Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad
Encyclopedia
Datuk Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Bakhbereh or popularly known as Datuk Shake (born in 1950) is a popular Malaysian singer in the local Malay
music scene. A Hadrami by descent (Hadramout, Yemen), Sheikh is from Johor
, Malaysia but is now based in Beverly Hills, California
with his wife and the younger two of their four children. He came from a big family of five brothers and seven sisters (including shop owner Sheik Abu Bakar), in which he was the third youngest.
Sheikh spent his teenage years singing at his hometown's nightclub where he performed cover versions of songs by Tom Jones
, Stevie Wonder
, Elvis Presley
and The Beatles
. He went to Europe
in the mid-1970s and England
was his first stop, where he studied with classical vocal coach, John Dolby.
In 1976, he was introduced to a French record company, which released his first hit single, You Know I Love You. During this period, his albums actually reached gold and platinum sales status in France
.
Sheikh was conferred a Datukship in 1979 by the late Sultan Ismail Sultan Ibrahim of Johor.
Sheikh is the maternal uncle of Datuk Azalina Othman Said, the Malaysian Minister for Youth and Sports, whose mother, Salmah Ahmad is Sheikh's sister.
He bid goodbye to his family and headed to London
where he studied vocal class for a year. Then he was offered to go to Paris
, France, within months, he had secured a label and his first single was released, entitled, "Tu sais je t'aime" (You know I love you). Plus, he did indeed shake up the music scene and became the first Asian singer he seng in French. The single sprinted up the charts, followed by half a dozen other gold and platinum singles and albums. Concert appearances and television specials followed siftly as Shake quickly became the toast of Europe. He became popular in all the countries where French is spoken - he was for instance, fifteen weeks at the top of the charts in Canada: he became enormously popular in North African countries and the cosmopolitan areas of Africa - such as the Ivory Coast and Senegal. Naturally all of the Pacific Islands
embraced one on their own.
His King
called him home and bestowed the title of "[Dato]" or Lord
/Sir
on the singer, in grateful appreciation for "bringing Malaysia to the attention of the world". Shake had finally returned home. He wanted to bring others to his homeland and the forefront of the music business. Straight away he started campaigns to fight against "music piracy". Disappointed by the overwhelmingly uncontrolled music piracy in South East Asia, Shake turned his attention to the United States, to be part of the American Dream. He has chosen Hollywood as his base and home. He has been working with different well-known composers and music producers to establish his own unique sound and style, which comes from his music experienced in Europe and Asia. The combinations of American
pop rock
sound with his unique vocal ability are amazing.
France gave Shake the medal Chevalier des Art and Lettre "In the Honor of Art and Letter". Shake has promoted the French language and Culture in Asia, where English is the main language.
Shake has performed on more than 30 television shows, variety appearances in Europe, Canada and Asia.
Recorded Music Sales have surpassed 10 thousand units worldwide, primary sales floor in all French speaking countries, including Canada, Pacific Islands, North Africa and Asia. Recorded Music Albums in Malay, French, Italian and English. Performing at many prestigious festivals: including the Paris World Music Festival; Tokyo songs festival; Festival de Venice, Festival de Cortina and Verona in Italy;Festival of Artist in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Indonesia and Malaysia Songs Festival.
For five consecutive years, Shake toured France and Belgium
for 70 days each summer. Shake also perform concerts in Switzerland
, Greece
, Malaysia, Singapore
, Indonesia
and Brunei
.
Shake was invited for the Royal Performances for the King of Malaysia and The Sultan of Brunei.
Shake also performed with his band at the Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles USA for Valentine's Day, where 6,000 people showed up.
In Hollywood Shake worked on his album with producer/artist Michael Sembello
, the guitarist/producer from the group Cars
Elliot Easton and Dayrell Ross producer/song writer. Shake has recorded his album with the best sound engineers and studios in Los Angeles
and Paris
for his recent English album.
Father of actor
Nicolas Shake and director
Amaro Shake.
Music of Malaysia
Music of Malaysia is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres in Malaysia. A great variety of genres in Malaysian music reflect the specific ethnic groups of multiracial Malaysian society consisting of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Dayak, Kadazandusun, Eurasians and other...
music scene. A Hadrami by descent (Hadramout, Yemen), Sheikh is from Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, Malaysia but is now based in Beverly Hills, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with his wife and the younger two of their four children. He came from a big family of five brothers and seven sisters (including shop owner Sheik Abu Bakar), in which he was the third youngest.
Sheikh spent his teenage years singing at his hometown's nightclub where he performed cover versions of songs by Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. He went to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in the mid-1970s and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was his first stop, where he studied with classical vocal coach, John Dolby.
In 1976, he was introduced to a French record company, which released his first hit single, You Know I Love You. During this period, his albums actually reached gold and platinum sales status in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Sheikh was conferred a Datukship in 1979 by the late Sultan Ismail Sultan Ibrahim of Johor.
Sheikh is the maternal uncle of Datuk Azalina Othman Said, the Malaysian Minister for Youth and Sports, whose mother, Salmah Ahmad is Sheikh's sister.
Biography
When he was a small boy, Shake dreamed of making music and distant shores. The majority of his family were all into music. European artists who had discovered the lushness of Malaysia and heard the underage singer encouraged him to try this luck in Europe.He bid goodbye to his family and headed to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he studied vocal class for a year. Then he was offered to go to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France, within months, he had secured a label and his first single was released, entitled, "Tu sais je t'aime" (You know I love you). Plus, he did indeed shake up the music scene and became the first Asian singer he seng in French. The single sprinted up the charts, followed by half a dozen other gold and platinum singles and albums. Concert appearances and television specials followed siftly as Shake quickly became the toast of Europe. He became popular in all the countries where French is spoken - he was for instance, fifteen weeks at the top of the charts in Canada: he became enormously popular in North African countries and the cosmopolitan areas of Africa - such as the Ivory Coast and Senegal. Naturally all of the Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
embraced one on their own.
His King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
called him home and bestowed the title of "[Dato]" or Lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
/Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
on the singer, in grateful appreciation for "bringing Malaysia to the attention of the world". Shake had finally returned home. He wanted to bring others to his homeland and the forefront of the music business. Straight away he started campaigns to fight against "music piracy". Disappointed by the overwhelmingly uncontrolled music piracy in South East Asia, Shake turned his attention to the United States, to be part of the American Dream. He has chosen Hollywood as his base and home. He has been working with different well-known composers and music producers to establish his own unique sound and style, which comes from his music experienced in Europe and Asia. The combinations of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
sound with his unique vocal ability are amazing.
France gave Shake the medal Chevalier des Art and Lettre "In the Honor of Art and Letter". Shake has promoted the French language and Culture in Asia, where English is the main language.
Shake has performed on more than 30 television shows, variety appearances in Europe, Canada and Asia.
Recorded Music Sales have surpassed 10 thousand units worldwide, primary sales floor in all French speaking countries, including Canada, Pacific Islands, North Africa and Asia. Recorded Music Albums in Malay, French, Italian and English. Performing at many prestigious festivals: including the Paris World Music Festival; Tokyo songs festival; Festival de Venice, Festival de Cortina and Verona in Italy;Festival of Artist in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Indonesia and Malaysia Songs Festival.
For five consecutive years, Shake toured France and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
for 70 days each summer. Shake also perform concerts in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
.
Shake was invited for the Royal Performances for the King of Malaysia and The Sultan of Brunei.
Shake also performed with his band at the Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles USA for Valentine's Day, where 6,000 people showed up.
In Hollywood Shake worked on his album with producer/artist Michael Sembello
Michael Sembello
Michael Sembello is an American musician and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Career:Sembello was born and raised in Philadelphia. He studied with jazz great Pat Martino and began his career as a professional musician by becoming a session musician, working increasingly with...
, the guitarist/producer from the group Cars
CARS
Cars, or automobiles, motor cars, are wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers.Cars or CARS may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Cars , a Disney/Pixar film series...
Elliot Easton and Dayrell Ross producer/song writer. Shake has recorded his album with the best sound engineers and studios in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for his recent English album.
Father of actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Nicolas Shake and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Amaro Shake.