SITI FAIRUZ COULDN'T BELIEVE RECEIVING A PHONE CALL FROM AHMAD NAWAB

Entertainment
Malaysian Entertainment News In 70s, 80s and 90s


Siti Fairuz
...when I miss you, I'll call your name

SINGER Siti Fairuz revealed how she became a popular recording artiste and leading singer in the 80s. Speaking to Radio Klasik, an RTM (Malaysian radio and television broadcasting agency) radio station, it was Ahmad Nawab, a veteran composer who identified her talent.

A charming girl from Kuantan, Pahang

Her full name, Siti Fairuz Sheikh Mohamed Sheikh Ali, now 55, was very young at that time, stayed together with her parents and other family members in Kuantan, Pahang. Active in singing, she was then selected as one of a few singers to represent Pahang RTM to perform at Angkasapuri, the RTM main station in Kuala Lumpur. Upon completion of the performance, she went back to her hometown, Kuantan.

Siti Fairuz
...don't ask again
A phone call from Ahmad Nawab

After a few days, while Siti Fairuz was helping her mother cooking at the kitchen, the telephone was ringing. When Siti picked up the phone, the caller introduced himself as Ahmad Nawab and would like to speak to Siti Fairuz.

Ahmad Nawab
...a sensitive composer

Ahmad Nawab later expressed his intention to discuss with Siti on the possibility of offering her as his Nawab Productions' recording artiste. Nawab also said that he was impressed with Siti Fairuz's voice and performance during the show at Angkasapuri.

Curious

Siti Fairuz was really surprised. She started thinking that she was nobody to be contacted by Malaysian number one composer. Everybody knew that Ahmad Nawab was a prominent composer and many singers were going after him for his compositions. Moreover, Ahmad Nawab had not only composed songs for international class singers like Broery Marantika and Dato Shake, his works "Sabar Menanti" was also translated to English entitled "My Morning Star" recorded by Asia's Best Performer, Sudirman.

Ahmad Nawab
...a target of many singers,
responsible for Siti Fairuz's success
Starmaker

The Star, a leading English newspaper in Malaysia, in an exclusive interview, described Ahmad Nawab as a "starmaker" in 1987.

Replying to the proposal, Siti Fairuz told the caller that she didn't believe that he was the real Ahmad Nawab and suspected that he was trying to make fun of it. It took several times for Ahmad Nawab to convince Siti that he was the real Ahmad Nawab until Siti Fairuz completely believed that she was speaking to the highly respected musician and album producer.

Siti Fairuz
...making a comeback after 20 years

That's where it started and Siti Fairuz almost immediately became one of the most popular female singers in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore.

Ahmad Nawab was the man behind the scene, the starmaker that guided, trained and groomed Siti Fairuz.

Two Siti Fairuz's most popular songs, "Usah Bertanya Lagi" (Don't Ask Again), marketed in 1985 and "Bila Rindu Ku Sebut Nama Mu" (When I Miss You, I'll Mention Your Name), recorded and marketed in 1987 are still played by local radio stations until today. Both songs were composed by Ahmad Nawab, lyrics written by the late Juwie.

Siti Fairuz and 5 children
...a single parent

The magic return of Siti Fairuz

Siti Fairuz quit singing amid her highest level of popularity after marrying a man of her choice, Mohd Zainuddin Kordi in 1988. The mother of five children made a comeback after they officially divorced in 2008.





By Fauzi Kadir
Permadu Harmony/Permadu Malaysia
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Zafiyah Hussain



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