32 Facts About Kamahl

Kandiah Kamalesvaran, better known by his stage name Kamahl, is an Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist.

Kamahl has been in the Australian music industry over for 70 years and has made some memorable TV and film appearances, as well as concerts.

Kamahl has sold over 20 million records and recorded more than 30 album.

Kamahl was born on 13 November 1934 in the Brickfields district of Kuala Lumpur, Federated Malay States to Ceylonese Tamil and Hindu parents, the second eldest of six children.

Kamahl's father was head of the local Tamil music school.

Kamahl lived through the Japanese occupation of Malaya during World War II.

Kamahl arrived in Adelaide, South Australia, in April 1953, and finished high school at King's College.

Kamahl then enrolled at the University of Adelaide, studying architecture to please his parents.

Kamahl went on the television talent program Australia's Amateur Hour and won the state final which led to further television and club engagements.

Kamahl dropped out of his architecture course and became a full-time entertainer.

Kamahl studied at the Elder Conservatorium of Music for a year.

In 1966, Kamahl was a finalist in the Sydney Eisteddfod Sun Aria, singing Verdi's "Ella giammai m'amo" and Mussorgsky's "Farewell and Death of Boris".

Kamahl co-wrote and sang the theme song for the 1967 feature film, Journey Out of Darkness, which he acted in.

Kamahl was one of the first people to appear in concert at the Sydney Opera House.

Kamahl has performed at the London Palladium and Carnegie Hall as well as pubs and clubs throughout Australia.

Kamahl released singles and albums in the United States, Canada, Britain, New Zealand, South America, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Germany, as well as in the Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavia.

In early 2008, Kamahl reunited with his old school, Pembroke, then Kings College, and went on tour in the United States with the Pembroke Symphony Orchestra.

Kamahl has released albums through ABC Music, a compilation Christmas album entitled Peace On Earth, and a three-CD collection of favourites entitled Heart and Soul: For Lovers Of Life.

Kamahl appeared in the Adelaide Festival of Arts plays Moon on a Rainbow Shawl in 1961 and Volpone in 1963.

Kamahl played John the Baptist in a production of Salome and appeared in Othello.

Kamahl was a popular guest on the variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday.

Kamahl's feelings were revealed to the Australian public shortly after Harry Connick Jr.

Kamahl appeared in an episode of the Australian TV quiz show Spicks and Specks, first broadcast in September 2010.

In 2011, Kamahl made a cameo appearance on Swift and Shift Couriers as a phone store employee.

In 2012, Kamahl made appearances in Prime's show The Unbelievable Truth.

In 1988, Kamahl appeared in a television commercial for Dilmah tea.

In 1967, Kamahl married an Indo-Fijian woman, Sahodra, of whom his family did not approve.

In November 2021, Kamahl revealed that he and Sahodra had separated after 55 years of marriage.

In May 2024, Kamahl was charged with "stalking and intimidation" concerning text messages allegedly sent to an unnamed 38-year-old woman, with NSW Police seeking an apprehended violence order against him as a result.

Kamahl told Nine News that he had agreed to lend her $2,000 for a business after they had met for dinner and that she agreed to pay him back in $5 instalments.

In 1985, the Chicago Tribune reported Kamahl as having sold "more than 20 million records worldwide" and "76 gold and 14 platinum records".

In 2018, Port News reported Kamahl as having recorded more than 30 albums and earned "more than 100 gold and platinum records".