Multi-talented Datuk Fazley Yaakob is finally going to realise one of his childhood dreams, to be a "singing chef" who serenades diners whenever their food is served.
In a recent interview, Fazley said that he will begin his "duties" as Malaysia's first singing celebrity chef after Hari Raya Aidil Adha two months from now.
SUKA SUCRE
"I plan to perform in about seven restaurants around the Klang Valley but for now I will confine my singing chef duties to Suka Sucre, my restaurant in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
"What I'll do is cook each meal with my team in the kitchen, and once the food is ready to be served I will take to the stage and serenade diners for about an hour while my waiters serve them.
"There will be three 60-minute sets for me, with 10- to 15-minute breaks in between."
CUBAN BAND
Fazley plans to sing Latin songs and has talked to seven restaurants around the Klang Valley which have expressed their interest in having him serenade diners.
"I've a list of 30 songs which will be sung in Spanish. Half of them are popular Malay songs."
Fazley will be backed by a five-member Cuban band and will have an occasional guest singer with him.
"The reason why I have chosen to sing Latin songs is because Malaysia does not have that many Latin singers, and there is demand for singers who are good in languages other than English, Malay and Chinese."
ROMANTIC AND CHALLENGING
Fazley made many Latin American friends in the United States while his late father was studying there.
"I fell in love with Spanish music as it is romantic as well as challenging. While English and Malay music remain my forte, Spanish is my favourite third language," he said.
Many of Fazley's close friends think he looks Latin American and this is because his great grandfather was of Indian descent.
NUSANTARA COLLABORATION
Fazley is also working on a R&B song with an Indonesian music producer who is a close friend, and singer-songwriter Rahmat of Singapore.
"The song is titled 'Cinta Tak Salah' and its theme is about the fact that love is blind.
"The message of the song is that love is God's will and man can only plan."
FOR GLENN
Fazley is dedicating this song to his late Indonesian crooner friend Glenn Fredly whom he describes as one of Nusantara's most shining stars who left too soon.
"Glenn was a wonderful gentleman and a romantic at heart, and had always inspired me to sing.
"My most recent collaboration with an Indonesian was with him 12 years ago, on 'Biarkanlah'."
COMMON LANGUAGE
'Cinta Tak Salah' is Fazley's first collaboration with an Indonesian as well as a Singaporean.
"We will be recording the song in Bandung, Indonesia in the middle of May.
"I love Nusantara collaborations as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei share a common language and history."
TEPUK BULU
Fazley will soon become the first non-sportsman ambassador for badminton racket brand Victor from Taiwan.
"Victor picked me following my participation in the Indonesian celebrity sports reality show 'Tepuk Bulu' held in Jakarta last year," he said.
