Pic – Datuk Justin Stimol/Clarence Sinsua
PENAMPANG: Well known folksinger, composer and icon of the Kadazan community Datuk Justin Stimol died at 7.47 last light. He was 83.
His wife Datin Florence Stimol announced his death in her latest facebook posting.
“It is with sorrow and sadness Justin just left us all at 7.47pm just now here at home.
“As soon as all procedures are done, he will be brought to Agut Jubili funeral parlour,” she said.
Justin started singing and composing his own Kadazan songs for the radio at 16, being coached by the Missionary priest at school to study music and poetry and introduced to the music of Beethoven.
By 1962 he joined Radio Sabah as a broadcaster and founded his own band in 1963. His first hit song “MAGGIE” was aired by RTM in 1962.
An old workmate of Justin in Radio Malaysia Sabah, Clarence Sinsua said his demise was a great loss for local music industry, particularly folk song.
“He is a very sociable person with poetic demeanour as demonstrated in the lyrics of his songs.
“A folklore specialist who lived in his times. He can interpret events happening before his own eyes from the tune and narratives in a particular song,” he told Jesselton Times today.
Clarence said the late Justin was certainly a jewel in a crown especially among the musicians in his company as friends.
“In the Malay side TS P Ramlee is a legend and Jim Reeves in the west. Country music was the popular songs that could have influenced Datuk Justin Stimol.
“I noticed some of his songs were personal reflection of his social life..not a homebound type,” he said.
