IT’S amazing how some veteran singers maintain their voice well into their golden years. Singaporean entertainer Rahimah Rahim is no exception.
A recording artiste for close to five decades, the singer, who is well-known for hits as Gadis Dan Bunga, Hati Yang Rapuh, Bebas and Masih Adakah Cinta, can still effortlessly belt out songs just like during her heyday.
“I guess my habit of regularly consuming warm water helps,” shares the 64-year-old artiste who is also fondly known as Kak Gerl.
“It is one thing that I religiously do even when I was performing at clubs back then. Whenever the waitresses asked what refreshments I would like, my answer had always been plain warm water. I think that amused them a little,” she says.
Rahimah was recently in town to meet the Press to announce her upcoming solo concert on April 13.
Titled My Life, My Art, this will mark her first solo concert on our shores, and the second leg of My Life, My Art, after Singapore on Nov 11 at its Esplanade Concert Hall.
During the Singapore concert, seated in the audience was Giant Steps Event & Entertainment managing director Datuk Tengku Shireen Tengku Suleiman.
Impressed with Rahimah’s impeccable performance, she discussed with her husband Datuk Mokhzani Ismail, who is also RTM music director, the possibility of taking the concert to KL.
Never mind that Rahimah has known Mokhzani for quite some time, but the deal to stage a similar concert in KL was sealed immediately simply because it is for a charitable cause.
SEVERAL SEGMENTS
The organisers plan a concert similar to the one in Singapore, albeit a shorter duration from the original 150 to 90 minutes.
The concert will see several segments to allow better storytelling of Rahimah’s singing career.
“The segments will cover songs that I’ve performed at clubs in the 1970s up to today,” she says.
“My sister Rozie will again be joining me on stage. Khai Bahar is guest performer,” says Rahimah of the concert which will see Mokhzani as music director.
My Life, My Art will be held at Auditorium Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and a portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the Perlis Girl Guides Association, of which Tengku Shireen is president.
“As most of our young members come from less privileged families, we hoped to raise funds so that we can run our annual activities,” adds Tengku Shireen.
Rahimah, who is no stranger to community activities, is more than willing to help Tengku Shireen achieve her aim of organising the concert here.
“I want to give back to the society by contributing in whatever form I can,” says Rahimah who is involved in Singapore’s Women’s Initiative For Ageing Successfully (Wings) since last year.
At Wings, whose members are Singaporean women aged between 48 and 70, the singer has been tasked to be their vocal teacher.
Rahimah is also involved in various projects by the Singapore government, some of which has taken her to China, Australia and the United Kingdom.
“I’m glad that I still have an active and busy life, despite leaving my secretarial job at a law firm a couple of years ago,” says the grandmother of three who jogs whenever her schedule permits.