Penang actually has two famous Ramlees, with L. Ramli being ‘the other one’
PENANG is most associated with Tan Sri P. Ramlee but there is another Ramli who also has a strong following and is still singing today.
He is Datuk Ramli Lazim, better known as Datuk L. Ramli who was born in Sungai Nibong Besar but now lives in Butterworth.
Known by his trademark red Fez hat, sunglasses and black suit, Ramli, 75, has released 12 albums in his 56 years in music, the last being Kenangan Bersama Dara Pujaan in 2006.
The pop singer, who was big in the 1960s and 1970s, is also known as the “crooner from hospital” because he worked at Penang Hospital in Georgetown as an X-ray laboratory assistant.
After retirement, Ramli became a dental attendant at a government clinic in Mak Mandin Industrial Estate, Butterworth.
Briefly hospitalised at Sungai Petani Hospital in 2010 after suffering breathlessness at a concert in Taman Abdullah Fahim, Kepala Batas, Ramli is taking things easy these days.
He has cut down on corporate shows but he still makes an effort to attend reunion concerts featuring 1950s, 1960s and 1970s singers, many of whom are his old friends.
“I still get a lot of invites for dinner shows but I’m more selective now, said Ramli.
The singer of Kedah Malay and Thai descent began his musical career performing with boria troupes around his home state in the early 1960s.
They entertained music lovers in Georgetown, Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam especially during school holidays.
The song that rocketed Ramli to nationwide fame was Dara Pujaan, which was recorded with the band Orkes Teruna Ria in 1962.
“My first band was Orkes Sri Melur. After that, I performed with Kumpulan Delima and Orkes Teruna Ria,” said Ramli.
Ramli’s other famous songs include Antara Kau Dan Aku, Salma, Pertemuan Terakhir, Puja, Nasib Si Pungguk, Oh Nona, Teruna Pun Tidak Dara Pun Bukan and Sudah Ku Katakan.
In 1970, he made his first film soundtrack — for love story Kembang Layu, produced by Merdeka Film Studios — with Sarena Hashim and Habibah Yaakob.
In 1983, a decade after the death of P. Ramlee, Ramli became one of 10 artistes who performed the legend’s hits in a compilation album.
“P. Ramlee and I were not that close but we did meet on several occasions. I was Little Ramlee while he was Big Ramlee,” said Ramli, laughing heartily.
Dara Pujaanku, the sequel to Dara Pujaan, was recorded as the title track of a new album in 2004.
This was followed by his most recent album, Kenangan Bersama Dara Pujaan, with 12 songs composed by Rosli Selasih.
“Dara Pujaanku and Kenangan are both ‘updated conversations’ between me and the fictitious dreamgirl of the first song.”
Kenangan was also a reunion for Ramli and Kumpulan Delima. Four of his songs — Sharifah, Janji Sekata, Bayangan Kasih and Kata-Kata Yang Terpendam — were given fresh rearrangements.
“I also re-recorded P. Ramlee’s Lanang Tunang Tak Jadi and Mokhsin’s Anak Lima.”
A father of four and grandfather of 16, Ramli also runs a catering business, selling his very own brand of nasi lemak which he calls Nasi Lemak Dara Pujaan.
“I cater for dinners and my customers are from Georgetown, Butterworth, Bayan Lepas and Bukit Mertajam.”
Ramli performed in Konsert Suatu Evolusi at Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam in 2007. Last March, he appeared in the Konsert Pop Yeh Yeh Istana Budaya 2017.
He teamed up with Datuk A. Rahman Hassan, Maria Bachok, Datuk Jeffrydin and J. Sham for a National Day concert, Konsert Gegar Pop Yeh Yeh 2017, at Panggung Bangsawan Melaka last August.