PETALING JAYA, Nov 8 — Veteran musician-composer Datuk Ooi Eow Jin spent his Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Orchestra heydays with music heavyweights such as the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee and Sudirman Arshad.

Now 77, the accomplished pianist finds it hard recalling his greatest achievements in the musical world but there were certainly plenty.

“It’s hard for me to pick one,” he said yesterday.

“I was very happy working in RTM because I got to work on my own music.”

In June, Ooi left his position as resident pianist at the Majestic Hotel, a gig he started late 2012.

His wife, Datin Khaw Lean Kee, said Ooi was extremely upset when he was asked to retire.

“For almost three weeks, he did not say a word, refused to eat and even cried  on a few occasions,” said Khaw.

Ooi said although the piano is the love of his life, it was not the first musical instrument he picked up.

“The accordion first caught my attention as a really fun instrument, especially with the joget craze of the 70s.

“But I quickly found the piano had a much more profound effect as it had the ability to bring out people’s emotions.

“I began to pay more attention to the piano and wonderful musical adventures began soon after,’’ he said.

Ooi named Frank Sinatra as his idol and said songs by the legendary singer were among the most sought after by his listeners.

“I have played so many songs throughout the years but I remembered (by heart) over 100 of the best and most requested songs.

“I love playing songs by the legendary Sinatra and his musical numbers are among the most well known and requested songs.

Ooi, who was a government clerk and a resident pianist in E&O Hotel, was spotted by a talent scout and invited to join RTM in 1963. He worked faithfully at the national broadcaster until 1983.

“I was lucky to join RTM and it was a privilege working with talented musicians and singers.”

Ooi, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease this year, struggled to remember their names but said he was happy to have led a life filled with music.

“I’m happy I’ve led such a colourful life with so many fond memories, with some of the nation’s top artistes.

“But most of all, I’m just happy to do what I love most and I was content with just a simple pat on the back.”

Ooi approached several hotels seeking for a job this year but none of his applications came to fruition due to his age and health condition.

Khaw said when her husband was with RTM, they had “enough money to get by” but the couple’s lives took a terrible turn when both their children became ill. Their youngest son, Ronnie, lost his battle with leukaemia when he was 24 in 1992 while their eldest, Raymond, 52, has a brain tumour.

Making ends meet these days is something Khaw has to constantly ponder.

“I worry about our daily expenses because we used up a lot of money to pay our sons’ medical bills,” she said.

The 75-year-old also revealed money from their Employees’ Provident Fund were all used up to pay for their children’s medicine and chemotherapy.

The family of three, who have been living in Taman SEA for the past five years, rely on the charity of others and the church they go to.

“We are very thankful to the people who have helped us. We don’t know where we would be without them,” said Khaw.