PETALING JAYA: Veteran singer Datuk Wan Norafizah Wan Ariffin, better known as Nora Ariffin, marked the end of 2024 with her very own concert last night.
The two-hour concert saw the Kota Baru-born singer perform 18 of her popular hits such as Di Persimpangan Dilema, Samudera, Menyemai Cinta Bersamamu, Naluri, Desa Tercinta, Jentayu, and Sandiwara.
It was held at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC) in One Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama here at 8.30pm.
Nora welcomed 500 guests to the show, including popular artiste Ziana Zain, lyricist Ahmad Fedtri Yahya and veteran composer Zul Mahat.
The 51-year-old mother of four said that she and her late husband, musician and record producer Johan Nawawi, had tried to organise a solo concert over the last decade but luck was not on her side.
"Nevertheless I'm truly happy that it has finally been achieved," she said.
In the concert titled Hanya Satu: Datuk Nora Ariffin (30 Years Journey), most of the guests sang along with Nora and she paid glowing tribute to Johan who died in 2017, in a specially dedicated musical segment.
"He was the wind beneath my wings, he played a major role in making me the singer that I am today.
"All of my achievements have been the fruits of his labour," she said.
Nora also honoured the memory of her son Muhammad Syakir Alif Johan who died at the age of 20 in 2018.
She also honoured her late singer-actor nephew Nabil Zamanhuri who died of a heart ailment at the age of 36 on May 26.
"Syakir was my biggest fan apart from my husband, while Nabil was my cool, dashing, rising star," she said, adding that they had always brought joy to her life.
Nabil and Nora participated in the first season of TV3 reality talent search Mentor in 2005 and finished second behind singer Datuk Zainalabidin Mohamad and his protege Norafizah "Pija" Yasin.
Nora thanked the Communications Ministry and producers Jennifer Thompson and Alita Aris for their "tremendous support" in making the concert a reality.
"I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by a circle of people who turned out to be my new support system," she said.
The concert was presented by Nora's company, Johan Nawawi Sdn Bhd, with the support of the ministry and MyCreative Ventures.
Thompson was the show's director while Aubrey Suwito served as the music director.