#SHOWBIZ: 50 years on the Radha, Malaysia's evergreen 'Black Stallion' of entertainment

THE name A. Radha Krishnan might not immediately ring a bell for younger generations, yet for those who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, the 75-year-old veteran singer, radio announcer, and master of ceremonies remains an indelible fixture of Malaysia's entertainment landscape.

Fondly remembered by fans as the "Black Stallion", Radha earned the racehorse moniker from his ability to mimic fast-talking turf commentators and galloping steeds.

"More importantly, it reflects my high-energy stage presence — whether I'm singing, performing comedy, presenting radio shows, or hosting live events," says Radha during an interview at the Royal Subang Golf Club in Petaling Jaya.

DEVOTIONAL HYMNS

The Sentul-born artiste grew up immersed in music, listening to his father sing bhajans (Hindu devotional hymns) at temples.

"While my father passed on his love of music, my mother was equally influential. Both my parents were avid listeners," shares Radha, an only child who tuned in to local groups like The Strollers and The Alleycats while growing up.

"They had a huge influence on me. To this day, I'm a stickler for classic rock from the 1970s through to the 1990s," he says.

"Internationally, I'm a huge fan of legends like Sir Cliff Richard, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones, as well as The Bee Gees and Santana — both of whom I was fortunate enough to catch live in Malaysia back in the day."

Radha honed his vocal skills by singing along daily to Radio Malaya. During his school days at Sentul's Methodist Boys' School, he took the stage at student concerts.

"Deep down, my ambition was always in the performing arts. I wanted to be a full-time entertainer — a singer, radio host, and part-time actor," he recalls.

"Back in school, I served as the master of ceremonies on sports day, and later joined rock outfits like The Ages."

UNIVERSITI MALAYA

After completing Form 5 in 1970, Radha landed a day job at the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), but his heart remained in music.

"During that decade, I sang at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Universiti Malaya, and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. I worked at the EPF by day and performed at night," Radha explains.

His big break arrived in 1972 when he performed as the opening act for The Bee Gees with the band Stillyard Corporation at Stadium Negara.

A year later, he cut off his trademark long hair to enter Fanfare magazine's radio announcer competition in Singapore, with supportive fans pooling funds for his trip. He won overall, launching his career as a professional radio host.

"I submitted my entry and headed to Singapore for the audition. The organisers sent me weekly letters to update me on my progress through the elimination rounds," he recalls.

The grand final took place at the Mandarin Hotel, where Radha stood as the sole Malaysian among the top 10 finalists.

"A few Singaporeans watched my performance and told me right then that I was going to win. I was both shocked and thrilled," says Radha.

Though he has no single favourite vocalist, he takes pride in the artistes he has shared a stage with.

"I've had the privilege of working alongside heavyweights in Malaysian music, including the late percussion maestro Lewis Pragasam," he notes.

PATRICK TEOH

Radha built his emceeing portfolio at The Cellar in Petaling Jaya, singing lead for resident band Cellar High-Five.

Radio icon Patrick Teoh eventually recommended him to host Music City on RTM's Radio 4 (now Traxx FM).

"The show aired on Sundays from 9am to 10am. I recorded my segments at a studio in Jalan Kemajuan, Petaling Jaya. That gig opened doors for me to network with so many fantastic musicians who became lifelong friends."

In 1975, Radha resigned from EPF to pursue showbiz full-time, fronting Electric Orgasm at the Merlin Hotel. A year later, he co-founded Four Ways with Pragasam.

"We named the band Four Ways because our repertoire spanned rock, pop, jazz, and country. Our debut gig was at the Rasa Sayang Hotel in Batu Feringghi, Penang," Radha shares.

BAKAT TV

Radha's early TV break came via RTM's 1970s talent search, Bakat TV.

"I auditioned in 1970 and got knocked out in the very first round doing a comedy sketch," he laughs. "Even though I didn't advance, I still got a huge round of applause from the audience. It was a proud moment for me."

By the late 1990s, Radha was hosting RTM's children's series 'Jojo And Friends'.

"It was a show designed to help children master English. I played the titular character Jojo — disguised in an anthropomorphic bear suit — assisting my human co-hosts to teach young viewers proper grammar and expand their vocabulary," he explains.

In 1994, Radha joined Radio 4 as a staff presenter for 15 years, covering sports events. "I was fortunate enough to report from the ground at various Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) games and the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam."

TURF CLUB

In 1977, Radha began a DJ stint at The Hobbit in Wisma Central, incorporating horse-racing commentary into his sets.

"I spent three years there and incorporated live horse-racing commentary into my DJ sets. To make it sound authentic, I frequented the nearby Selangor Turf Club to study the race callers. That's where I learnt to imitate the thundering hooves and whinnies of the horses," he explains.

He substituted horse and jockey names with pop stars, complete with realistic sound effects.

"That was how the 'Black Stallion' nickname really took off. Later, in the 1990s, I released two novelty compilation albums, 'Pump It' and 'Rap It', where I voiced intro announcements for artistes performing cover versions of smash hits."

LIONEL RICHIE

Radha still dreams of presenting an award like Best Comedian at the Oscars.

"It could be anywhere in the US — a country I've always dreamed of visiting," he says. "I pray that one day I'll get the chance to present an award in the States. But for now, I'm thoroughly enjoying my work as a freelance emcee and stand-up comedian."

He expresses admiration for Engelbert Humperdinck and Lionel Richie: "I'm also a big fan of Lionel Richie. To me, he's one of the greatest soul singers America has ever produced."

BRITISH COUNCIL

Had he not pursued music and broadcasting, Radha would have carved out a career in stage theatre.

"I used to act in British Council stage productions, most notably 'Witness for the Prosecution'. I adore British plays for their sharp wit, wisdom, and elegant dialogue."

His performance philosophy remains simple: "When I'm on stage, I only listen out for two things: boos and claps. If the audience is clapping, I know I've done my job right. If they boo, I know I've missed the mark," he smiles.

Radha's next major outing is the Musicians for Malaysia benefit concert, Rocking for a Cause, on Oct 10 at the Royal Subang Golf Club, reuniting with Electric Orgasm for the first time in five decades.

"My former bandmates taking the stage include Francis Danker on drums, Royston Sta Maria on keyboards, Fauzi Marzuki on guitar, and Nasser Abu Kassim on bass," says Radha. "We'll be reliving our glory days — all for a worthy cause to support veteran musicians in need."