The Star - Allan Koay (Feb 2001)

UPHILL ALL THE WAY FOR HO
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Alfred Ho is in dire straits, or so he laments. "I can get by with at least one show a month," says Ho. "But now, I don't even get one show a month..and I have to live on my savings."

Even so, Ho isn't one to rest on his laurels and await handouts. He has recorded a new album which he hopes will help ease his financial woes.

NOSTALGIA GOLD, Ho's latest album of 24 songs, continues in almost the same vein as his previous albums. Almost, because this time around, it's not only rare old songs, but also some common or better-known hits from the 1980's and early 1990's.

"Those who buy my Cd's know that my concept is always old favourites," says Ho. But this time around, he decided to make the album more accessible by including songs that people can easily recognise and enjoy.

NOSTALGIA GOLD includes songs like the two-stepping ACKY BREAKY HEART, the Eagles' TEQUILA SUNRISE, ROSES ARE RED, BLUE SUEDE SHOES, HEY GOOD LOOKING and Nilson's EVERY BODY'S TALKING.

"It's a good selection of songs that will probably reach across the board to please many listeners." And from the sound of the recording, it is clear that the production has been handled professionally, which is one of Ho's self-imposed requirements.

"When we do an album, we have to conform to the normal standards," says Ho. "It's better to have a good backing band. During a show, it's okay for me to play the guitar alone to a rhythm machine. But on an album, because people will keep it for a life-time, it has to be as good as possible. Only if I were as well known as, say Paul McCartney, then I can do an unplugged album. But I'm not, so I don't want to take the risk. I'm financing this album myself."

However, the album faces an uncertain future, since there is practically no advertising or backing from any recording company. It would obviously be difficult to sell the album without any form of marketing.

NOSTALGIA GOLD is Ho's fourth album, the other three being, SPECIAL GEMS, LOVE SONGS IN GOLD and NOSTALGIC COUNTRY AND EVERGREEN FAVOURITES. The singer-guitarist has always produced his own albums, but one thing he has yet to do is include some of his own compositions, although he did release two EP Vinyls of originals earlier in his career.

"I still feel it's not the time for me to put my own songs into my albums," explains Ho. "I'm not a household name yet, so I don't know how much people are willing to accept that. So far, I still don't have the confidence."

These days, he says, his songs hardly get airplay on radio stations. Asked if it's because today's music caters more for youngsters who may not take to old songs that enthusiastically, Ho says it's not necessarily so.

"I know because when I play an old song in the shopping complexes, they will ask my wife if it's a new song, because they like it," says the Perak born singer. "My songs are more for those in their 30's, 40's and 50's. But then, I don't see why youngsters can't also enjoy my music. This time around, I've included some new songs, so I've not forgotten them." But he cautions : "Of course you can improve on these old songs, but I don't think you need to change them so drastically. Recording techniques in the old days weren't as good as the new ones. And you will have to improve on that. But I don't think you have to change it 100%."

Ho became blind at the age of three after a bout of measles. He studied at the St Nicholas School for the Blind in Penang. There he developed a love for music and learnt how to play the guitar by himself. His talent came to public prominence after performing on a show called TAKE FIVE on Rediffusion in 1971. In 1983, he made a hard decision to quit his 10-year old job as a telephone operator to become a full-time entertainer. Since then, his career has been a uphill battle against a difficult music industry and unscrupulous characters but through it all, Ho never relinquished his dreams.

He believes that opportunity should be given to handicapped individuals for their talents to flourish and that they should not all be forced to become basket-weavers or telephone operators.

"People think that because I have made albums, I'm doing very well," says Ho. "But it is not so. Many people do not realise this."