EVERGREEN crooner Datuk Nassier Wahab has always been a mainstay in the Malaysian music scene. What’s amazing is that he still looks pretty much the same as he did three decades ago.
In a recent interview, the longstanding artiste said he did not have an answer to how he manages to keep his good looks but reckons it is due to his natural, happy-go-lucky outlook and approach to life. “I don’t allow any problem to overwhelm me. Whenever I encounter one, I always tell myself that there are many others out there who are worse off.
“Not letting things get the better of me helps me feel more relaxed and staying calm helps slow down ageing,” he said, flashing his boyish smile.
Nassier, who hails from Butterworth in Penang, turned 55 last April 18 and on May 15, he was awarded the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) by Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang, which carries the title Datuk.
A day later, he was appointed brand ambassador for property development company DBI Technology for two years. He also received a RM150,000 bungalow in Kapar, Klang. Dispensing with formalities, (he preferred to be addressed simply as Nassier), he formed Nassier Wahab Productions in 2005. The company organises his private performances, largely for corporations and government departments.
Keeping himself busy over the years with singing engagements, both in a public and private capacity, Nassier and his band Centrestage regularly perform at the Royal Lake Club and Royal Selangor Golf Club, and they have been doing so for a decade now.
The veteran singer with a dozen albums to his credit will be spending Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Singapore, where he will entertain fans at several restaurants. Apart from this, his most recent overseas stint was in Jakarta, Indonesia last year. It was there that he recorded three songs, Nada-Nada Cinta, Kau Dalam Hidupku and Cinta Suci, with producer Richard Kyoto.
Nassier’s last major concert was in Hard Rock Cafe at Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur on New Year’s Day. The hour-long showcase in the restaurant’s informal setting saw him perform songs from his debut album Cinta Dan Perasaan (1985), also those composed by his mentor Datuk Dr Ahmad Nawab and that which he sang in the second season of the Astro Ria reality show Gegar Vaganza, last year.
“It was one of the sweetest moments in my singing career when I joined Gegar Vaganza and finished third,” said Nassier.
“This show has been a great platform for me to challenge myself and keep my music fresh for contemporary fans.”
Nassier is delighted that the show earned him new fans as young as 6 and many of them are the children of fans who discovered him during his heyday back in the 1980s.
“I pray and hope that I’ll be able to continue to entertain fans of all ages for as long as I can,” he said with a smile.
Nassier, who came up with a compilation album, Memori Hits Nassier Wahab (1985-2006) in 2006, believes that established singers should never feel challenged by newcomers and new talents.
“We should see them as potential artistes for collaborations, particularly if they are very talented.”