MEDIA RELEASE contact Brian James 03 9 500 0059
Monday, October 19th, 2009
Kamahl celebrates a 50 year TV career and memories of Sir Donald,
Rupert, Royalty, Nat King Cole, and even being ‘stoned’ while singing
This week, Channel 9 in Adelaide is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the first Adelaide
Tonight Show. The show was a remarkable one, especially for a terrified, shy, young, slender,
Malaysian-born student/singer with an inferiority complex who was plucked from obscurity to
sing two songs on the night.
He was an instant success and Kamahl’s television career began that night, Saturday, October
17th, 1959, and has continued unabated to this day, though here have been plenty of
spectacular highs and lows along the way.
“I can’t remember much about the night, except that I had a parched throat and somebody
gave me a scotch and water. I don’t know that it did me any good, because the whole thing
was a blur, even though I sang two numbers!”
Kamahl’s first foray into music was imitating Nat King Cole as a student in Adelaide. It was the
first time he was ever ‘stoned’ while singing.
“I had nowhere to practice, so I would head to Kings College Oval at midnight, put a blanket
over my head and vocalize Cole’s ‘Nature Boy’. I remember hearing the thud of stones landing
very close to me; lucky they were poor shots, and harsh judges of music!!!”
In Adelaide in the late 1950’s, Kamahl was building a reputation as a singer, including
performances at the famous Lido nightclub and in private homes, churches, parties and so on.
He was also creating interest for his cricket feats.
On debut as a spin bowler for Kensington, he took a hat trick with the first three balls of the
season. After the match he was gob smacked when introduced to Sir Donald Bradman. Thirty
three years later, the Great Man and Kamahl were later to become best friends, with Sir Don,
one of the singer’s biggest fans and supporters over many years.
Support for Kamahl at the start and throughout his career has come from many sources,
including Rupert Murdoch and his family who later had him stay at their home in Sydney for
two years. They still remain firm friends.
This week sees Kamahl celebrate a number of milestones;
His initial TV appearance; the fortieth anniversary of his first hit song, ‘Sounds of Goodbye’,
and the Bradman Trust Dinner, Sir Donald’s belated 101st birthday celebration , at the Sydney
Cricket Ground this Wednesday. Kamahl may be persuaded to sing “I was a mate of Don
Bradman’s”, a tribute to his friend Sir Donald.
It will be a memorable week for Kamahl, capping off a fifty plus career which is still as strong
as ever, thanks to that first appearance on Adelaide Tonight, in 1959.
As Kamahl correctly says, “Whoever said, people are so unkind?”
Channel (Adelaide will be celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Adelaide Tonight, Tuesday
(October 20th). Kamahl will be sending through a message.
For interviews with Kamahl, call Brian James
03 9 500 0059
0410 414 770
EM brian@brianjames.com.au
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