GEORGE TOWN: Country and western music lovers in Penang woke up to the news today that Eurasian singer, James Rozells, has died.
Rozells, 67, who was living in Langkawi, Kedah had battled health issues in recent weeks, was also known as a cultural activist who mooted the Eurasian Fiesta (as part of the annual George Town Festival).
"My friendship with James and his partner and fellow musician Kathleen Rodrigues goes back to the early days of the Little Penang Street Market monthly bazaars," Penang Arts Council chairman and former George Town Festival director, Joe Sidek, told the New Straits Times.
"Through the years of working together for events like the 'Kisah Pulau Pinang' concert in 2008 to celebrate George Town's inscription on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's World Heritage List, he worked so hard in bringing together the best of Penang's Eurasian music talents," he added.
"He will be remembered as someone who was sincere in pushing the community's narrative and flying the Eurasian flag high."
Rozells and Rodrigues teamed up to form 'The Rozells' in the early 1990's and opened 'The Rozells Country and Western and Oldies Pub' on Penang Island and were semi-retired by 2014 although they continued to perform at private events.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, they took to Facebook Live to performing.
Their love for all things Eurasian saw the couple open a restaurant in Penang, where old Eurasian recipes were revived and promoted.
Through the annual Eurasian Fiesta, Rozells introduced to Penang residents and visitors, staples like the Eurasian sugee cake, jam tarts, salted fish pickle and devil curries.
"James Rozells will be one of the finest Serani Eurasian men I have been fortunate to know, respect, admire and grow to be very inspired by through the genesis and growth of the Eurasian Fiesta which he conceived and ran with his beloved life and music partner Kathleen Rodrigues from 2012 to 2015," said media and communications specialist, trainer and arts activist, Vernon Adrian Emuang.
"Talented, creative, generous, fun, and highly diligent is what I can only say that his heritage community, the 'live' music scene, and Malaysia have lost a humble yet irreplaceable leading light," he added in extending his heartfelt condolences to Rodrigues and Rozells' children, Claire and Darrin, and all their families.