The Star Metro Diary - L C Ng

THE STAR - METRO DIARY
by L. C. NG

ALFRED HO MEETS POP IDOL BRIAN HYLAND
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It can be quite an experience when one graduates from being a fan to being a friend of one's pop idol, as local blind singer Alfred Ho has found out.

"When I heard that Brian Hyland was in town, I tracked him down to the Damansara Westpoint Club where he was performing and they told me that he was staying at the Merlin (now Concorde KL).

"I called him at the hotel and asked for an interview for Newscast - a tape news magazine for the blind- and he obliged and told me to meet him at the hotel the next day," Alfred said.

And when Alfred, who had been a Brian Hyland fan since his teenage years, turned up at the hotel the next day, Brian was ready - and not just for the interview.

Armed with guitars, the two music lovers had a jam session which lasted about three hours. For Alfred, who had only dared to hope for an interview, the jam session was too good to be true."Brian is one of the nicest persons I have ever met. There were no airs about him. He struck me as a very warm, obliging and friendly person."

Alfred added that he sang a few songs and joined Brian in singing some of his oldies, including, GINNY COME LATELY and SEALED WITH A KISS.

"He invited me to his show that evening," Alfred said. Halfway through the show that evening, Brian invited Alfred onto the stage to do the number BYE BYE LOVE together with him.

"Never have I ever imagined that I would have the chance to perform a number on stage with Brian," Alfred said afterwards.

But that was not all. The next evening, immediately after his own show at the Damansara Westpoint Club, Brian Hyland went to the Cotton Club to watch Alfred perform. Brian later obliged the audience by singing two of his songs at the Cotton Club.

"I have always been A Brian Hyland fan but I hope I can now consider myself his friend," said Alfred, beaming from ear to ear.