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Juanita Melson, original voice of MRT announcements, dies

SINGAPORE — Former radio deejay Juanita Melson, who voiced the original announcements in MRT stations and trains between 1994 and 2008, died on Thursday (Jan 19).

Juanita Melson.

Juanita Melson.

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SINGAPORE — Former radio deejay Juanita Melson, who voiced the original announcements in MRT stations and trains between 1996 and 2008, died on Thursday (Jan 19).

The radio veteran, who was in her early 70s, had also been a programme manager with Rediffusion, one of Singapore’s first cable radio stations.

But Mrs Melson was best known for being the voice of train announcements. Responding to TODAY's queries, Mr Patrick Nathan, SMRT’s vice-president for corporate information and communications, said the train operator was saddened by Mrs Melson’s passing.

He noted that countless commuters who travelled on the North-South and East-West lines between 1996 and 2008 would have heard her announcements, such as those which alerted passengers to closing doors. Her recordings are still being played on the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit network.

“One of our SMRT colleagues who was at a recording with Mrs Melson recalls her friendly nature and her soothing voice. We extend our condolences to Mrs Melson’s family,” added Mr Nathan.

Lush 99.5FM DJ Chris Ho, who had been friends with her "for many years", recalled: "We were at Rediffusion together. She was the English Programme Manager at the time. She was the one who submitted my show to the Australasian Broadcasting Arts & Sciences and I eventually got the Paters Award for Best Asia-Pacific Radio Personality, back in 1987. If she hadn’t chosen my programme, I wouldn’t have won the award."

Gold 905 DJ  Brian Richmond added that Mrs Melson was a "very warm, very approachable, very nice" person who was always seen with a smile. "She gives you that kind of feeling that she’s got this motherly thing about her. I mean, anyone can feel proud to call her a mum. She cares about others and would always ask after you and what’s happening."

Mr Richmond, who knew her from the time when he was doing some part-time work on Rediffusion in the late 1980s or early 1990s, added that "as a programme manager as well, she was very efficient".

Musician Mel Ferdinands said he first met Mrs Melson in 1992 while trying to promote some bands and singers to Rediffusion. She noticed that he had a great presenting voice and invited him to host a one-hour live programme on-air.

“As a part-time presenter, Juanita trusted me enough to handle some high-level interviews with international artistes,” said Mr Ferdinands, now a magazine editor. He cited global superstar Kylie Minogue and rock band Bon Jovi as among those he had the opportunity to meet.

Calling Mrs Melson a “very kind” person, he said she would always arrange visits to charities where they would put on performances for residents.

“I’ll always remember Juanita for her beautiful voice, her bearing, her kindness and her willingness to always help newcomers to better themselves through her trust and guidance.”

On Facebook, Kiss92 DJ John Klass described Mrs Melson, who had hired him as a radio DJ fresh out of National Service in 1991, as one of the biggest influences in his life.

From using the right words to connect with listeners to showing him when to press play on the record player, Mr Klass told TODAY that Mrs Melson had schooled him in the “finer points of radio presenting”. 

When he met Mrs Melson after his morning shift to “air-check” his show, they would drift into casual conversations. “Those conversations she had, with not only me, helped build a very good relationship with most of her DJs, really strengthening the bond we had.”

Mr Klass said the radio veteran was also instrumental in getting his band Kick! signed to the Japanese record label Pony Canyon. She had introduced the band to the label’s managing director, and the band went on to become one of the most successful local bands in the 1990s. 

“I’ll always be grateful to her for being instrumental in my career as a radio presenter and as a singer-songwriter,” he said. 

Mrs Melson’s voice rang through MRT cabins from 1996 to 2008. Since then, the announcements were done by the present announcer, Ms Chan Hui Yuh. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MAY SEAH AND KENNETH CHENG

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