Bakat TV yodelling maestro Jeremiah dies

PENANG yodeller and logistics specialist Bryan Aloysius Jeremiah passed away last Thursday after a massive heart attack. He was 63.

Jeremiah first came to the nation's notice in 1971 in the finals of Bakat TV, a talent competition that attracted the best artistic talents of the local entertainment industry, the list of luminaries including comedian Jamali Shadat, guitarist Paul Ponnudorai, singer Sudirman Arshad, Sept 5, the Silhouettes, Strange Brew, Hew, Shagul Hamid and Suhaili Shamsuddin, to name a few.

Jeremiah had already won Radio Malaysia's Talentime in 1967, aged 18, and while virtually all the others stuck to the safe repertoire of pop and jazz ballads in Bakat TV, he was a ground-breaker who astounded everyone with his country, Slim Whitman-styled yodelling.

His choice in the TV finals was Whitman's Love Knot in My Lariat which inspired other country music enthusiasts, showing there was always hope for country music if you fired it with passion.

Jeremiah had studied at St Xavier’s Institution in Penang and took top honours in many sports, including football, badminton, table tennis, bowling, hockey and golf. He went on to be an announcer for Radio Malaysia while honing his singing and yodelling talents.

"He put his music career on hold when a foray into the corporate world saw him shine in manufacturing and logistics," said daughter Dawn Marie. "Dad never looked back.

"On a personal level, he was a very caring person, always ready to help people in need." Bryan Jeremiah's wake is being held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

The cortege will leave for Mount Erskine Crematorium at 2pm, today.

Bryan Jeremiah leaves wife Josephine Cheang Lai Wan, and daughters Dawn Marie and Fern Angela. Rest In Peace.