Sun Ho was uncomfortable with Asian reggae style: Kong (Today: 12 Aug 2014)

SINGAPORE — Latino reggae worked well for Colombian songstress Shakira in her hit song, Hips Don’t Lie, but singer Ho Yeow Sun was not sure that reggae music was her style, City Harvest Church co-founder Kong Hee told the court this morning (Aug 12).

Well known songwriter and performer Wyclef Jean had been roped in to produce Ms Ho’s debut English album in 2006, and wanted it to feature Asian reggae music. But Kong, who is facing charges of criminal breach of trust, said his wife Ho felt reggae music was not her style and was uncomfortable, despite the hits her single China Wine — featuring Wyclef — was getting on YouTube.

By Feb 2008, Wyclef wanted to re-record Ms Ho’s upcoming album. But things did not work out and both sides parted ways later that year and the album was never released.

Breaking into the US market would have opened doors for the church’s Crossover Project to reach out to non-Christians, Kong said.

He said he always scrutinised the budget for the album and, where possible, would independently work through assumptions made by American music producer Justin Herz in his profit and loss projections.