3, 1946 - November 8, 2011), who died of a heart ailment last Tuesday, will always be remembered as a gifted comedian from Hong Kong.
He was one third of the iconic Hui Brothers who also included comedian, producer and director Michael and singer, composer, lyricist and producer Samuel Hui.
Ricky was born in Guangdong and migrated to Hong Kong in 1950. His father was a violinist. In 1972, he joined Shaw Brothers productions as an actor and his early films included The Lizard, The Sugar Daddies and Hong Kong 73.
He later appeared with his brothers in The Private Eyes (1976). Other notable films he starred in were Games People Play (1979), The Contract (1978) [with his brothers], From Riches To Rags (1979) [directed by John Woo], Chicken And Duck Talk (1988) [with his brothers] and The Magic Touch (1992).
Ricky was also a talented singer who released 7 albums.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Farewell Mr Jobs. You Will Go Down In History As A Modern Day Al-Ghazali.
RIP Steve Jobs. You will go down in history as a modern day Al-Ghazali, Rumi, Ibnu Sina, Ibnu Rushd, Ibnu Khaldun, Ibnu Haytham and Al-Razi.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Azizi Abdullah - Prolific Novelist
Thanks, New Straits Times.
Novelist Azizi Abdullah, who passed away of a long illness at 69 on August 11, 2011, will always be remembered as a prolific writer of the Malay language.
The author from Kulim, Kedah is best remembered for penning the Malay novel Seorang Tua Di Kaki Gunung (The Old Man By The Hill) which was a brutally honest critique of the rural-urban divide in the country. The novel was also made into a mini series starring veteran actor Tamam Idris in the 1980s. It was also made into a Form Five text 20 years ago.
Novelist Azizi Abdullah, who passed away of a long illness at 69 on August 11, 2011, will always be remembered as a prolific writer of the Malay language.
The author from Kulim, Kedah is best remembered for penning the Malay novel Seorang Tua Di Kaki Gunung (The Old Man By The Hill) which was a brutally honest critique of the rural-urban divide in the country. The novel was also made into a mini series starring veteran actor Tamam Idris in the 1980s. It was also made into a Form Five text 20 years ago.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
About Klang.
From Wikipedia.
Klang is the royal town and former capital of Selangor.
It is the namesake of the Klang Valley (the metropolitan area of Kuala Lumpur) and the Klang River which separates Klang town into north and south sections.
Klang is also the main port of Malaysia.
Klang borders Shah Alam to the east, Kuala Selangor to the north, the Straits of Melaka to the west and Banting (Kuala Langat) to the south.
Klang was one of Malaysia's earliest tin mining regions.
In 1880 it was replaced as capital of Selangor by Kuala Lumpur.
Klang is home to several museums and the famous fishing island Pulau Ketam. Its famous cusine includes Bak Kut Teh (pork ribs soup) and Chee Cheong Fun (fettucini-like noodles coated in mushroom sauce and sprinkled with fried shallots) and Cendol (green rice noodles soaked in a coconut milk and brown sugar soup).
Famous personalities from Klang include former Cabinet Ministers Datuk Seri Harun Idris and Tengku Adnan Mansor, singers Ahmad Jais, Azri Abdullah, Ellyana Emrizal and Guy Sebastian, actors Norlia Ghani, Hamid Gurkha, Rusdi Ramli and Eja, entertainment journalist Joe Lee and businessman Datuk Jason Goh.
Klang is the royal town and former capital of Selangor.
It is the namesake of the Klang Valley (the metropolitan area of Kuala Lumpur) and the Klang River which separates Klang town into north and south sections.
Klang is also the main port of Malaysia.
Klang borders Shah Alam to the east, Kuala Selangor to the north, the Straits of Melaka to the west and Banting (Kuala Langat) to the south.
Klang was one of Malaysia's earliest tin mining regions.
In 1880 it was replaced as capital of Selangor by Kuala Lumpur.
Klang is home to several museums and the famous fishing island Pulau Ketam. Its famous cusine includes Bak Kut Teh (pork ribs soup) and Chee Cheong Fun (fettucini-like noodles coated in mushroom sauce and sprinkled with fried shallots) and Cendol (green rice noodles soaked in a coconut milk and brown sugar soup).
Famous personalities from Klang include former Cabinet Ministers Datuk Seri Harun Idris and Tengku Adnan Mansor, singers Ahmad Jais, Azri Abdullah, Ellyana Emrizal and Guy Sebastian, actors Norlia Ghani, Hamid Gurkha, Rusdi Ramli and Eja, entertainment journalist Joe Lee and businessman Datuk Jason Goh.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Shammi Kapoor - Bollywood Idol.
From Wikipedia.
Shammi Kapoor, who passed away on Aug 14, 2011 will always be remembered as one of the screen gods of Bollywood.
The Punjabi actor and director was an icon of Hindi language cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Born in Mumbai on Oct 21, 1931, he debuted in Bollywood in 1953 with the film Jeevan Jyoti, and went on to deliver hits like Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Junglee, Dil Tera Diwana, Professor, China Town, Rajkumar, Kashmir Ki Kali, Janwar, Teesri Manzil, An Evening In Paris, Bramhachari, Andaz and Vidhaata.
He received the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1968 for his performance in Brahmachari and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Vidhaata in 1982.
Shammi was the second of the three sons born to Prithviraj Kapoor (the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor), both successful Bollywood actors.
Though born in Mumbai, he spent a major portion of his childhood in Kolkata, where his father was involved with New Theatres Studios, acting in films.
Shammi was married twice.
His first wife was Geeta Bali (a Punjabi actress) whom he wed in 1955. They had two children. She died in 1965 of smallpox.
In 1969, he wed Neela Devi of Gujarat.
Shammi was also a businessman and the founder of the Internet Users Community Of India.
Shammi Kapoor, who passed away on Aug 14, 2011 will always be remembered as one of the screen gods of Bollywood.
The Punjabi actor and director was an icon of Hindi language cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Born in Mumbai on Oct 21, 1931, he debuted in Bollywood in 1953 with the film Jeevan Jyoti, and went on to deliver hits like Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Junglee, Dil Tera Diwana, Professor, China Town, Rajkumar, Kashmir Ki Kali, Janwar, Teesri Manzil, An Evening In Paris, Bramhachari, Andaz and Vidhaata.
He received the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1968 for his performance in Brahmachari and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Vidhaata in 1982.
Shammi was the second of the three sons born to Prithviraj Kapoor (the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor), both successful Bollywood actors.
Though born in Mumbai, he spent a major portion of his childhood in Kolkata, where his father was involved with New Theatres Studios, acting in films.
Shammi was married twice.
His first wife was Geeta Bali (a Punjabi actress) whom he wed in 1955. They had two children. She died in 1965 of smallpox.
In 1969, he wed Neela Devi of Gujarat.
Shammi was also a businessman and the founder of the Internet Users Community Of India.
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