We Will All Miss Loga The Soul Man - Fred F

Malaysia's soul band The Alleycats is no more with the passing of one half of the band's lead singers Loganathan Arumugam.

Loganathan, 54, passed away yesterday of cancer in his hometown, George Town, Penang. He had been suffering from the disease for a year.

The other vocalist of the group is his elder brother David Arumugam, 57.

An old friend of Loganathan and David, Akademi Fantasia 1 principal Freddie Fernandez, said Loga was a unique singer and a remarkable individual.

"Together with his brother David, they were both humble, hard-working and men of integrity.

"They believed in making their own music and having their own identity. This is the secret of their success," he said.

Fernandez said Loganathan and David were like brothers to him as the three of them emerged as musicians during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Fernandez was a member of the band The Revolvers.

He said The Alleycats took Malaysian music to great heights and they best represented a uniquely multi-racial Malaysian sound. They could sing in Malaysian, English, Indian (Tamil and Hindi) and even Chinese.

AF3 principal M. Nasir described Loga as a dear friend who was always passionate about his craft and always humble.

"There will never be another like him. We have all lost a friend, and an icon," he said.

BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION
Kita Semua Akan Rindui Loga Raja Soul - Fred F

Kumpulan soul nombor wahid negara The Alleycats kini sudah tiada dengan pemergian seorang daripada 2 penyanyinya Loganathan Arumugam.

Loganathan, 54, meninggal dunia semalam akibat barah paru-paru di kampungnya, George Town, Pulau Pinang. Dia mengidap penyakit itu selama setahun.

Abang mendiang, David Arumugam, 57, juga penyanyi utama The Alleycats.

Kawan lama Loganathan dan David, pengetua Akademi Fantasia 1 Freddie Fernandez, berkata Loga penyanyi yang unik dan juga insan yang mulia.

"Loga dan David sentiasa rendah diri, rajin berusaha dan penuh dengan nilai kejujuran dan integriti.

"Mereka berdua serius dalam membuat muzik sendiri serta memiliki identiti sendiri. Ini menyebabkan mereka amat berjaya," katanya.

Fernandez berkata Loganathan dan David semacam saudaranya sebab mereka bertiga mucnul sebagai penyanyi dan pemuzik di hujung tahun 1960an dan awal 1970an.

Fernandez adalah ahli band The Revolvers.

Katanya The Alleycats berjasa menaikkan nama muzik Malaysia dan amat mencerminkan muzik Bangsa Malaysia yang berbilang kaum. Mereka boleh membawakan lagu Bahasa Malaysia, Inggeris, India (Tamil dan Hindi) dan Cina.

Pengetua AF3 M. Nasir menyifatkan Loga sebagai kawan karib yang sentiasa serius dalam bidang muzik serta sentiasa merendah diri.

"Kita kehilangan seorang kawan, ikon dan insan mulia yang sukar dicari ganti," katanya.