Freddie, Alam Pay Tribute To Late Rock Singer

This post is in English only.

Akademi Fantasia 1 principal Datuk Freddie Fernandez says the passing of Shamrin Abdul Samad is a great loss for Malaysian music.

He says: “I met him at a concert on the same day he passed away. He looked like he had been working really hard. I advised him to take it easy."

Shamrin passed away after a football match between artistes and an insurance company at 6.30pm on November 11, 2010.

He had suffered a heart attack at 43.

Shamrin was the lead singer of popular 1980s and 1990s rock group Fotograf.

He was an active member of Fernandez's Malaysian Artistes Association (Karyawan).

The group was planning a reunion when he died.

Fernandez says: “As a member he never failed to support our events and he worked well with the new artistes."

Fernandez says almost every time he met Shamrin, the singer appeared healthy and happy, and eager to entertain fans.

“He loved his craft and nothing made him happier than to see his fans have a great time,” he says.

“Malaysia has lost a truly great singer.”

Television personality, actor, singer and entertainment journalist Zainal Alam Kadir says he first knew Shamrin during their days in Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam.

“We took the same bus to college. He was an engineering student while I did art and design,” he says.

Zainal Alam only got to know him better as a journalist.

“The last time I met him was a few months ago in Tangkak. It was the second anniversary of the Tangkak district and he was singing at the anniversary concert,” he says.

Expressing shock at the singer’s death, Zainal Alam says Shamrin was always friendly and passionate about his work.

“I wanted to call him for a coming show. He was always open to entertain fans as he lived for music.”