#SHOWBIZ: From jingles to charity shows

ENTERTAINER Datuk Leonard Tan, known as the "Singer with a Thousand Voices" and "King of Jingles", is one of Malaysia's most sought-after performers.

The singer, actor and comedian performs at corporate functions nationwide.

Tan is famous for impersonating stars like Louis Armstrong, the Bee Gees and Tan Sri P. Ramlee.

Drawing energy from his audiences, Tan delivers lively performances that keep crowds entertained.

Tan has provided vocals for commercial jingles for brands including KFC, A&W, Gardenia, McDonald's and Proton.

Tan is known for his charity work, having performed at numerous fund-raising events.

"My wish is for Malaysians to remember those in need and do something to improve their lives," Tan said in an interview.

"I've always had a passion for music and creativity. In fact, I was one of the founding members of the Positive Tone record label in the 1990s.

"This label helped launch many talents who later became household names.

"I wasn't just a singer. I produced my own albums, including 'Bintang Bukannya Satu', 'Leonard Tan', and 'Christmas with Leonard'."

In 2004, Tan made his film debut in 'Ah Lok Kafe', an English-language Malaysian film based on an original story by cartoonist Reggie Lee and directed by Anwardi Jamil.

Tan played the title character, Ah Lok.

"Playing an honest-to-goodness Malaysian Elvis Presley gave audiences a proper laugh."

Tan grew up in Penang as one of nine siblings in a musically gifted family.

"My eldest brother was in a very popular band called The Thunderbolts, famous for their track 'Thunderbolt Twist'.

"My siblings gave me tremendous encouragement to develop my own style."

EARLY DAYS AND MUSICAL INFLUENCES

Tan's earliest musical influences included rock acts such as Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Electric Light Orchestra, The Sweet and Osibisa, as well as jazz and Motown classics.

Locally, he drew inspiration from groups such as Sweet September, Carefree, Discovery and Black Dog Bone.

Although Tan began singing at school and dreamt of becoming a performer, music wasn't his only ambition.

"I also wanted to become a hotelier. So, after saving money from odd jobs and gigs, I went to Canada to pursue my studies."

One of Tan's fondest memories was competing in the 1980s Top of the Pubs contest, shortly after he moved from Penang to Kuala Lumpur.

"I had just moved to KL and barely had any friends or supporters. Only two friends came up to wish me luck that night. That's why I cherish that memory."

Tan credits Kenny Tay of pop-rock trio Kenny, Remy & Martin as the most inspiring musician he has ever met.

"Kenny discovered me, and together we produced my Malay album, 'Bintang Bukannya Satu'. I'm grateful to him, and we've remained friends all these years."

BUILDING A FAN BASE

Tan credits early television appearances with building his fan base.

"I appeared regularly on Radio Televisyen Malaysia, which gave me tremendous exposure.

"It helped me establish a fan base in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, leading to invitations to perform there.

"From there, I starred in 'Ah Lok Kafe' and even a Hong Kong comedy flick.

"I have wonderful memories of working alongside brilliant filmmakers and performers throughout the 1990s and 2000s."

After performing at venues across the country, Tan recently ticked another venue off his bucket list: Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil.

"The best thing about the arena is its state-of-the-art sound system and accessibility, making it a favourite spot for concertgoers."

Looking ahead, Tan hopes to collaborate with Lionel Richie and Sir Elton John.

"They are phenomenal performers. I grew up watching their concerts on television.

"Despite being superstars, they are humble, down-to-earth and gracious with their fans. It is my dream to meet and collaborate with them."

Tan sings in English, Malay, Chinese and other languages.

Next on his list is learning a language from Sabah and Sarawak.

"I believe that as a Malaysian, mastering our country's languages is a goal worth striving for."

LESSONS LEARNED AND HIDDEN TALENTS

Despite decades of experience, he said he still gets nervous before stepping onstage.

"I've even tripped on stage twice," he said with a smile.

"The backstage area was pitch-black, causing me to miss the steps leading to the stage. To make matters worse, the connecting ladder was unstable.

"But that's life. Everyone encounters a mishap now and then.

"In hindsight, it was quite funny. I turned it into a joke and the audience went wild with laughter. Falling turned out to be a great learning process."

Had he not pursued entertainment, he believes he might have become a police officer or hotelier.

"I have keen detective instincts, which would make me a good cop.

"As an actor, I love playing diverse roles. And I enjoy hospitality, so being a hotelier would have been a natural fit."

He added that he briefly harboured dreams of becoming a doctor, though financial constraints made that path impractical.

His friends also regard cooking as one of his hidden talents.

"Everyone tells me my hidden talent is cooking. Plus, I used to be a track and rally driver."

On Oct 10, Tan will perform at the "MfM Benefit Showcase: Rocking for a Cause" at Kelab Golf Negara Subang in Petaling Jaya.

Organised by Musicians for Musicians (MfM), the event supports Malaysian musicians.