Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dick Lee bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award while Straits Times music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi received the Patron of Music Award at this year's Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (Compass) Awards.
Lee, 61, who most recently codirected the biopic Wonder Boy, performed songs from his 1974 debut album Life Story as well as a medley of his hits over the years, including Fried Rice Paradise and the National Day Parade classic, Home.
He won for his contributions to Singapore music, as a composer, performer and singer-songwriter.
"I find that the Singapore recognition is the most important for me because everything I am is from my being from here," he told The Straits Times.
He says he feels "blessed that the music I've made lives on and continues to be performed".
He is already looking forward to future projects.
"I tend to look back on my career a lot, but I decided, especially after this award, I'm not going to look back anymore. I'm going to be moving ahead because I still have a lot in me and projects for the next three years, such as ChildAid, musicals and even a couple of movies."
Eddino, 40, was recognised for having contributed significantly to the promotion of Singapore music as a music journalist at The Straits Times for the past 10 years, frontman of rock band Force Vomit and mentor and judge on the National Arts Council's music initiatives, such as the Noise Music Mentorship scheme, which is under Noise Singapore. He was also a mentor and judge for the Esplanade's music festival Baybeats from 2011 to 2013.
He thanked Compass, his wife Aisyah, daughter Aira and his family, colleagues and "everyone who has supported me and given me unconditional love, I love you all".
"I'd like to thank all the songwriters, composers and lyricists here and everywhere else for making such beautiful and meaningful music and such great art for me to write about as a journalist."
The awards ceremony, which is now in its 22nd year, was held at Resorts World Convention Centre on Sunday evening.
Compass awards are given to local musicians who earned the highest royalties last year, with Compass tracking the amount based on how many times their songs are performed live and played on radio, in nightspots and at food and beverage outlets.
Eleven awards were given to the top-earning songwriters in Singapore, while five special awards were given in special categories for achievements and contributions to the local music industry.
Among the recipients of the special awards was Mohamed Raffee, who took home the Wings of Excellence Award, given to an individual who has achieved an outstanding performance internationally. He wears many hats, including singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and music director, making him one of the most accomplished names in the Indian entertainment scene.
Raffee, 57, who has also released four albums and worked with Grammy-winning Indian film music titan A.R. Rahman, performed with his band The Vasantham Boys at the ceremony.
There were also performances by singer-songwriters Charlie Lim, 29, and Daphne Khoo, 30. They both won Young Songwriter of the Year for having the highest royalty earnings among those below the age of 35.
Flanked by dancers, singer Taufik Batisah performed Awak Kat Mane off his album Fique (2014). The title was the top local Malay pop song, earning the highest royalties for a local Malay composition.
He admitted that the song was a "fluke" that came together at the last minute and was added after he had finished 12 songs for the album. "You don't know how people are going to receive the song, but this one has struck many different chords with the community," he said.
Taufik, 35, who has been focusing on his acting career in the past few years, admits that, musically, he is "not inspired" at the moment.
"But tonight was a nice boost, meeting industry friends again. Hopefully, the music bug will bite me again," he said. "Hopefully, I'll start writing English songs too."
