Monday May 12, 2008
Sweet sounds
By AZHARIAH KAMIN
Has fatherhood changed Sweet Charity? Find out on Father’s Day.
Those who grew up listening to the music of Singaporean outfit Sweet Charity would be happy to note that the band is ready to perform again. It’s been a while since it last brought the house down ... that was in 1996 with its reunion concert.
And what better way to mark a 39th anniversary than with a special showcase celebrating its musical journey ... in conjunction with Father’s Day! After all, they are all fathers now ... and some are even grandpas, believe it or not!
The band, led by veteran rocker Ramli Sarip, now 56, still consists of drummer Rahman Sarbani, guitarists Wan Ahmad and Rosli Mohalim, and keyboardists Ahmad Jaffar Jawahir and Masron Abdul Hamid.
In the 70s and 80s, Sweet Charity was the band to follow. Bands that came after – Search, Lefthanded and Wings – all had Sweet Charity to thank for their sounds. And its popularity didn’t just end there, but extended well into the streets. Amidst Deep Purple and Led Zep jam sessions, you can bet your bottom dollar that some Sweet Charity licks were traded among those who subscribed to the flavour and fervour of 80s rock.
Founded in 1969 by Ramli, Sweet Charity released it eponymous debut album in 1978 and its name began to spread across the straits to Malaysia, and later to Brunei. Many albums and hits later, the band called it quits when Ramli decided to go solo.
However, through the years, the Sweet Charity classics lived on – Kamelia, Musibah, Zakiah, Pelarian and Sejuta Wajah.
“This showcase is going to be special for us as the last time we performed (together) was more than a decade ago,” said Ramli, when interviewed recently.
The upcoming shows – on June 14 at 8pm and June 15 at 3pm at Putra World Trade Centre’s Merdeka Hall in Kuala Lumpur – will be quite a departure from the band’s trademark raw and energetic performances. This time round, it will be a sit-down dinner and hi-tea type showcase.
After a long wait, fans will get to see Ramli Sarip and his band Sweet Charity perform together for their special showcase on Father’s Day at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur, in June. “That’s why I didn’t want to call it a concert. It will be our first experience performing in such an atmosphere. We are more used to open air concerts. But that doesn’t mean that we will have less energy and passion for our June showcases. Really, it is hard to tell what is going to happen during the shows. I guess we have to leave it to our fans to set the tone,” Ramli said, adding that this was a good opportunity for everyone in the band to catch up with each other, as they all have been kept busy with their own ventures.
“Despite being absent from the music industry as a group, we do feel that we still add a bit of colour to the scene. During my solo concerts, there were always requests for Sweet Charity to perform.”
Prior to agreeing to the show, Ramli made sure everyone in the band had been actively playing music. “It’s essential because our songs require a large amount of energy and passion.”
For the Father’s Day shows, Sweet Charity will perform a total of 20 hits. “We have to select the songs carefully as we want to reach out to different generations.”
Tickets for the dinner show (June 14 at 8.30pm) are priced at RM503, RM303, RM253 and RM183. For individual bookings as well as corporate bookings, call 03-2287 5881 or 013-671 5588.
Tickets for the hi-tea show (June 15 at 3pm) are priced at RM353, RM253, RM203, RM153 and RM103 and can be obtained from Axcess Tickets Sdn Bhd at 03-77115000 or www.axcess.com.my or logon to www.sweetcharity.com.my for details.
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