HAFIDAH SAMAT chats with music maestro Fauzi Marzuki who was awarded the lifetime achievement Anugerah Wirama at the recent AIM 15.

AT WORK ... The late Sudirman (left) accompanied by Fauzi (centre) during the recording of the former winning song, One Thousand Million Smiles at the Abbey Road studio in United Kingdom.

Fauzi Marzuki has changed the landscape of the music industry and created an unprecedented impact in the local and international music scenes. With an impressive track record, it is undeniable that Fauzi is a force to be reckoned with.

To date, Fauzi has racked up an impressive list of credits. He has produced songs for many A-list acts including Datuk Sharifah Aini, Sheila Majid, Anita Sarawak, Jamal Abdillah, Ella and Noorkumalasari. His award-winning compositions included Teringin popularised by Shima, Kekasih Awal & Akhir (Jamal), Sepi Sekuntum Mawar Merah (Ella) and Kian (Mawi).

In a recognition of his tireless effort in the music industry, Fauzi was bestowed a lifetime achievement award, Anugerah Wirama, at Anugerah Industri Muzik 15 (AIM15) at the Putra World Trade Centre last Saturday.

“It wasn’t easy to get to where I am today. I’m honoured to receive this award,” said Fauzi.
Given his reserved demeanour, you’ll be surprised when this bespectacled 53-year-old shows his comical side. It is a style indicative of his artistic skills. Like any music geniuses, his songs are conceived on the spur of the moment.

“My work requires me to be in the studio most of the time. I have always worked behind-the-scenes and I’m also a private person. I hardly gets requests for Press interviews,” joked Fauzi, when met at his studio, Fauzi Marzuki Productions in Ulu Kelang.

Fauzi has a slightly radical take on things and this is evident in his music. This is one talent with a penchant for creating compositions that steer clear of stereotypes.

He loves to entertain as well as educate those who have been privileged to be in his company.

Fauzi describes himself as a regular “Mat” who ventured into the music industry for fun. He stresses that humour and accessibility are just as important as possessing a trunk-load of knowledge and skill.

But it’s the lack of awareness about the importance of quality music in talents today that get him fired up.

“I’m disappointed with the lackadaisical attitude of young talents. I’ve noticed that the quality of music today has taken a nosedive due to hasty production work,” said Fauzi.

“Then there are some singers who claimed to be producers. How can you regard yourself as one when you have no knowledge of music? Are you saying this because your debut song which used a tried-and-tested formula coincidentally became a hit?

But isn’t music today more about labels and established music icons to drive them?

“Every kind of music has a force that drives it,” Fauzi argued. “There will always be a magnetic personality to promote it, someone to inspire listeners and other musicians.”

Can young acts handle the competition in the volatile music scene?

“Yes, why not?” he replied. Making music is something that comes from within,” said Fauzi, matter-of-factly.

Talking to him, you can conclude he has led a charmed life, though that would belie the extraordinary hard work he has put into his art.

“It all boils down to hard work and determination. It just opened my eyes that we have to keep learning to expand further, and we can’t do that without opening up to the world of sounds around us,” he said.

Born in Ipoh, Perak, he purchased his “gitar kapok” using his tontine (duit kutu) and his dad’s RM12.

Although he was never gifted, music came easy for him.

In 1973, he pursued electrical engineering at a local university before dropping out to pursue a career in music.

His music career began when he performed at Tropicana Club in Kuala Lumpur alongside actor/comedian A.R. Tompel’s musician-son, Tom Anuar. His brief stint of performing dangdut and traditional tunes led to the formation of Discovery, a quartet which performed extensively in clubs around town until the late ’70s.

After Discovery was disbanded, Fauzi collaborated with superstar Anita Sarawak as a backup musician and travelled extensively with the versatile diva.

“Anita is a polished and experienced act. She’s a good singer and entertainer. I’ve learnt a lot from her especially about managing artistes and discipline.

Fauzi recalled an incident when he was two minutes late for one of Anita’s performances.

“Anita was not amused at all, but looking back I find that she possesses a quality that not many artistes have. She used to come for recordings prepared and never once complained,” said Fauzi, who recorded the singer’s hit tune, Antara Yang Manis, featuring renowned saxophonist Dave Koz at Capitol Record, United States in 1983.

In the early ’80s, Fauzi joined recording studio Sun Recording (owned by musician Jenny Chin’s father) in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, as a studio apprentice.

There Fauzi had the opportunity to collaborate with A-lists acts including the late Saloma and Indonesian powerhouse, the late Broery Marantika.

His fondest memory with Broery was when the singer insisted on staying in Fauzi’s rented room (in the same complex) while recording his album.

“We became so close that Broery had no qualms about coming down in his sarong to record his album,” said Fauzi.

In 1983, Fauzi joined EMI (M) Sdn Bhd as artiste and repertoire (A&R) manager and was largely responsible in recruiting new artistes and album productions.

Fauzi signed Sheila Majid on to the label and was involved in producing her albums including Emosi (1986), Sinaran (1988) and the best-selling album, Lagenda in 1990. He was also responsible in introducing Sheila to the Indonesian and Japanese markets.

“I had a great time working with Sheila. When I first heard her, I knew she had the ‘package’ of an artiste. We were fortunate as we had a great team who made her success imminent,” said Fauzi.

He said that entertainers including Sheila, Anita and Sudirman were lucky to have credible managers for their success.

“A manager also has to guide an artiste’s career to a certain degree so that the artiste doesn’t get disillusioned with what they’re doing. Take Anita, for instance. She was once managed by Barney Bosco, who managed to bring the best out of her. The late Mike Bernie did a marvellous job for his artiste, Sudirman,” said Fauzi.

Married to former MAS stewardess Noor Hashimah Ramli, 38, Fauzi loves spending time with his three kids aged between three and 13. He also enjoys flying.

A member of Malaysian Virtual Pilot Association, Fauzi is an avid flyer and has navigated a Cessna to Johor and Penang.

“My greatest achievement so far was landing a Cessna in Penang. A pilot accompany me, of course.

“Like they say, the sky’s the limit, right?”