AT the Fiji Performing Rights Association 2015 Music Awards this year, one performer stood out from the rest.
Rocking from side-to-side and rolling head over heels under the spotlight, Ronald Jai practically stole the limelight with his on-stage antics.
For many, it was the first time they had witnessed such a spectacle.
But for Jai, it was just another performance.
“I always give 100 per cent, whether there’s five people or five hundred,” he said.
“I sing because I love singing and not because it will make me famous or because of money.
“God gave me the gift of songwriting and singing and I use this gift to bring joy to people because that’s my purpose in life.”
Jai believes divine intervention played a huge part in his musical journey.
How he rose to stardom in the ’80s and recorded the hit song Musu Musu Haasi which won him the Album of the Year at the Vakalutuivoce Music Awards in 1997 was nothing short of a fairy tale.
Born and raised in Samabula in the ’70s, Jai had a fondness for playing the drums.
“Because I came from a poor family, my parents could not afford to buy me a drum set,” he shared.
“So I taught myself by using empty biscuit tins for drums and mango branches as drumsticks.”
It was while he was attending a wedding party in Suva in early 1980 that Jai was given his first opportunity to sit behind a set of the real instrument.
“The drummer for the band that was performing at the wedding got very drunk and he couldn’t play anymore.
“Someone in the crowd told the band members that I could play the drums and when they asked me, I almost ran onto the stage because I was so excited.”
The band that was performing at the wedding was backing popular contemporary Hindi artist Simadri Narayan, whose stage name was Simstar.
Narayan said he recalled being blown away by Jai’s drum skills and his voice.
“He was surprisingly good for someone we had never heard of before,” the now Rakiraki businessman shared.
“We became good friends and eventually performed together as part of the Karishma Show in 1990.
“Ronald was well known for singing Kishore Kumar numbers such as Jhum Jhum Jhumroo and he was very popular with audiences wherever we performed.”
Jai said playing the drums and singing alongside Simstar provided him the best learning experience and led to him improving his stage performance.
“Simstar was a real professional and he taught me the importance of being professional and that has stayed with me throughout my career.”
It was while he was performing with the Karishma Show that Jai met Seru Serevi and the legendary Tui Ravai.
“They welcomed me as a fellow performer and I also learnt a lot from them about music.
Jai said one of his most memorable musical moments was when he performed the popular Hindi song Dil Deke Dheko with The Freelancers at Procera Studio.
“It was a moment I will never forget because I was backed by all the legends — Paul Steven, Tui Ravai, Vili Tuilaucala, Sam Waqa and the man himself, Sakiusa Bulicokocoko.
“Sakiusa was a big influence on my life, he always encouraged me and he inspired me to always deliver my best at every performance.
“As far as Fiji music goes, nobody can beat him or be like him.
“He could sing like an international superstar and he could play any instrument like it was a part of his body.
“I was really sad when he passed away and I still miss him today.”
Although he performed cover versions from popular Hindi music artists during live shows, Jai began to discover he had a knack for composing songs.
This ability was further encouraged by Ravai and Serevi and resulted in him penning Musu Musu Haasi, an original composition that earned him a Vakalutuivoce Award in 1997.
The song was recorded at Procera Music Studio in Suva by veteran musician and producer, Bill Beddoes.
“It was such a long time ago but I remember Ronald was a very enthusiastic singer at the time and he had a great song,” Beddoes said.
“So we got him into the studio and my wife — the late Lia Osbourne — added her magic to the song and it became a big hit.”
Ravai added his touch on the keyboard and seasoned recording engineers Max Baran and Ramesh Hargovind were on hand and gave advice when it was needed.
The rest, as they say, was history.
Featuring a combination of iTaukei and Hindi lyrics, Musu Musu Haasi became one of the most played and requested songs on radio.
In fact, Jai gets asked to sing it at every live performance.
“I think people relate to the song because it is a song about a man who is happy with his life, he works in his garden and reaps the benefits of his hard work.
“It’s a happy song about the beauty of life and the blessings that God has given us.”
Two other compositions which earned him industry recognition were Sulia Mai Na Kalou — a song he penned about the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Meda Yalo Vata Ka Cakacaka Vata.
After a few years away from the recording scene, Jai is putting the final touches to his 19th album.
“I’ve got 15 songs ready, including two originals and I am hoping to release it in July.
“The engineers, producers and friends who have heard the album think I may have a hit with my original composition, Sama Ye Suhana.
“I am very excited about the release and I am looking forward to performing the songs live when I tour to promote the new CD.”
His excitement about the new recording was marred by an inability to find musicians for the project.
“I’ve got a few playing on the album but I have to resort to programed music quite a bit because musicians demand a lot of money to play on one song.
“And another problem was finding female vocalists to back me up.
“A lot of them said they had to ask their parents first and I also found it hard to get musicians to commit to the project as well.
“Many of them play for a number of different bands and sometimes they were able to make it to the sessions and sometimes they couldn’t.”
Ronald Jai has come a long way from when he first performed on stage in Labasa in 1981.
Music has taken him across the Pacific to Australia and New Zealand and beyond.
It has won him awards and given him the opportunity to rub shoulders with Fiji’s music elite.
He has performed at more than 2000 shows in a career that has spanned more than three decades.
In 2015, the composer and singer is preparing to add a new chapter to his musical score sheet.
“Who knows where the music will take me this time,” he said.
