Tony Warren: three legends, one unforgettable showman

It was never enough for Tony Warren to sing a Tom Jones song. He wanted you to believe you were watching the Welsh superstar himself.

There was the powerful voice, the swagger and those hips that seemed to have a life of their own.

But Warren could also switch to Elvis Presley or Engelbert Humperdinck, tackling three very different styles with a flair that made the act his own.

For more than five decades, the Ipoh-born entertainer took his show from Malaysian nightspots to stages overseas, building a career that outlasted changing musical fashions.

Warren died in his sleep yesterday, aged 81. His son, Andrew Warren, 54, a live audio engineer and production manager, said his father was found in his favourite chair at home by his wife, Cecilia.

Before the bright lights and late nights, however, Warren had a classroom to attend.

He began singing at 17 with a band called The Socialites in Ipoh. He later taught English and history at schools in Kepong, Rawang and Tanjong Malim, balancing his job with performances and the demands of raising a family.

By day, he was Mr Warren or Cikgu Warren, the teacher and discipline master. After hours, he pursued his passion for music.

His breakthrough came in 1969, when he performed at a talent show at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

Warren earned a standing ovation. The emcee introduced him as the “Tom Jones of KL”, a nickname that eventually became the “Tom Jones of Malaysia”.

He worked hard to earn that billing, studying Jones’s recordings, vocal delivery and stage movements to capture not just the sound but also the swagger.

Yet Jones was only part of the show. Warren also tackled the songs of Presley and Humperdinck, bringing three distinctive musical styles to a repertoire few local entertainers could match.

During the 1980s, he became a fixture of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya’s nightlife, performing at venues including the Copper Grill at The Weld, Yuyi Kitchen, the Royal Selangor Club at Dataran Merdeka and the PJ Hilton.

Audiences came for the familiar hits, but Warren gave them a show, complete with cheeky humour, energetic moves and the confidence to command a room.

His reputation soon travelled beyond Malaysia. A talent scout who watched him perform in Kuala Lumpur invited him to Perth, Australia, where he appeared at a Channel 7 telethon and Burswood Resort and Casino.

He also performed in Singapore, Jakarta and Cambodia, released three CD compilations featuring songs by his musical heroes and other artistes, and opened for international pop act Air Supply in 2009.

Retirement from teaching did not end his stage career. Warren continued entertaining at corporate functions and performing for royalty and visiting English Premier League football clubs, keeping his beloved repertoire alive for audiences across generations.

A son joins the show

For Andrew, though, his father was more than the entertainer who could channel three musical legends.

His father’s work kept him busy during Andrew’s younger years, leaving them with limited time together. That changed after Andrew completed his SPM, when he joined Warren on the pub and hotel circuit, playing keyboards alongside him for the next five years.

The experience brought father and son together through music. Andrew saw first-hand how his father could command an audience and move effortlessly between three very different musical styles.

“He was a one-of-a-kind entertainer, had a voice like no other that could handle Tom Jones, Elvis Presley and Engelbert Humperdinck at the same time,” Andrew said.

After his father’s death, Andrew paid tribute to him on Facebook, reflecting on the different roles Warren had played in people’s lives.

“To some of you, you would have probably known him as Mr Warren or Cikgu Warren, the teacher, discipline master from school, and to others, Tony Warren (Tom Jones of Malaysia), the entertainer.

“But to me and my sister, he was simply … Daddy. May he rest in eternal peace as he makes his way home,” he wrote.

Warren leaves behind Cecilia, Andrew, daughter Lisa and five grandchildren.

His funeral Mass will be held at 10.30am today at Jesus Caritas Church in Jalan Burung Hantu, Taman Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, followed by cremation at the DBKL Crematorium in Jalan Kuari, Taman Pertama, Cheras.

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