Jacintha Abisheganaden (born 3 October 1957), known professionally as Jacintha, is a
Singaporean
Singaporeans, or the Singaporean people, refers to citizens or people who identify with the sovereign island city-state of Singapore. Singapore is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual country. Singaporeans of Chinese, Malay, Ind ...
singer, actress, and theater practitioner who studied at the
National University of Singapore and received a degree in arts, majoring in English literature. She is a founding member of the performance company
TheatreWorks.
Early life
Abisheganaden was born in 1957 to mixed-race musician parents, namely a
Ceylonese
Sri Lankan or Ceylonese may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Sri Lanka
* A person from Sri Lanka, see Demographics of Sri Lanka
** Sinhalese people, the ethnic majority
** Sri Lankan Tamils, an ethnic minority
** Sri L ...
-origin ethnic
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
classical guitarist cum music teacher, Alex Abisheganaden (born 1926), a recipient of the
Cultural Medallion
The Cultural Medallion is a cultural award in Singapore conferred to those who have achieved artistic excellence in dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film. It is widely recognized as Singapore's pinnacle arts award.
Histo ...
and a
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...
mother of
Cantonese
Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding ar ...
descent, Eileen Wong (born 1928) who was a pianist and also an arts teacher. She studied piano and voice from her early teens and also sang in the
Singapore Youth Choir
The Singapore Youth Choir (SYC) Ensemble Singers (previously known as the Singapore Youth Choir) is a distinguished choral group in Singapore formed in 1964.
The SYC Ensemble Singers is currently led by Jennifer Tham, a leading choral instructor ...
where she met her future collaborator,
Dick Lee
Richard Lee Peng Boon (born 24 August 1956) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, playwright and film director.
Early life
Lee was born to a Peranakan father, Lee Kip Lee, (who wrote for ''The Straits Times'') and his wife , Elizabeth Tan. He was th ...
. Growing up, Abisheganaden listened to a wide variety of music, not only vocal jazz and traditional pop but also artists who ranged from
Stevie Wonder to
Joni Mitchell to South African singer
Miriam Makeba
Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she w ...
. Abisheganaden was a big fan of Brazilian bandleader
Sergio Mendes
Sergio may refer to:
* Sergio (given name), for people with the given name Sergio
* Sergio (carbonado), the largest rough diamond ever found
* ''Sergio'' (album), a 1994 album by Sergio Blass
* ''Sergio'' (2009 film), a documentary film
* ''Se ...
during her upbringing and she has been quoted as saying that she was "obsessed" with
Barbra Streisand
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...
.
Abisheganaden was educated at Marymount Convent School,
Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution (RI) is an independent educational institution in Singapore. Founded in 1823, it is the oldest school in the country. It provides secondary education for boys only from Year 1 to Year 4, and pre-university education for both ...
and the
National University of Singapore, where she graduated with an honours degree in English. She then went to America where she studied creative writing at
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
.
Career
Abisheganaden first came to prominence in 1976 when she won a local television talent contest, ''Talentime'', singing jazz. She continued this winning streak in 1981, when she nabbed the Best Female Performer award for her role as Nurse Angamuthu in ''General Hospital'' at the Drama Festival.
Beginning in 1982, she worked as an arts reporter for ''
The Straits Times
''The Straits Times'' is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore and currently owned by SPH Media Trust (previously Singapore Press Holdings). ''The Sunday Times'' is its Sunday edition. The newspaper was establish ...
'', interviewing figures like
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka (; born March 13, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Since his music career began in 1957, he has sold millions of records worldwide and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collabo ...
,
Cliff Richards
Cliff Richards (born 1964, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil) is a Brazilian comic book artist.
Biography
Richards is best known as the penciller of the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' monthly series from Dark Horse Comics, as well as the artist on the '' ...
and
Sophia Loren. In 1982, she acted as Pala in ''Samseng and the Chettiar's Daughter'', a
Singapore Arts Festival
Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is an annual arts festival held in Singapore. It is organised bArts House Limitedfor the National Arts Council. The festival is usually held in mid-year for a stretch of one month and incorporates t ...
production directed by
John Tasker. She also acted in the Experimental Theatre Club's ''Terry Rex'' for the 1982 Singapore Drama Festival. In 1983, Abisheganaden released her debut album ''Silence'' on WEA, on which
Dick Lee
Richard Lee Peng Boon (born 24 August 1956) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, playwright and film director.
Early life
Lee was born to a Peranakan father, Lee Kip Lee, (who wrote for ''The Straits Times'') and his wife , Elizabeth Tan. He was th ...
wrote nine out of the ten songs. The new wave album, containing a cover of the
Bee Gees'
"Run to Me", was reviewed positively, with ''
The Straits Times
''The Straits Times'' is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore and currently owned by SPH Media Trust (previously Singapore Press Holdings). ''The Sunday Times'' is its Sunday edition. The newspaper was establish ...
'' calling it "probably the most impressive debut album...from a local singer." In the same year, Abisheganaden acted in the Experimental Theatre Club's production of ''Susan's Party'', directed by Lim Siauw Chong, for the Drama Festival. In 1984, Abisheganaden starred in
Dick Lee
Richard Lee Peng Boon (born 24 August 1956) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, playwright and film director.
Early life
Lee was born to a Peranakan father, Lee Kip Lee, (who wrote for ''The Straits Times'') and his wife , Elizabeth Tan. He was th ...
's play ''Bumboat''—the title song, featuring the cast, was released as a record, with "Unsaid", a duet between Lee and Abisheganaden on the flipside. In 1985, Abisheganaden returned from the States temporarily (where she moved with her husband) to act in
TheatreWorks' ''Love and Belacan'', three playlets co-starring
Lim Kay Tong
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, body_discovered =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinates ...
. In 1986, Abisheganaden returned from the States permanently to record her second album, and played a series of live jazz shows at The Saxophone. In the same year, she sang and acted in
Singapore Broadcasting Corporation
Mediacorp Pte. Ltd., doing business as Mediacorp and stylised as mediacorp, is a media conglomerate in Singapore. Owned by Temasek Holdings—the holding company of the Government of Singapore—it owns television, radio, and digital media prope ...
's hour-long programme ''Destination Mauritius''. In 1987, Abisheganaden was voted Best Performer at the fourth ASEAN Song Festival and released her second album ''Tropicana''. She also acted as Zemphira in ''The Gypsies—The Tragedy of Zemphira'', directed by William Teo. In 1988, she performed in
TheatreWorks' musical ''
Beauty World'' and acted as singer Josephine in
Pam Gems
Pam Gems (1 August 1925 – 13 May 2011) was an English playwright. The author of numerous original plays, as well as of adaptations of works by European playwrights of the past, Gems is best known for the 1978 musical play '' Piaf''.
Persona ...
' ''
Piaf''. In the same year, she was Singapore's representative at the Pax Musica cultural entertainment show in Singapore. In 1989, Abisheganaden and
Dick Lee
Richard Lee Peng Boon (born 24 August 1956) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, playwright and film director.
Early life
Lee was born to a Peranakan father, Lee Kip Lee, (who wrote for ''The Straits Times'') and his wife , Elizabeth Tan. He was th ...
represented Singapore at the Asia Song Festival in Japan. She performed "Come Back to Me Tonight", which Lee composed for the event. In the same year, she acted in
TheatreWorks' ''Mixed Signals'', a three-act comedy written by
Michael Chiang
Michael Chiang (born 27 October 1955 in Muar, Malaysia) is a prolific playwright and screenwriter in Singapore. He is known as "Singapore's most famous and successful playwright".
From 1990 to 2009, Chiang was the editorial director of Mediacorp ...
, and ''Jackson on a Jaunt'' by
Eleanor Wong, staged as part of the double bill ''Safe Sex''. She also performed with the
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...
, conducted by
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta (born 29 April 1936) is an Indian conductor of Western classical music. He is music director emeritus of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) and conductor emeritus of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Mehta's father was the fou ...
.
In 1990, Abisheganaden acted as Sheila Rani in
TheatreWorks' revival of Lim Chor Pee's play, ''Mimi Fan''. In 1991, Abisheganaden acted in
Eric Khoo
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, resting_place =
, nationality = Singaporean
, alma_mater = Uni ...
's short film ''August'' as an adulterous wife and released her third album ''Dramamama'' on Japan's Wave Records. In the same year, she starred in
TheatreWorks' ''Fried Rice Paradise'' and ''Theatre Games''. In 1992, Abisheganaden starred in
Dick Lee
Richard Lee Peng Boon (born 24 August 1956) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, playwright and film director.
Early life
Lee was born to a Peranakan father, Lee Kip Lee, (who wrote for ''The Straits Times'') and his wife , Elizabeth Tan. He was th ...
's first Asian operetta, ''Nagaland'', which performed to full houses in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. In 1993, Abisheganaden sang the lead role of Grizabella in ''
Cats'' when the hit musical opened in Singapore. In the same year, she hosted the cooking show, ''Mum's Not Cooking''. In 1997, Abisheganaden starred in
Dick Lee
Richard Lee Peng Boon (born 24 August 1956) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, playwright and film director.
Early life
Lee was born to a Peranakan father, Lee Kip Lee, (who wrote for ''The Straits Times'') and his wife , Elizabeth Tan. He was th ...
's musical ''Hotpants'', which was restaged in 2014.
In the mid-nineties, actor
Lim Kay Tong
use both this parameter and , birth_date to display the person's date of birth, date of death, and age at death) -->
, death_place =
, death_cause =
, body_discovered =
, resting_place =
, resting_place_coordinates ...
introduced Abisheganaden to Ying Tan, who signed her to his Groove Note label. Her first jazz album was released in 1998: ''Here's To Ben – A Vocal Tribute To
Ben Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.
Career Early life and career
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, he studied violin, learned how to play blues on the piano from ...
''. Abisheganaden's second album for the Groove Note label, ''Autumn Leaves: The Songs of
Johnny Mercer'' (1999) has seen the title track being used for TV series ''
Alias
Alias may refer to:
* Pseudonym
* Pen name
* Nickname
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Alias'' (2013 film), a 2013 Canadian documentary film
* ''Alias'' (TV series), an American action thriller series 2001–2006
* ''Alias the ...
'', while the bonus track "Here's to Life" was used as the title track for the Hollywood movie ''
Play It to the Bone
''Play It to the Bone'' is a 1999 American sports comedy drama film, starring Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson, written and directed by Ron Shelton.
It follows the adventures of two boxers and best friends who travel to Las Vegas in order t ...
'', as well as being used during
Michael J. Fox
Michael Andrew Fox (born June 9, 1961), known professionally as Michael J. Fox, is a Canadian-American retired actor. Beginning his career in the 1970s, he rose to prominence portraying Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom ''Family Ties'' (1 ...
's narration of ABC Sports' coverage Game 7 of the
2001 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2001 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2000–01 season, and the culmination of the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanl ...
. She has since recorded several jazz albums under the Groove Note label, including "Lush Life" (2002), "Jacintha is Her Name" (2003), "The Girl from Bossa Nova" (2004), and "Jacintha Goes to Hollywood" (2007). The retrospective collection "Best of Jacintha" was released in 2008.
In 2004, Abisheganaden performed her own cabaret jazz show, ''The Angina Monologues'' at the
Old Parliament House, Singapore
The Arts House (formerly the Old Parliament House) is a multi-disciplinary arts venue in Singapore. The venue plays host to art exhibitions and concerts. Built in 1827, the Old Parliament House is the oldest government building and perhaps the ...
. In 2006, Abisheganaden served as a judge on the second season of ''
Singapore Idol
''Singapore Idol'' is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by MediaCorp Studios and FremantleMedia Operations BV. It began airing on MediaCorp Channel 5 on 9 August 2004, as an addition to the Idol fran ...
''. In 2012, Abisheganaden returned to the stage after 13 years, playing herself in
Ong Keng Sen
Ong Keng Sen (born 20 November 1963; ) is a Singaporean director of the theatre group TheatreWorks, which was founded in 1985.
Early life
Ong Keng Sen was youngest of six children born to immigrants from Putian, China. Ong joined the drama cl ...
's ''National Broadway Company'', a musical commissioned for the
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (also known as the Esplanade Theatres (''Malay'': Teater di Persisiran) or simply The Esplanade) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and a performing arts centre loc ...
's 10th anniversary.
Personal life
In 1983, Abisheganaden married an American lawyer
David Scheffer
David John Scheffer (born September 18, 1953) is an American lawyer and diplomat who served as the first United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, during President Bill Clinton's second term in office. He is the Mayer Brown/Robe ...
. They separated after three years.
In June 1992, Abisheganaden married her close collaborator, the singer-songwriter
Dick Lee
Richard Lee Peng Boon (born 24 August 1956) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, playwright and film director.
Early life
Lee was born to a Peranakan father, Lee Kip Lee, (who wrote for ''The Straits Times'') and his wife , Elizabeth Tan. He was th ...
. The couple divorced in 1997.
In May 1998, Abisheganaden married former ''
The Straits Times
''The Straits Times'' is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore and currently owned by SPH Media Trust (previously Singapore Press Holdings). ''The Sunday Times'' is its Sunday edition. The newspaper was establish ...
'' journalist Koh Boon Pin in Bali. The couple, who have a son Alexander together, divorced in 2008.
Discography
* ''Silence'' (WEA, 1983)
* ''Tropicana'' (WEA, 1987)
* ''Dramamama'' (Sony, 1991)
* ''My Life'' (Springroll, 1997)
* ''Here's to Ben: A Vocal Tribute to Ben Webster'' (Groove Note, 1998)
* ''Autumn Leaves: The Songs of Johnny Mercer'' (Groove Note, 1999)
* ''Lush Life'' (Groove Note, 2001)
* ''Jacintha Is Her Name'' (Groove Note, 2003)
* ''The Girl from Bossa Nova'' (Groove Note, 2004)
* ''Love Flows Like a River'' (Harmony, 2005)
* ''Jacintha Goes to Hollywood'' (Groove Note, 2007)
* ''Best of Jacintha'' (Groove Note, 2008)
* ''Fire & Rain'' (Groove Note, 2018)
See also
*
Chindian
Chindian ( zh, c=中印人, p=Zhōngyìnrén, cy=Jūngyanyàn; ta, சிந்தியன்; is an informal term used to refer to a person of mixed Chinese and Indian ancestry; i.e. from any of the host of ethnic groups native to modern Ch ...
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abisheganaden, Jacintha
1957 births
Singaporean television actresses
Singaporean Anglicans
Singaporean film actresses
20th-century Singaporean women singers
Singaporean people of Sri Lankan Tamil descent
Living people
Singaporean people of Indian descent
Singaporean people of Chinese descent
Tamil musicians
20th-century Singaporean actresses
Singaporean journalists
Singaporean women journalists
21st-century Singaporean women singers