Raymond Looi is the director of Singpetra Mission and founder of a Christian record label company-Manger Production. He has been involved in the music business as a Gospel Singer, songwriter, producer and motivator. This is a challenging field that only the best can survive and few make a successful career out of it. So far Raymond is among the handful in the country that does it full-time with a degree of commercial success. But Raymond is not in it for the money but the opportunity to use his talents to make others find meaning and joy through his music and personal works of charity.
He first learned to play the guitar at age of twelve. He was self-taught and composed his first song at age of thirteen. At age of fifteen he was guest performer at school shows and was on the jury for a talentime competition. When he was seventeen, he competed in local song-writing competitions. Once at eighteen he was asked to do a recording with a local company but the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 dashed that venture.
At the age of nineteen he was singing full-time at a local Folk Music Restaurant and by age 21 he was constantly approached by local and foreign recording companies to join them, in which he declined. With his good looks and talent he could easily be another pop star and teen idol but it was not a career role he desired.
In 2000 his career took a significant step when he joined Singpetra as a full-time gospel singer. It was something that appealed to him more. Given the opportunity to compose and perform his own songs in a setting that was close to his heart, and he perform at various venues locally and abroad to small and large audiences in the thousands.
Raymond has performed in Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia. He has a following wherever he performs and his combination of folk, rock and pop with positive messages for people are usually well-received.
He not only communicates through his songs but motivates youth and others to pursue values that are up-building. In facing many pressures young people are often led astray and Raymond provides guidance for the susceptible. His positive messages often have a constructive effect on his audience. In this sense he is like a musical motivator and it is this part of his work that Raymond enjoys, to see lives changed with positive outcomes.
Raymond, at twenty-one, recorded his first album called “I Know”. Apart from recording his own songs, he helped write material for other Gospel Singers including Taiwanese Aboriginal Gospel Singer Chen Ying, and Hong Kong Gospel Singer, Ivy So. He was always busy behind the scenes producing and doubling as a sessionist musician.
In 2005 Raymond produced his second album, “Loveway”. At the time he established a recording studio which he jointly owns with Singpetra and it was also the first time Raymond involved in the music arrangement.
The multi-talented singer also produced the audio engineering and lights design for the concerts and other aspects of the production. Raymond had done the pre-production and the post-production for all of his albums. From songs composing, music arrangement, vocal and instrument recording, mixing and mastering, the album was produced single-handedly by Raymond who did all aspects of it.
Also he produced five series albums entitled “Golden Oldies” with a positive message recorded which is very popular among the Chinese communities worldwide.
Today Raymond continues to perform, compose and produce and reaches thousands of young people at universities, churches and places that adore the voice of this talented young man and his affable and humble nature. Indeed his career in music and service to the community, is something of a rarity today where music is pure entertainment. To Raymond his career extends beyond music in being able to give direction to youth and guidance to all through his music and songs.
In 2009, Raymond has been selected as one of the top thirty for The Outstanding Young Malaysian of Malaysia Awards, this is already a recognition of his efforts in the ministry.
Raymond Looi's Ministry Journey
Year Description 1992-1994 Self-taught and composed his first song at thirteen. At fifteen he was on the jury for a talentime competition in most of the school in Malaysia. 1997-1999 At eighteen he was asked to do a recording with a record company. Singing full- time at a local Folk Music Cafe at nineteen. At twenty was offered by foreign recording companies but he rejected. 2000 Raymond Looi involved as a full-time Gospel Singer in year 2000. 2001 Released his first Gospel album titled 『I Know』 recorded live with his band members. 2002-2004 Composed songs for Hong Kong Gospel Singer, Taiwanese Aboriginal Gospel Singer and Malaysian Gospel Singer. Produced music video for many Christian singers and his organization. 2005 Produced his second Gospel album ~ 『Loveway』 He was the composer, singer, and musician for all the songs. 2006 Start to get involved in and being invited to be a guest singer and motivator speaker for many charities and welfare groups. 2007 - 2008 Produced the live recording Oldies songs concert albums. Those album were produced single-handedly by himself in vocal and instruments recording, music arrangement, singing, mixing and mastering. 2009 He was selected as one of the top thirty for The Outstanding Young Malaysian (TOYM) of Malaysia Awards. 2010 July Fully in-charged of Singpetra Mission ministry and founded a Christian record label - Manger Production. 2010 October Released his ten years collection and new songs Gospel album ~ 『My Perfect Journey』 in conjunction with his 10th anniversary full time in Gospel music evangelism. 2010 December Released his first Chinese New Year Album. 2011 Released his first Chinese Hymns album ~ 『雷聖雄的最愛聖詩專輯（華語）』& English Hymns album ~ 『Raymond Looi The Hymns』. 2012 May Released his first single album – 『Green Grass Home』 and MV to remind everyone to go green environmentally and in heart. 2012 June Released his first Cantonese Live Recording CD+DVD album ~ 『Victory In The Lord』. 2012 July Released his first Hokkien Live Recording CD+DVD album 『A Practical Life』. 2012 September Released his first Mandarin Live Recording CD+DVD album ~ 『God is still Faithful』. 2013 April Released MV to encourage Malaysians to vote during Malaysia 13th General Election. 2013 July Produced first Hakka MV ~ 『Thank You Ah Mak Ah Ba』. 2013 July Produced MV 『Sekeluarga 無牆的家』 and the Malay version of 『Sekeluarga』 to promote the harmony culture of Malaysia. 2013 October Released another Mandarin Live Recording CD+DVD Album ~ 『Parents . The Extraordinary Love』. 2014 April Produced MV to encourage the family of MH370 incident . 2014 May Established Radiant Station - a Chinese podcast to deliver positive message. 2014 June Released his first Karaoke collection album 『Raymond Looi Karaoke』. 2014 August Released MV to encourage family of the MH17 tragedy . 2015 January Released his second Cantonese Live Recording CD+DVD album ~ 『The Real Peace』. 2015 February Produced first Chinese New Year short film 《Blessed Home》which emphasize the importance of family. At the same time produced short film's MV 《Home Sweet Home》. 2016 June Released his third Mandarin Live Recording CD+DVD Album ~ 『Blessed Home』.