KUALA LUMPUR: Pop queen Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza has always looked up to Datuk Sudirman Arshad as a world class entertainer.
And she is paying tribute to the music legend from her home state Pahang once again in her new album which will be out early next year.
"I'm going to record Sudirman's moving but less known song Teratai Menjelma soon, and it's going to be one of three cover versions in the album," said Siti at the launch of the tribute concert Karya Agung Pak Ngah Datuk Suhaimi Mohamad Zain Bersama Orkes Tradisional Malaysia Dan Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza at Istana Budaya here yesterday.
Siti has performed 30 of Sudirman's songs in a tribute to the late entertainer at Istana Budaya in 2002. The concert which featured the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) was titled Konsert Salam Terakhir Untukmu Sudir.
It was produced by Siti's company Siti Nurhaliza Productions with the late composer Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain or Pak Ngah as performance director.
"Teratai Menjelma is a lovely song, and its poetic lyrics speak of inner beauty," she said, adding that she would record more of Sudirman's less known "musical gems" in future.
Siti said that her new album will have 10 tracks. The composers and producers involved are Melly Goeslaw, Aubrey Suwito, Joe Flizzow and Hael Husaini.
When asked about the Pak Ngah tribute concert, Siti said that his death at the age of 59 in September last year devastated her, but he lived on in her heart as the man who made her a star.
"Even though I wasn't discovered by him, he was the 'teacher' who guided me the most in my musical journey and set high standards of showmanship," she said.
Describing Pak Ngah as her "foster father in music", she said that the late composer was "stern but with a great sense of humour".
"There's lots of love in every song he composed. Whenever I sing his songs, I feel his presence."
The tribute concert will take place in the national theatre at 8.30pm on Nov 14 and 15.
It will also feature Ernie Zakri, Syamel Fodzly, Asmidar Ahmad, Rojer Rozaidy and Orkes Tradisional Malaysia (OTM) led by music director Yazid Zakaria.
"If all goes well, I'll be singing in a second Pak Ngah tribute at the Esplanade, Singapore on Jan 1, next year," said Siti, adding that she would also join the Asli music concert Lentera Timur 2 at Istana Budaya also next year.
Pak Ngah produced a quarter of Siti's 16 studio albums including the best-selling Cindai (1997) and Lentera Timur (2008). Cindai won Best Song at Anugerah Juara Lagu 13 in 1998.
He also came up with Seri Balas, her 1999 Asli duet album with Noraniza Idris, the 2003 Hari Raya album Anugerah Aidilfitri Siti Nurhaliza, and the Asli music albums Permata Irama Datuk Siti Nurhaliza (2007) and Pewaris Lagu-Lagu Tradisional Datuk Siti Nurhaliza (2012).
The tribute concert is produced by Pak Ngah Productions.
Tickets are priced from RM86 to RM446.
Visit www.airasiaredtix.com.