Ismail Haron: Vigilantes, Guys, Anita (Part II)

Monday, September 6, 2010

Part Two:

In 1970, Ismail Haron went solo with his first EP under EMI titled Kehilangan Chinta (Without Love). As the year progressed, he took a break from recording and for a few months did live shows in Hong Kong.

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By this time, he was under the management of Quill Organisation. They decided to form a group and had Roland and Eddie from The Guys, saxophone player Andrew Oh from Pink and Purple, John Choo with keyboard, saxaphone and percussionist Philip Koh from The Blackjacks.

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They were even spotted by Robert Stigwood who was manager of Bee Gees and ex-Cream. They played in Bangkok at Montieth and at Udon Thani further North. Udon was a US base and they were playing in clubs for US soldiers and officers.When they came back to Singapore, they continued playing the clubs in 1971 and 1972. The band changed members again a few times.

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Finally the group broke up but Ismail continued to record a few more solo albums: Ismail Haron & Maria (1972), Ilham Pujangga (1972), Ismail Haron (1972), Antara Pujangga Dan Insan Biasa (1973), Sutra Mulia (1974), Hulurkan Tangan (1975) and Potret Sindiran (1975).

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Among his popular hits within this period were Dendam-ku Kerana Maria (I Did What I Did For Maria), Antara Anak Dan Ayah (My Boy), Tolong Damai-kan (Mammy Blue), Ilham Pujangga, Wati, Persembahan-ku, Hey Hey Sunny, Junainah, Kehilangan Chinta and Apa Khabar Sayang (Hello Darling). Again the songs were English hits with Malay lyrics, a trend that put local artistes in the popularity charts.

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Between 1972 and 1976, Ismail Haron recorded a few duets with diva Anita Sarawak. The songs included Kesah Dol Di-Suatu Petang, Rahsia Mu Rahsia Ku (Sealed With A Kiss), Wanita Dan Pakaian and Pemain Piano on EMI/S-EGEP 750. Also, Alam Terpuja (You Make Me Feel Brand New), Janji Tetap Janji (My Girl), Gabus Tarbus (House Of Bamboo), Rahsia Di-Ayer Jerneh and Menunggu Nasi Minyak.

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Another EP had: Keluarga Bahagia, Tiada Jodoh, Asmara and even La Aube, the Kassim Selamat greatest hit on (EIM/S-EGEP. 781). Music compositions for EMI recordings were usually by Reggie Verghese.

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Many thanks to the writer who provided this very extensive article on Ismail Haron's music career and vinyl recordings.

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Image/Vinyl Info/Edits: Andy Lim.

Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail_Haron

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Ismail Haron Queenstown Secondary Technical

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Part One:

Ismail Haron (image - 2nd left), from Queenstown Secondary Technical School, had been singing in front of his school mates during morning assembly since he was 7 or 8. Later on in years, the first instrumental group he joined was The Valiants.

Then with his school friends he formed another group called, The Vigilantes to record their first EP under the Eagle label, with Malay songs adapted from English hits. These were Senyuman Terakhir (Green Green Grass Of Home), Pulang Pada-Ku, Mari Sayang (Hang On Sloopy) and Mari Menari (La Bamba).

As their popularity progressed, The Vigilantes cut a 1968 album called, Jangan Marah Lili containing the hit Enam Belas Lilin (Sixteen Candles) which remained in the Malaysian Pop Charts for 15 consecutive weeks.

The Vigilantes had also recorded an Eagle Records EP (TK 1017 - image) that included, Till We Meet Again, I Fell Into A Trance, Love In Bloom and Reminiscence. Another EP that Haron recorded under Panda in 1968 had: Impian Suchi, Tangisan Hati, Gadis Peladang and Mengusek Mambang.

Due to a new mix in the band line-up and a differing style in their music presentation, the group decided a name change and called themselves, The Guys. By then the band and Ismail Haron had secured a contract with EMI. In 1968, The Guys recorded an EP containing Ribin Biru (Pretty Ribbon), Ku Ta'kan Jatoh Chinta Lagi (I'll Never Fall In Love Again), Tunggu-lah Puan (Keep On Runnin') and Delailah (Delilah).

Because of his voice and the songs he sang, Ismail was labelled, Singapore's Tom Jones, but he said his main inspiration were the African-American singers and especially admired James Brown. In fact he was the first singer in Singapore to perform Brown's songs.

In the same year and in early 1969, he had more EMI/EP hits (EGEP: 667) with, Sembilan Bulan Ku Nanti-Kan, (The Way It Used To Be), Kenangan Manis Di-Kuala Lumpur (Call On Me), Bersedia (Get Ready), Bebas-kan Daku (You Keep Me Hanging On) and another, Sudi Sudi-kah Dikau? (Gimme Gimme Good Lovin') and Ku Tiada Minta Lahir Ka-Dunia (The Music Played).

But 1969 witnessed the end of The Guys' recording career and their final work being put up was for another artiste, Eddie Ahmad, with Khayalan (The Fool On The Hill), Rintehan, "Chipta'an-Ku and Hanya Mimpi". Ismail Haron also recorded four English songs with The Guys in one EMI/EP with My Elusive Dreams, The Rose, A Minute Of Your Time and Hungry For Love.

Image/Edited Information: Andy Lim Collection.
Information: Wikipedia.

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