PM Wong pays tribute to Cultural Medallion recipient Yusnor Ef
The 87-year-old music veteran died on April 16.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in a Facebook post on April 16 paid tribute to Cultural Medallion recipient and music veteran Yusnor Ef.
Yusnor, whose real name was Mohamed Noor Mohamed Yusofe, died at about 2am on April 16. He was 87.
He is survived his wife Jamila Jan, 77, and three grandchildren.
Yusnor's only child Noreeta Mohamed Noor, 47, told The Straits Times that her dad had been battling chronic heart ailments over the last two decades.
He had breathing difficulties at around midnight on April 16 and was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 2am.
The Singaporean musician wrote lyrics for more than 250 songs, including evergreen Malay pop songs from the 1960s and 1970s, and worked with icons such as P. Ramlee and Majulah Singapura composer Zubir Said.
He authored books on Malay music and produced documentaries on Malay music for Malaysian television stations.
PM Wong wrote in his post: "His lyrical brilliance shaped Malay pop music, and his lifelong work helped to preserve and promote Malay heritage in Singapore.
"I remember fondly the exchanges we had when I was at MCCY. He never failed to remind me about the importance of heritage and how it is the soul of our nation."
Yusnor was laid to rest at about 3pm on April 16.