Biduanita Negara Kartina Dahari (12 November 1941 – 30 April 2014) was a Singaporean

Malay Malay may refer to: Languages * Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore ** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century ** Indonesi ...

singer and entertainer who was a fixture on

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

and radio from the 1950s to the 1980s. Dahari, who was nicknamed "Queen of

Keroncong Kroncong (pronounced "kronchong"; id, Keroncong, nl, Krontjong) is the name of a ukulele-like instrument and an Indonesian musical style that typically makes use of the kroncong (the sound ' comes from this instrument, so the music is called ' ...

," a type of

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

popular at the time, was best known for her hit single, "Sayang Di Sayang" ("Lover is Loved"), which was composed by

Zubir Said Zubir Said (22 July 1907 – 16 November 1987) was a Singaporean composer most notable for composing the national anthem of his country, "Majulah Singapura" – "Onward Singapore". A self-taught musician, Zubir also worked as a score arrang ...

. She was the first

Malay language Malay (; ms, Bahasa Melayu, links=no, Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , Rejang script, Rencong: ) is an Austronesian languages, Austronesian language that is an official language of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, and that is also spo ...

singer to record English language songs, releasing four EPs, two LPs and four

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

in that language. Dahari was born to a family of Malay and Javanese origin. In 2009, Dahari was awarded a Golden Award (Perdana Emas), which was presented to her by former

President of Singapore The president of Singapore is the head of state of the Republic of Singapore. The role of the president is to safeguard the reserves and the integrity of the public service. The presidency is largely ceremonial, with the Cabinet led by the prime ...

S. R. Nathan. She was also the recipient of the Artistic Excellence Award, which was bestowed on her in 2010 by The Composers and Authors Society of Singapore. Her last public appearance took place at the

Esplanade, Singapore The Esplanade is a waterfront location just north of the mouth of the Singapore River in downtown Singapore. It is primarily occupied by the Esplanade Park, and was the venue for one of Singapore's largest congregation of satay outlets until thei ...

in 2013 when she went on stage to express her appreciation for the support shown by the organizers and her fans, at the close of her tribute concert performed by her peers. In March 2015 Dahari became the first singer/entertainer to be inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame."The Honoured Inductees to the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame"
. Retrieved 14 November 2015.

Death

Dahari was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010. She died on 30 April 2014, at the age of 72. Her three children and three grandchildren survive her.

References

External links

New Straits Times: Tribute for Keroncong Queen Kartina Dahari
2014 deaths 20th-century Singaporean women singers Singaporean people of Javanese descent Date of birth unknown Deaths from ovarian cancer Deaths from cancer in Singapore 1941 births {{Singapore-singer-stub