#SHOWBIZ: Veteran singer, saxophonist Man G dies in his sleep at 58

KUALA LUMPUR: The local entertainment industry is mourning the loss of another veteran artiste following the sudden passing of singer and saxophonist Azharuzzaman Ariffin, affectionately known as Man G.

The 58-year-old musician died in his sleep at his residence in Ipoh, Perak, yesterday afternoon.

The artiste passed away at approximately 5pm, apparently due to fatigue which has shocked both his family and industry peers.

His younger sister, Aina Zuraya Ariffin, 57, revealed that her brother had performed in Kuala Lumpur on May 31 before complaining of exhaustion upon his return home.

“Yes, my brother passed away yesterday afternoon,” Aina told BH Online.

“Prior to that, he had a performance in Kuala Lumpur on May 31. After returning, he complained of body aches and feeling tired. He applied some medicated oil and went to sleep. However, yesterday afternoon the family realised he had not woken up.”

Aina added that a subsequent post-mortem examination revealed severe underlying health complications. “The hospital informed us that he passed away from extreme exhaustion, and three of his coronary arteries were nearly 90 per cent blocked,” she said.

The post-mortem was conducted at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, and the late musician was scheduled to be laid to rest at the Rapat Setia Cemetery in Ipoh this afternoon.

Remembering her brother, who was the fourth of six siblings, Aina described him as a naturally quiet and reserved individual.

“Ever since his days as an active singer, he was always very shy. Among his siblings, he spoke the least. But when we gathered and chatted, he was actually very warm. You could say he was our mother’s favorite, especially since our eldest brother and our father have both passed away,” she added.

Fellow singer Datuk Azizul Khamis described Azharuzzaman’s passing as a significant loss to the local music scene.

“We haven’t met in a long time, but I performed with him a few times. He was very quiet and shy. He was popular with the song Malam Gelisah and many other tracks composed by the late Tan Sri Ahmad Nawab, which were deeply loved by listeners. He was even dubbed the ‘Jamal Abdillah lookalike’ because his voice sounded so similar.”

Legendary singer Datuk Jamal Abdillah himself acknowledged the striking similarities in their voice and appearance during Man G’s debut in the late 1980s.

“I met him a few times, though we weren’t very close. I am aware that his voice and appearance were very close to mine. He entered the industry at a time when I was undergoing medical treatment. I still remember his debut alongside the late Ibnor Riza and several other singers,” Jamal recalled.

Expressing her condolences, singer Datin Salwa Abdul Rahman added that she had followed his career closely from afar.

“I knew of him, though we were not close. I always followed his music. We haven’t crossed paths at events for a long time as he had been away from the mainstream scene, but I am incredibly saddened by this news.”

Yesterday, the singer’s cousin, Aznur Radin, broke the news of his passing on Facebook.

He noted that after a brief stint in the mainstream pop scene, Azharuzzaman continued to pursue his musical passion as a saxophonist in Ipoh under the moniker Man G.

Managed and mentored by legendary composer Ahmad Nawab, the singer found fame with his 1988 signature hit Malam Gelisah.

“Praise be to God, he left us peacefully and passed away in his sleep. May his children, wife, mother, siblings, and the entire family remain strong and accept his departure,” Aznur wrote.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times