Datuk Jamal Abdillah, Ameng of Spring and Zamani of Slam tell Dennis Chua why they can never repay their fans enough
Mention Datuk Jamal Abdillah in a concert hall, and screams and cheers will reverberate from every corner of it.
The man with the golden voice, and soulful crooner behind hit songs such as Azura, Kekasih Awal Dan Akhir and Kau Lupa Janji, never lets his fans down (aside from his rehab stint two decades ago).
Jamal will entertain once more this September at Istana Budaya (IB) in Konsert 3 Suara.
He has roped in two other golden-voiced crooners for a memorable 150-minute concert. They are rock icons Ameng of Spring and Zamani of Slam, who have been Jamal’s good friends since the 1990s.
Also joining the trio, in a special guest performance spot, will be a familiar face who has been off the radar since the 1980s, Jamal’s younger brother Jamilul Hayat Ariffin Ali, best known for his 1980s hit songs, especially Mawar Putih Tanda Perpisahan.
Jamal says: “We love evergreen songs and many 40-something parents of today have grown up listening to our songs.”
The 56-year-old music legend, whose real name is Jamal Ubaidillah Ali, adds that it will be a first orchestral concert featuring the songs of Ameng, Zamani, Hayat and himself.
“It’s not often that local orchestras do this, but we’ve got a great supporting act in the form of the National Theatre musicians led by music director Raja Mohamad Sham Raja Saari,” he says.
“They’re going to give our songs an orchestral twist but this modification will stay as true as possible to the original essence and sounds of our songs.”
GETTING TO KNOW AMENG
As an old pal, Jamal kept tabs on Ameng’s prison sentence five years ago. Ameng, 47, whose real name is Wan Aminuddin Wan Ismail, was sentenced to eight years in jail and 10 strokes of the rotan by the Sessions Court of Malacca on April 12, 2011, for two cases of drug possession. The jail term was later reduced to five years for good behaviour and exemplary discipline.
“It came as a shock to me that Ameng was in prison. I prayed hard that he would endure this trial, and I wrote in my diary the date of his release,” says Jamal.
Luck was on their side. Ameng was released and when Jamal greeted him shortly after he left Kajang Prison at 12.15pm on June 14, he was happy to see his old friend in the pink of health.
“I actually found out when Ameng was returning and visited him in jail. I got in touch with the Home Ministry to seek permission for Ameng to perform in the September concert, and the authorities were supportive,” he says.
Ameng, who tearfully reflects on the dark episode of his career, says: “This Ramadan is very special for me. I promise fans I am a changed man who will stay on the straight path for good. I thank my wife for her love and support and my loyal fans too. You helped me endure the hardship of prison and 10 strokes of the rotan which took a month to heal.”
His wife, Sabariah Zakaria, 46, and their son Wan Ammar Haikal, 9, visited him frequently and never stopped praying for his well-being.
“I was always crying during my days in jail but soon I found solace reading the Quran and memorising it. A prison officer named Ramli helped me deepen my religious knowledge and guided me in memorising the holy book,” he says.
He has dedicated his newest song, Kerana Budi Ku Jatuh Hati, to his wife and son, who are his pillars of strength.
“It’ll be a prominent song in the coming concert. However, I will also sing my all-time favourites Butakah Cinta, Romantis and Bougainvillea and fans can sing along with me,” he says.
COMING MARRIAGE
While fans call him Zamani Slam because of he’s the rock band’s lead singer, Kuala Lumpur-born Zamani, 45, also goes by his real name Zamani Ibrahim whenever he performs as a soloist.
“There was one other man called Zamani who sang in Istana Budaya two years ago. Kamal Adli who is one of my favourite young actors, played Kapten Zamani in the Ahmad Idham musical Gerimis Mengundang and performed my hit song, too,” he says.
“While his character and the musical had nothing to do with my life story, Gerimis Mengundang made good use of my song, and Ahmad Idham brilliantly translated it into a tale of forbidden love between a Malaysian pilot and an Indonesian university student,” says Zamani delightedly.
Like Jamal and Ameng, Zamani had also battled drug addiction which drove a wedge between him and his fans.
He spent a year in private rehabilitation centre Pengasih, Lebuhraya Mahameru, Kuala Lumpur last year and kicked the addiction with the help of its founder Datuk Yunus Pathi and fellow residents.
“Actually, I went to a government rehabilitation centre in Port Dickson for four months in 2009. That failed to change me and as a result I ended up in Pengasih,” he explains.
“The Home Ministry has placed me under supervision for two years, and I’m determined to ‘pass’ the test. My friends in Pengasih are 100 per cent behind me.”
Describing Ameng and Jamal as his idols, he says: “I’ve known them since the 1990s when Spring and Slam collaborated in a concert and Jamal came to give us moral support.
“Ameng and Jamal are frank, honest men who are humble and admit their mistakes. They always remind me that my fans have made me the man I am today and I should be a role model as best as I can.”
He is also thankful to his fellow bandmates in Slam for visiting him, and a young police officer who asked him to sing his trademark song Gerimis Mengundang and wished him well.
“It was a misunderstanding that the young officer was bullying me. I had chosen to sing for him and we’ve decided to keep in touch.”
Zamani, the youngest of three siblings, will soon release a single, Tambatan Hati, composed by Yongkie T. He last performed with Slam at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on May 14, where he unveiled his very own perfume brand, also called Tambatan Hati.
Slam will also entertain in Pasir Gudang Stadium, Johor on Sept 3.
The “bachelor boy” has found his Miss Right and if all goes well, he will be tying the knot next year.
“For now, I’m keeping mum about who she is. All I can say, she is a loyal fan,” he says.
HAYAT LOOKS UP TO BIG BROTHER
While he is rather publicity-shy, Hayat has always been attending Jamal’s concerts over the years.
“I run a business with friends in Teluk Intan and singing is like a hobby for me,” he says.
“Jamal is not only my big brother but he is also my role model, best friend, teacher, mentor and critic when it comes to singing.”
Hayat admits he was initially reluctant to join Konsert 3 Suara, but Jamal convinced him that “he still had a big following out there” and it would not be fair for fans to be in the dark about his whereabouts three decades after he first found fame.
“What made me finally say yes to the concert was its patriotic theme. It’s to commemorate Malaysia Day and to showcase some of our best homegrown crooners who made their name in the boomtime, the decade of the 1980s,” he says, adding that they will each perform six songs, for 30 minutes.
“The last 30 minutes will feature all the duets with Jamal. There will be a total of 25 songs, both our own songs and cover versions.”
Hayat, 55, has three albums under his belt and will perform Mawar Putih Tanda Perpisahan for the first time in IB.
FATHER-SON COLLABORATION
Soon, Jamal will be recording some songs with his eldest son Osama Yamani, 14. They will be traditional Malay pop tunes or lagu asli.
“Osama loves singing, too. While it’s a hobby for him, his voice is pretty soulful,” he says.
Jamal, who sang with Saleem of Iklim in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu and Rompin, Pahang late last year, may invite his son on stage in Konsert 3 Suara “if the need arises”.
“He has literally grown up with my concerts and has followed my footsteps into music. However, school is still on the top of the list.”
Jamal’s golden, majestic voice has made him known as Malaysia’s Pop King for the last three decades. The legendary singer from Ipoh, Perak is also admired as a fashion icon who dresses smart and stylish.
The 56-year-old takes good care of his health, by eating well and exercising almost every morning at the gymnasium.
He says: “I’ve also learnt to control my temper, be forgiving and to avoid feelings of jealousy towards others. The trials and tribulations I’ve faced so far have made me humbler.”
As for singing, he vows to keep on doing so for as long as he can.
“As long as I’m healthy and able-bodied, I’ll sing for my fans across the country.”
To keep his voice in tip-top condition, Jamal avoids foods that are oily and spicy. He also makes sure he eats way before bedtime to keep in shape.
“Most importantly, I must get enough sleep. To be an entertainer, I must be alert and energetic on stage,” he reveals.
Konsert 3 Suara is organised by his company Bin Jamal Events. It is his first collaboration with Ameng, Zamani and Hayat.
“At the concert, I’m going to introduce a new single, written and composed by LY; I hope it will be well-received,” he says.
Jamal is quite the businessman, running a Shah Alam-based wedding planner business, Ndah Mahligai, with some friends for the past five years. He also owns a seven-year-old aquarium business in Bukit Merah, Bagan Serai in Perak, selling exotic fish such as the arowana.
Besides Osama, he has a 9-year-old son, Ahmad Zaki Yamani, who unfortunately is not into music much.
“Helping Ameng and Zamani return to showbiz is my labour of love to old friends who share the same fate as mine,” he says.
“We are three Malaysian men who love music, love our fans and want to remind them to stay clear from substance abuse, because that brought us pain and suffering in our prime.
“We regret what we have done back then and we promise fans we have returned to the right path,” he says.
Jamal won Popular Male Artiste in Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) 1993 and received the ABPBH 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.
He says the four of them will begin rehearsals daily at IB next month.
RAYA WITH LOVED ONES
Looking forward to Hari Raya and describing it as their “favourite time of the year”, Jamal and Hayat will be home in Ipoh for the festival and will be visiting relatives in Teluk Intan during their week-long holiday.
“It’s going to be more of a Hari Raya to remember for Hayat this year, as he’s the one returning to the limelight, not me,” says Jamal, adding that they will also be meeting up with another sibling of theirs, Helmi Hussaini Ali, who has been acting since the 1980s.
Hayat says: “Both of us will sing during get-togethers with our extended family. Songs from the 1980s are the favourites of our loved ones. It’s Mawar Putih for me, and Azura for Jamal.”
Osama, adds Jamal, is fast becoming a “star” in the extended family because he has inherited his father’s musical talent.
“He’ll definitely get to sing one or two of my evergreen songs but I’ve always encouraged him to sing it his way and not copy me,” he says.
Zamani will be spending Hari Raya in the city, since the federal capital is his kampung.
“My family is from Kampung Baru, even though I also have relatives from Malacca. Raya with my loved ones is the best time for me to catch up with my relatives, who mainly live in Selangor. As an entertainer, I will sing a couple of my evergreen songs, not necessarily Gerimis Mengundang, for the whole extended family.”
He will also visit his bandmates from Slam, for their “requisite” Raya get-together every year in Kuala Lumpur.
Ameng is heading home to Terengganu and Malacca to spend Raya with his family and his wife’s respectively.
“This Raya will be a time of reflection for me. It will be a time to spend time with my loved ones, and to remind myself that I must choose health and family over negative influences,” he says.
Ameng will also get together with his Spring bandmates in Kuala Lumpur, before rehearsals for the September concert start.
“My bandmates are my brothers who have stood by me and have shown faith in me all these years. Spending Raya with them is my way of saying thank you to them,” he says.
KONSERT 3 SUARA
THE concert will be held at Istana Budaya, Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur, from Sept 22 to 25 (8pm).
It features headliners Datuk Jamal Abdillah, Ameng (Spring) and Zamani (Slam), with a special guest performance by Jamal’s younger brother, Jamilul Hayat Ariffin.
The singers will be accompanied by 20 professional musicians from the National Theatre, led by music director Raja Mohamad Sham Raja Saari.
The concert is organised by Jamal’s company Bin Jamal Events.
Tickets are priced between RM108 and RM458.
Call 03-2170 6333 or visit www.ilassotickets.com.