#33 - Chong Lim (Part 1)
Chong Lim is one of Australia’s most respected Musical Directors, producers and composers. Best known as John Farnham’s long-time Musical Director, he was also the Musical Director of Dancing with The Stars for 15 seasons and It Takes Two, Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush, and The Logie Awards as well as Musical director for Kylie Minogue and Olivia Newton-John.
Chong talks with Brad about growing up in Malaysia, his love of Roland products, working with John Farnham and other artists, before ending with his work on the Olympics.
RAMBLE CITY is hosted by award wining Singer/songwriter Bradley McCaw, musing on art & life with artists & sportspeople from around the people. Welcome to RAMBLE CITY.
Created, produced, hosted by Bradley McCaw.
Mixed by James Osbourne
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Find Brad
Website: https://www.bradleymccawofficial.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradleymccawofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bradleymccawofficial
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bradleymccawtv
Musicals:
Website:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradleymccawmakesmusicals/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bradleymccawmakesmusicals/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BradMcCawMakesMusicals
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Find James:
https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_osborn98/
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Chong Lim AM best known as John Farnham’s long-time Musical Director, and Musical Director of Dancing with The Stars for 15 seasons, is one of Australia’s most respected Musical Directors, producers and composers. He has also been Musical Director for TV shows such as It Takes Two, Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush, and The Logie Awards as well as Musical director for Kylie Minogue and Olivia Newton-John. He scored a nomination as Best Musical Director for the 2017 Helpmann Awards and an ARIA nomination for Best Record Producer in 2012. He was made a Member of the Order Of Australia (AM) in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for significant service to the performing arts as a musician, composer, producer and musical director, and to the community.
His compositions have been performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of The Sydney 2000 Olympics; The 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester, England; The 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne; The 2006 Asian Games, Doha, Qatar ; The 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver, Canada; The Asian Football Cup 2015; The 2014 Commonwealth Games Glasgow; The 2021 Commonwealth Games Birmingham, The AFL Grand Final 2020, 2021, 2022, The Melbourne Cup 2021The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015; Citrawarna Celebrations 2007 to 2009 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; the cross cultural Bali Agung 2010, Bali, Indonesia; “Pearl Of The South Seas” Jakarta Aquarium, Indonesia,; Gulf Air in Bahrain, Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi, Qantas in Sydney; “The Flying Orchestra” for the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Crown Casino Atrium, Melbourne, Australia. His composition for the Crown Casino Atrium is still played to this day, 18 years after its premiere performance.
He has been Musical Director for the AFL Grand Final Pre-Game and Half-Time entertainment from 2020 to 2022, and has been responsible for turning around the quality of the musical performances, with acts as diverse as Birds Of Tokyo, Shephard, DMAs , Busby Marou, Electric Fields, Thelma Plum, Baker Boy, Eskimo Joe, Wolfmother, The Temper Trap, The Goanna Band, Emma Donovan, Christine Anu, William Barton, Colin Hay, John Butler, The Waifs, WA Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Robbie Williams.
As a record producer, Chong has been at the helm of many multi-platinum CDs and singles for John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, Kate Ceberano, David Hobson, Nikki Webster, Tommy Emmanuel, David Campbell, , Mark Vincent, Marina Prior, Teddy Tahu-Rhodes, Sarah McKenzie, Lisa McCune, Rachael Beck, Jack Vidgen, Melinda Schneider, Anthony Callea and Human Nature, His symphonic arrangement of “In My Room” can also be heard in the Beach Boys album with The Royal Philarmonic Orchestra, London. In 2001, he produced the divisive platinum hit single “Strawberry Kisses” for Nikki Webster, which reached No 2 on the ARIA singles charts for 7 consecutive weeks. It was also an international hit.