His first job was to stand by the roadside and call passers-by to dine at a Thai stall along Jalan Alor.

When food outlets could not operate during the lockdown, Sa’at found work taking customers’ temperatures with the thermometer gun at the door of a barber shop.

Whenever he had the opportunity to busk, the 70-year-old would do so along Jalan Alor.

“Somehow, he was able to survive,” said his Sons of Adam bandmate, Ruzlan Omar. “He was always finding something to do, small jobs, anything to get on with life.”

Ruzlan said, like all musicians, Sa’at just wanted to get back to playing at entertainment venues that have been shut since March last year.

That didn’t happen.

On Monday, Sa’at was found dead in his rented room in an apartment at Sun Complex on Bukit Bintang where he had been living alone. The cause of death is not known.

In the pre-Covid days, he would pack his timbales into a trolley and wheel it all the way from his home to Changkat Bukit Bintang for gigs. And wheel it back.

Ruzlan, who is the leader and drummer of his band, said he regretted not meeting with Sa’at who called him several times for their usual teh-tarik catch-up a few days ago.

“It’s important to keep in touch with old friends and take time to catch up, for we will not know what will happen and if we will see them tomorrow,” said Ruzlan, 69.

Sa’at was among a rare pool of senior musicians who have remained active well into their late 60s and 70s.

His musical preferences were classic rock, Latin rock and jazz – genres that allowed space for creative freedom in terms of percussion.

Ruzlan said Sa’at was influenced by bands such as Santana, Deep Purple, Earth, Wind & Fire and “through the years, he honed his skills and combined it with enthusiastic showmanship.”

Batu Pahat-born Sa’at gained international acclaim when he performed with international Latin ensembles from Cuba, Colombia and Brazil, said Ruzlan.

Between 1975 and 1978, he was in the Discovery band that comprised Fauzi Marzuki (guitar/vocals), Nasser Abu Kassim (bass), Goh Boon Hoe (keyboard) and Yanto (percussion/saxophone).

Their brand of music made them a major attraction at nightclubs and discos even as other groups like Carefree, Heavy Machine, Alleycats and Singapore band Black Dog Bone challenged for popularity.

Some of the songs in their self-titled ‘Discovery’ album under the EMI label still receive airplay. Sa’at may have gone bald over the years but on the album cover he is the lad with the afro hair.

The respected drummer-percussionist, Lewis Pragasam, led the tributes to Sa’at, saying his dynamic Latin-style percussion playing and showmanship were a joy to watch.

Freddie Fernandez, the former keyboardist of The Revolvers, said as drummer-percussionist Sa’at “brought a lot of value, entertainment and attractiveness to the different bands he was in.”

“He was a complete showman – antics on stage, throwing sticks in the air and catching them, the works,” said Fernandez.

Alphonse Jerome, Malaysia’s ‘Carlos Santana’, said: “Knowing that he was not your everyday drummer, Sa’at was sought after by many groups. He powered Latin beats like no other with my band, La Viva.”

Former Cellar Hi-Five frontman, A Radha Krishnan, said Sa’at who was also a member of The Memories and the Time Tunnel band, had a strong following among foreigners.

“He was jovial and women loved him for his suaveness and for the crazy things he did on stage,” he added.

Communications manager, Carol Debra, said there was never a dull moment with her close friend Sa’at. “He was a gentleman, suave with the ladies and dancing slow numbers with expat customers.”

She said: “I didn’t know he sang too. I was all doe-eyed when he sang ‘Beautiful Maria of My Soul’, reminding me of Armand Assante in The Mambo Kings.

“He loved people. It’s sad he died alone.”