Rahimah Rahim is truly a class act. With a career that spans over three decades, she has left her mark as both a singer and actress.
Those who grew up in the 60s might still fondly recall her as Kak Gerl in Pak Awang Temberang (Mr Awang’s Antics), which she starred in as a child.
It’s no wonder that her devoted fans can still belt out her timeless hits like Doa (Prayer) and Gadis Dan Bunga (Lasses and Blooms) without missing a beat.
Rahimah Rahim: Born into a family of entertainers
Rahimah is the eldest of four children, and her family is all in the entertainment industry. With a laugh, she fondly describes her family as a “rowdy bunch”, always full of life and energy.
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Her father, Rahim Hamid, a well-known club performer in the 1950s and 1960s, earned the nickname “Nat King Cole of Singapore”. Her late mother, Mariam Baharum, was an award-winning actress who starred in films during the golden era of Malay cinema in the 1950s.
Rahimah shares that her father is ‘very nice’, and that she has always been close to him, noting that he has always been her confidant. In contrast, she humorously describes her relationship with her mother as being “at loggerheads” as her mother was “very strict”.
Rahimah Rahim: Early Steps into the Spotlight
Credit: Vintage Radio SG
Rahimah started her career in entertainment at the age of six. Her first film was Korban Kasih, which she starred in with her father.
She continued acting during her school years when she was nine years old in the television series, Pak Awang Temberang (Mr Awang’s Antics), in which her brother also had a role.
During this time, she earned the affectionate nickname “Kak Gerl”, a name that still sticks with her today.
Credit: Vintage Radio SG
As a child, Rahimah often performed with her father in nightclubs and hotels, such as Apollo Hotel – now known as Furama Riverfront Singapore.
Credit: Vintage Radio SG
At the time, children under 18 were not permitted to enter clubs, but Rahimah shared that her father used to sneak her in so she could perform alongside him. As she was underage, she had to either hide under the grand piano or be sent outside whenever the authorities came to check.
She looks back on her school years as a hectic blur.
Rahimah was not a fan of the hustle and bustle of being a child actress back then.
"I didn’t enjoy myself. I felt that it was more of a commitment."
Rahimah Rahim: Winning the Kimi Koso Talentime Award
Rahimah released her first album in 1972, at the age of 17 years old. Her first EP featured “Mana Ibu Mu“, a Malay cover of the hit song “Where’s Your Mama Gone?” by British band Middle of the Road.
Credit: Vintage Radio SG
However, she only truly made it big two years later, after she took part in the Kimi Koso Talentime audition.
She was chosen to go to Tokyo for the finals and ended up clinching the championship, competing against talented artists from countries like Korea and Japan.
After Rahimah won the competition, she was offered a three-year recording contract with music label Warner Music, based in Tokyo.
However, her mother did not allow her to move to Japan to further her career. She was furious and devastated.
After the competition, Rahimah began performing at the Mandarin Court and Neptune Theatre (both of which are now defunct). She made history as the first Malay singer to perform at the Neptune, where she also expanded her repertoire by singing in Japanese and Mandarin.
One particular memory that stood out for Rahimah was when she was invited to perform at the World Festival 1987 in Tokyo.
She also got to meet her idol Gloria Estefan, who was performing at the same festival.
Unfortunately, she had misplaced the photo she took with Gloria.
Rahimah Rahim: Receiving the Cultural Medallion Award
Rahimah was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2021 for her significant contributions to Singapore’s arts and culture. Managed by the National Arts Council and presented by the President, it is the country’s highest arts honour.
This content was originally aired on Vintage Radio. To listen to the complete podcast, click here.
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