The Edge - Lim Yin Foong (16th Jan 1995)

RE : THE HOPES OF ALFRED HO
==========================

His warm mellow voice has serenaded many over the radio and he has often performed his repertoire of songs to local and foreign audiences.

With such a following, and the fact that he has been on the local music scene for more than 20 years, one would expect Alfred Ho to be a success by now.

Yet, even with the release of his album "Special Gems" and with another in the pipeline, Ho's efforts to succeed seem to have been one long struggle since the blind singer's decision to turn full-time entertainer in 1984.

His is a story of determination and grit and constantly picking himself up again and again through a series of stumbling blocks from unresponsive record companies to unscrupulous clients.

Despite positive response from his listeners, Ho is simply striving to make ends meet for himself by performing at company dinners and through occasional sales of his albums.

As a former semi-finalist of RTM's Bakat TV in the 70's, Ho is definitely not lacking in talent but is in need of professional business management and strong marketing. This Ho frankly admits he does not possess.

"I know nothing about business", he says. This perhaps explains why he has often been given the run-around by companies and music stores and those whom he has approached for aid. But Ho is one pretty determined man and his actions tell. His experiences with his previous album has not deterred him from producing his second album titled "Love Songs In Gold", even though "Special Gems" received lukewarm response from recording companies and music stores.

This resulted in poor distribution of Ho's cassettes and CDs, which affected his income, although he received very encouraging response from the public, who had heard his songs over the radio.

"My decision to do a second album is because of the positive response I received for "Special Gems" from listeners. I even got encouraging calls asking me to release a second album", relates the 45 year old singer. Whatever lack of experience Ho has in marketing and distributing his albums, he has no problems identifying the niche market to whom he aims his music, The Nostalgic listeners.

"It's mainly an older market", he says adding that his music also appeals to many "youngsters", judging from the sales of his "Special Gems" albums. Ho feels that his focus on old favourites could not have been more timely as presently, many young groups and singers are coming out with remakes of old songs. "I believe that old songs are those that never die", he adds.

His latest album, set to be released in time for Valentine's Day, will feature old love songs with a difference. Ho says' "They are mostly rare songs, like Bobby Darin's (18 yellow roses) and (I'll Pretend) by Des O'Connor. They will be recorded as close as possible to the originals, to capture the song's nostalgia".

For "Love Songs In Gold", Ho has decided to invest the returns of his first album to having the new album recorded in a professional studio.

This will be a first for the singer who in the past has always done his own recording of his albums. "I will try to do a better album and to make it more impressive. Music-wise, it will be better because more musical instruments will be featured", he states.

Ho has been musically inclined since he learnt how to play the guitar while studying at Penang's St. Nicholas School for the blind. His early days in music include being the founder and member of a four-piece band known as The Sharks, solo performances in pubs and the highlight ; becoming a semi-finalist in RTM's Bakat TV during the 70's.

Prior to "Special Gems", Ho had come up with two Ep vinyl records compromising his own compositions. These days, however, he hardly has time to work on his own songs. "I am too busy learning songs. I sing mainly old favourites because this is what many people want to hear but I also have to keep up with the times and learn some current songs", he adds.

Ho's efforts to achieve success in his field is not just some dream for stardom and fame but rather to achieve that as a means to an end. His experiences have inspired him to use his talent to help people who like himself, are disabled.

For starters, he hopes to eventually set up his own recording studio where he would be able to help other handicapped singers and performers cut their own albums. "I believe there is a lot of talent amongst the handicapped and they should be given opportunities", he says, adding that he would also like to employ disabled people in the studio's workforce.

According to Ho, he has often volunteered his skills to help raise funds for the handicapped, as he feels that not enough is being done for them. "For instance, I feel there is a pressing need for a revolving fund or welfare aid for disabled people who have retired from their jobs and lost their steady flow of income".

As for his own music efforts, Ho believes that what he needs is more professional efforts and proper distributions of his albums. "If I don't do anything, there is nothing. But if I do, chances are there will be something", he adds simply.

And if perseverance ever had a name, it would definitely be Alfred Ho.