Peter Pragas
Peter Pragas (1926 – 30 June 2014) was a Malaysian composer and musician. He was considered one of the most prominent composers to hail from the Malaysian state of Sabah.[1] He has been called the "Father of Sabah Modern Music" and the "Father of Sabah Music."[1]
Pragas was born in Penang, British Malaya, in 1926.[1] He moved from Peninsular Malaysia to the Crown Colony of North Borneo (present-day Sabah) in 1957, where he became the first director of Radio Sabah (now part of Radio Televisyen Malaysia).[1] Pragas has been credited as a strong champion of music in Sabah.[1] He was referred to as the "Father of Sabah Music" in Sabah Quarter Century of Songs, Composers Biographical Data (Volume 1), which was published in 1978.[1]
He released his first instrumental album, "Land Below The Wind," through EMI in 1978.[1] In 1981, Pragas released a dual album, "Sabah Centennial Celebration," to commemorate Sabah's 100 year Centennial Celebration.[1] He also retired from his public career in state radio in 1981 as well.[1]
In 1987, Pragas founded the Sabah Association of Senior Citizens.[1]
In 1999, Peter Pragas was honoured as the "Father of Sabah Modern Music" at a National Day exhibition called "Patriotism 2020," which was held at the Sabah Museum in Kota Kinabalu.[1]
Pragas died on 30 June 2014, at the age of 87. He was predeceased by his wife and survived by his two children, Adrian and Sandra.[1] His funeral was held at the Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church in Tanjung Aru.[1] Pragas was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Penampang Road.[1]