A Guitarist’s Journey Unfolds

In 1973, I met Timothy Chundi, who was my roommate at the Methodist Secondary School boarding house on the school compound in Sibu.

A native of Aup longhouse nearby, he was the son of community leader Pemanca Chundi and was a good guitarist, owning a hollow guitar in our room there.

He was studying Form Four at Ling Chu Ming Secondary School nearby. At that time, I was attending Methodist School’s Lower Sixth Arts.

I had some knowledge of stringed instruments after playing regularly in my former school in Saratok where we had a band, but I only played the drums as my guitar skills were still very elementary.

In Sibu, with Tim’s guitar, I managed to improve tremendously, especially after befriending the talented guitarist Tracy Mamora from the famous Mamora musical family.

By October 1974, I was confident enough to accompany school singers at the Methodist Secondary School’s 25th-anniversary concert.

I played as a single guitarist and in a guitar duo. I remember playing accompanying music for a group of female singers from our class led by Rohani Abdul Karim (now Datuk Seri).

However, playing as a single guitarist to back a beautiful Chinese lady singing ‘Top Of The World’ was an unforgettable experience.

Later, we were involved in romantic liaisons. She was from a wealthy Sungai Merah family and was chauffeur-driven to school in a black Mercedes Benz.

At that time, she was studying in Form Five and went overseas the following year. Our last meeting was in December of that year.

Upon entering the University of Science Malaysia (USM) in Penang in July 1975, I intended to get a guitar of my own.

On August 20 of that year, I purchased a Kapok guitar for RM32 after receiving my scholarship. On August 24, while playing the instrument in my room at the longhouse wooden Block 312, I received two VIP visitors.

They were my cousin, Datuk (later Datuk Amar) Dunstan Endawie Enchana, who was the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) president and Krian assemblyman, and Leo Moggie (later Tan Sri Datuk Amar), who was the SNAP secretary-general. They were in Penang for a meeting.

“I need to honour my promises to your Apai (dad). That’s why Leo and I are here to make sure you are okay,” Endawie said to me and left me with RM200. Leo handed me RM50.

I was richer by RM250 that day, a substantial sum considering my RM1,890 yearly federal scholarship, half of which, amounting to RM945, I had received a few days earlier, enabling me to purchase the guitar. They stayed for about 20 minutes because they had to catch a taxi that couldn’t wait too long.

My obsession with the stringed instrument started from there. I joined the USM Music Society and had access to the music room and instruments as the club’s secretary.

We had regular evening and weekend practices. The varsity music club owned good electronic guitars, including Fenders.

In September 1977, I gathered all musically inclined East Malaysians. This was a month after the passing of my idol, the late Elvis Aaron Presley, who died on August 16 of that year. So, we decided to form a band titled ‘Revival of Elvis Presley Band’ and specialised in Elvis music and songs.

They appointed me as the band leader and lead guitarist, while Carter Ballang Kapong (Kelabit, now retired) played rhythm guitar, and Joing Mideh (a Bidayuh, now deceased) was our bassist.

Sabahan Makibin Bodok (also deceased) was on drums. Penangite Edwin Khoo, who was an excellent guitarist and the recent winner of a national guitar award, joined as the second lead guitarist.

Our band, with me on lead guitar, played to accompany singing talents at the freshers’ welcoming party of 1978, before Edwin joined us.

By mid-1978, we performed at an open concert at Youth Park in Penang, with Edwin on lead. We received a warm applause. I performed two rock n roll numbers and played rhythm, while Edwin played lead.

Two weeks later, we appeared at a concert in Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town, where the talented Bidayuh guitarist Aldram (later Mohd Adaham, now deceased) played lead guitar.

He delivered a perfect guitar accompaniment for Deep Purple’s hardest song, ‘Highway Star,’ and received thunderous applause from the audience, including USM’s Vice-Chancellor, Tan Sri Hamdan Sheik Tahir.

Upon graduating in 1979, I was posted to Rajang Teachers College (now IPG Rajang) in Binatang (later renamed Bintangor). We formed an all-lecturers band led by me.

I played lead, while Carter Ballang Kapong (my USM buddy who joined us in 1980) played rhythm, Alias Abu Bakar played the bass, and our Bidayuh colleague Sagim Suar, who taught music, was on drums.

Others included Josak Siam a vocalist and keyboardist, and Michael Nelson, who used to perform as a vocalist specializing in Cliff Richard’s songs. Solomon Bulan, a Kelabit, joined as a part-time bassist. All these individuals are now retired, except for Michael, who passed away three years ago.

We performed at college functions. Our band, The Rejang Sound, participated in the state PSKPP contest held in 1981 at the Brooke Hall of Batu Lintang Training College (now IPG Batu Lintang) in Kuching.

I can never forget our stay at the college hostel for the contest day. That evening, we performed two songs for the contest.

Our first number was ‘Red River Valley’ turned into a rock n roll piece. I was on vocals and lead guitar, while Michael sang a Cliff Richard number, ‘Lucky Lips’.

Alias Abu Bakar was on drums, Solomon played bass, and Carter did the rhythm. We did not place in the top three but secured fourth out of the nine bands competing. The experience was intriguing and unforgettable.

From 1983 to 1995, while serving in four schools from Kanowit to Bau, I played at many school functions over the years, owning no less than four hollow guitars, including a Suzuki, a Yamaha, Butterflies, and an Ibanez.

In 1990, I purchased an electronic Korean-made Ibanez guitar and played it at several functions. I parted with it in 1997 when I left for Brunei Darussalam, selling it to a friend in Kuching along with other accessories and a Hervey amplifier.

In Brunei, I joined a Filipino band and performed at various functions, including backing internationally popular Filipino singers. Sometimes, I played lead for rock and roll numbers. These were unforgettable moments with the amiable ‘pares’ and ‘mares’ who were very humble, making them lovable.

Upon my return to the state in 2002, I acquired another Kapok hollow guitar, now gathering dust in a corner of my home in Kota Samarahan. My two stepsons own better instruments and are enthusiastic guitarists themselves.

During a free moment, I narrated to them the story of my experience with the stringed instrument, which they attentively enjoyed.

After listening to Jimi Hendrix, I was inspired to pick up the Kapok guitar that had been untouched for years. However, my mediocre skills were far from matching those of the greatest guitarists of all time.

I prefer Elvis’ music and three-chord rock n roll and blues songs. As long as one enjoys the music, one should just keep playing.

The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.