Timeless classics with Jimmy Fong
From singing with John Denver to having a song to promote Penang, the Melbournebased Fong is still making waves, writes
THE signature song of John Denver, Take Me Home, Country Roads, drew Penang-born Jimmy Fong into the music of this legendary folk singer. When he heard the US Billboard 1971 chart-topper playing on the radio, the budding musician learnt the tune first on his guitar, and then the lyrics.
Then in 1994, according to his website, Fong met Denver when he toured Malaysia. Denver performed Country Roads and requested Fong to perform with him.
Decades later, the 59-year-old Fong remembers the Denver duet well. Something he still can’t get over is that “Denver was someone so famous and yet can be so humble”, says Fong, who is now a singer, songwriter and artiste based in Melbourne, Australia.
The 1970s was a time of more simplicity perhaps, and Denver’s gentle, laidback sound fitted in well with the era.
Denver, who tragically died in a plane
crash in 1997, wrote several unforgettable songs including Leaving On A Jet Plane in 1967, first sung by Peter, Paul and Mary, and Rocky Mountain High, in 1972 which became an official song of the US state of Colorado.
Obviously inspired by Denver, Fong also produced and starred in a musical show named My Time With John Denver which saw sell-out shows in Australia and the United States.
In October 2015, Fong was invited to perform in Aspen, Colorado, for the John Denver annual festival. Later that month, he performed in New Mexico (Denver’s birthplace), the United States, in a fundraising concert.
He was invited back to perform again at the annual John Denver Festival in October 2017 and was given the Soaring Eagle Award by the Rocky Mountain Foundation For The Performing Arts for his outstanding musical talents and accomplishments.
“I like Denver’s timeless classics. The sincerity in his lyrics. The passion, the humanity and compassion that drives his songs,” says Fong.
While residing Down Under, Penang is never far from Fong’s mind, as he has been back to perform, time and again. He enjoyed sell-out shows with Down
Memory Lane in both Penangpac and the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre in 2017 and last year.
He will perform Memories Of Penang at the Penang Performing Arts Centre come June 28 weekend.
That song is said to be in the running as the theme song for Experience Penang Year 2020 state tourism campaign.
For the Penangpac show, he says: “The audience can hear and watch Memories
Of Penang performed live by the original artiste in the wonderful acoustic ambience of Penangpac.
“They can also hear the story firsthand of how I came to write the song. What inspired me to write and how it was recorded.”
Fong will be performing with the Baby Boomers. They comprise Bonnie Jeremiah on electric bass and double bass, with Rasyidi Bakar on percussion. Both will provide backing vocals.
“Richard Martin (who performed on the original recording) is on leave for this coming concert and is replaced by Michael Kay on keyboard,” says Fong.
Fong has released four albums to date. These include Just When You Thought
(2013), My Time With John Denver (2015), Down Memory Lane (live album) and Dancing Fireflies.
Some of his popular original songs include December Skies, Dancing Fireflies
(about Sarawak), Balancing Act, Build That Bridge, Jonker Street, Helang Langkawi and Just When You Thought.
Fong listens to young Malaysian artistes like Zee Avi sometimes. “I am still catching up with the local music scene,” he says.
The Miri-born Zee, also a folk singer, first made waves in Malaysia with No
Christmas For Me back in 2008. In 2016, she won Best Original Film Song at the 53rd Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards for Arena Cahaya, the theme song she co-wrote for the movie, Ola Bola.
Fong treasures every step of his journey so far. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he says.