Don Beins

By PERCY D’CRUZ

For one of those rare musicians who have never had the benefit of formal training but relies solely on perfect pitch, memory and ear, fifty-seven year old Don Beins still continues to exemplify the adage ‘life is music, and music is life’.

Incapacitated by a stroke a few years ago that left him wheelchair bound, Don — following months of physiotherapy and rehabilitation — has come on strong and has set up his own music studio which caters for the nurturing of young talents in keyboards, drums, guitar and vocals.

Later this month in conjunction with the San Pedro celebrations at the Portuguese Settlement, Don will launch his maiden music CD.

Together with Praya Lane’s Martin Theseira and long time childhood kampung friend Raphael Zarsadias and choral backing from the Assumption Chapel Youth Choir, the group collectively known as ‘D’Malaqueiros’ (4Malaccans’, in the age-old Portuguese dialect of Cristao that is still spoken at the Portuguese Settlement), the singing troupe is expected to make waves.

According to Don, of the 14 tracks on the CD, two are his own compositions dedicated to Festa San Pedro and San Juang (Feasts of St Peter and John) that are celebrated with much tradition and enthusiasm both at the Portuguese Settlement and Praya Lane where the Assumption Chapel is sited.

Don, who undertook all the music arrangements, vocal and music playing for this debut CD, said the rest of the tracks comprise upbeat and calypso-styled versions of popular Portuguese folks songs Jinkli Nona, Bong Bong Fila. O Malhoo, Bela, 0 Maria and other evergreens.

Click here to download a track from the CD. Please right-click and “save as”.

With the help of talented guest musician Wille Fam and the production expertise of Dennis Gooting, the CD is favoured to go down extremely well with the younger members of the local and outstation Portuguese-Eurasian communities.

‘We have already had enquiries from community members residing in Australia and Singapore and based the feedback, sales of this CD should be encouraging,’ he said.
Don’s tenure in music goes back some forty years. Most comfortable on the keyboards, over the years he held regular stints and contracts playing in cabarets, nightclubs and hotel lounges all over Malaysia.

Click here if you are interested in purchasing the CD. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Till today, he performs regularly at family gatherings, private parties and wedding receptions with seasonal stints in local hotels very much in the picture.

Don recalled, ‘My first love was the piano while still in school. The church choir was where I honed my skills both as a musician and singer.

A member of a few local four-piece bands, he would readily double-up when the regular pianist failed to turn up.

‘I picked up the rudiments of music quickly gaining much advice and tips from senior musicians that I came into contact or had ‘jam sessions’ with.

I guess my natural ability and good ear for music has stood me in good stead even until today,’ he said.

Catch Don Beins LIVE in Raffles Restaurant Wine & Dine throughout the week.

Clips of Don Beins entertaining the crowd..

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4PNHKf3L6M 350 285]

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbo441pmYmo 350 282]

Get in-touch with Don @ Don’s Music Studio
No. 17 Aras Satu, Taman Delima Raya, Bukit Baru, 75150 Melaka.
donbeins ‘at‘ gmail.com

016-6519266 || 017-2819711