IT was unusually crowded at the stairs leading up to Sogo Kuala Lumpur.
The crowd, mostly middle-aged couples, had been waiting as early as 4pm for a man named Bob and his band, Sentuhan, to perform.
Penang-born Bob is a popular figure among shoppers in KL's golden triangle area. Over the years, he has built up a fan base, and they have been following his free performances for the past five years.
Bob, or Mohd Aizad Azman, was unknown when he first stepped foot in KL in 2012. He was also homeless and used to spend his nights in mosques around KL.
Now, it's all different for the 34-year-old father of one.
As he and his band arrived on the concourse on Thursday, they received thunderous applause from the waiting crowd.
From Sogo, Bob and his band would move to a site in Bukit Bintang, right next to the monorail line as night falls.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall gave Bob the green light to use the pavement for his two-hour show, which usually starts at 10pm.
First-time onlookers, especially foreigners, were not so excited when Bob and his bandmates were getting ready for their performance.
But then heads started to turn when the guitar riffs of Bryan Adams' "Summer of 69" were played. Bob's show went up on social media in a matter of minutes.
From English, Bob gave his best for a Malay number, "Separuh Nafasku" by Dewa19. The space, which was roomy just a few minutes ago, was now packed with curious onlookers.
Bob identifies as a busker rather than an artist. When he was 24 years old, he took a bus from Bayan Lepas to Kuala Lumpur with only RM40 in his pocket.
"When I left home for KL, I made a promise to myself that I will not return to Penang until I am successful.
"I brought my Kapok guitar that my late mother bought some years earlier, a pair of jeans and some shirts.
"That was it. I had no place to stay and slept at mosques during the night," Bob recalled.
Bob did not study music formally. He taught himself to play the guitar when he was 17, after dropping out of school.
"I didn't finish school. I got bored of studying and only wanted to play music. At the age of 17, I took music seriously and learned to play the guitar on my own."
Bob started by playing at weddings in his hometown. From Bayan Lepas, he moved to George Town to play in clubs before deciding that he wanted to challenge himself.
At Bukit Bintang when he first arrived, Bob was not equipped with any fancy equipment. All he had was his voice and the trusted old Kapok guitar.
"People kept staring at me because it was unusual. I didn't even have a microphone," he said.
"But I didn't give up. I performed every day in front of Sogo and Bukit Bintang. Money was not my motivation. I once collected RM3 from singing for hours, but I didn't mind."
Apart from English and Malay songs, Bob learnt to sing songs in Farsi, Tamil, Cantonese, and Mandarin to entertain the foreigners.
Bob's video on YouTube has amassed more than 200,000 views per show.
A year later, Bob formed Sentuhan which comprised a lead guitarist, bassist, drummer, and Bob on rhythm guitar.
"It is a passion. I love music so much and I want people to enjoy it. It gives me satisfaction to see people smile and sing together with me."
"Even foreign tourists from Spain, Italy, India, and from the Middle East enjoy my show. It is because I sing their songs. I memorise the lyrics and study the music at home. Check my video on YouTube," Bob said.
Opening for Scorpions
Asked about his greatest achievement so far as a busker, Bob said he was grateful that he earned the respect of fellow musicians, especially renowned artists.
Bob said he had collaborated with several renowned artists such as Awie (Wings), Hattan, Zamani (Slam), and Amir (Ukay's).
But one experience that he will never forget was when Sentuhan was picked to be the opening act for legendary German rock band Scorpions, when they performed in KL in 2016.
Bob's break came when a concert promoter saw Sentuhan perform on the streets and called them in for trials.
"Never in my entire life did I dream of performing on the same stage as Scorpions. A band that I followed when I was still a kid.
"I was never even a proper artist. I was just a busker."
"When I was told that I will open for Scorpions, I was over the moon. I felt that all my hard work had paid off."
Next stop Europe
Bob was also invited to perform in Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia and said his role now was to perform in Europe.
"I have already performed on the streets of Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia. They spotted me from YouTube. The crowds there were also good.
"My goal now is to go to Europe on my own. Busking is not a new thing for westerners, so I really need to get well prepared.
"It won't be easy this time," said Bob, who added that he has no intention of becoming a recording artist.
Bob performs live at Sogo every evening on a daily basis before moving to Bukit Bintang at night.
Due to the large crowd, KL City Hall has issued Bob a permit that has to be renewed annually.
Bob and his band are not the only buskers in Bukit Bintang. There are a few more scattered around KL's golden triangle.
Money is not the main objective for most of the buskers. Bob said as long as he could put food on the table and provide a decent livelihood for his family, he is grateful.
"Success for me is not money. I do this because of my passion. I accept what God has given me, and Alhamdulillah I survived." – April 6, 2024.
