The kampung boy who became a talented musician

Kamrul Hussin, a traditional music multi-instrumetalist and academic, has forged a career in the mainstream and cultural circles with his drumming and broad outlook on Malay folk and arts culture. Photo: Kim Teoh

“I began getting fan mail from the time I was in Form 1,” enthused multi-instrumentalist Kamrul Hussin. Receiving appreciation letters at 13 seems pretty diabolical for a local musician, but not all of us play the gendang, rebab and serunai. In fact, it was this sort of correspondence that scored him his first date – with a goldsmith’s daughter on a night out to the movies.

Of course, all the prestige and respect gained as a budding musician went down the chute when he fell flat on his behind, not knowing how to tip the cinema seat down to sit on.