Fast forward to the mid-1970s, and an exciting era was unfolding, thanks to a group of innovative radio announcers on RTM's old Blue Network, including Patrick Teoh, Radhakrishnan, Alan Zechariah, Jeremiah Starr, and others. They were instrumental in shaping the music scene.

For those fortunate enough to live near Butterworth, Penang, where the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had its base, there was the added advantage of tuning in to the RRB station. While the local stations played popular music, RRB exposed us to bands and music from distant lands, primarily Down Under, but also from the United Kingdom and the United States. Penangites and surrounding areas had the privilege of enjoying the best of both worlds.

Then all of a sudden it was 1976 – a watershed year for my classmates and I. Just like that, we were already 15 and like thousands of others, had to sit for the LCE, the precursor to the PT3 today.

Awkward, and grappling with teen angst and behavioral changes, I watched Nadia Comaneci soar to a perfect 10 at the Montreal Olympics. Jimmy Carter had just won the presidential elections in America, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Rocky premiered, and The Eagles had just released Hotel California. Around the same time, Jimmy James came on the radio with “I’ll Go Where The Music Takes Me”.

It was Instant gratification!

The song reached No.26 in the UK. Incredibly, Jimmy is still performing today. At the time of writing, his official website is still down but Discogs comes to the rescue.

Free Malaysia Today carried a related story in its 13 February 2021 issue entitled “Golden Voices That Shaped English Broadcast Radio in Malaysia”

Cheers to all those DJs of old who not only filled my life with captivating sounds but also rescued me from my own struggles! I am forever grateful for their inspiring presence