Ayer keroh: Sixteen veteran singers from the 1960s to the 1990s are set to dazzle audiences and light up the stage at the ‘Gema Suara Emas’ Charity Concert on Aug 29. The concert, organised by the World Youth Foundation (WYF) in collaboration with the Malaysian Veteran Artistes Welfare Association (PKAVM), will be held from 8 pm to 11 pm at Dewan World Youth Foundation in Ayer Keroh.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, PKAVM acting president Sandakiah Azez said the concert would bring veteran artistes together for the first time in a grand performance, featuring some 28 of their most popular hits. ‘All the artistes have given their full commitment and are fully prepared to entertain the audience. This concert is also an effort to bring back nostalgia and introduce our music to the youth,’ she said at a press conference in Banda Hilir today.
Sandakiah mentioned that 70 percent of the ticket sales proceeds would go to PKAVM to support veteran artistes through welfare assistance, motivational programmes, skills workshops, and related initiatives. Apart from ticket sales, PKAVM was also accepting donations from companies and individuals to boost the association’s welfare fund.
‘We hope the concert will receive a good response from the public, allowing them to learn more about the welfare of veteran artistes, who have done so much for the country’s arts scene. We’ve also planned lots of interesting and entertaining segments for the audience,’ she said.
Meanwhile, WYF chairman Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali said the charity concert was also held in conjunction with the 76th birthday celebration of the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam. He stated that the programme also offered veteran artistes the chance to perform and earn an income, as some were still fit and energetic enough to take the stage.
‘However, some of them have been without job offers for quite some time as they compete with younger performers who have more followers. That is why we decided to hold this concert; to give the public, especially the youth, a chance to get to know veteran artistes who have contributed greatly to the country’s arts industry,’ he said.
The charity concert will feature the artistes performing their greatest hits, accompanied by Band Warisan Legenda (The Sound of the Sixties), led by Abass Abu Bakar. Among the artistes set to perform that night are Datuk Jefrydin, A. Rahman Onn, J. Sham, S. Mariam, Helen Velu, Zalifah Ibrahim, A. Razak, Junainah M. Amin, Dato’ Siti Fairus, Zaiton Sameon, Roslan Madun, Seri Sarimah, and Hairee Kool.