Emil Issacs
Guitarist
EMIL hails from my hometown Cochin. I have known him from my student days. His brother Rex Issacs, a gifted violinist, was my collegemate. Emil’s younger brother Eugene Isaacs is also a lead guitarist. I have taken my rudimentary guitar lessons in the early 70’s from Emil when he was in the famous Kalabhavan in Ernakulam founded by the late Rev Father Abel (CMI).
​As a noted guitarist Emil started the first western musical band in Cochin – The Elite Aces with Rex and Eugene as well as his cousin Pinson Correia, the famous drummer. Those days he was a well-known figure in Cochin. He hailed from the famous Correa family there. One of my closest friends and a great guy, Possey Correa was Emil’s first cousin.
Emil was the lead guitarist for the famous playback singer K.J.Yesudas for a long time. Emil started on the guitar when he was just 15 and Yesudas spotted his talents and promoted him. He later moved to be with my good friend Usha Uthup at her studio Vibrations in Kolkotta. I met Emil after a very long time at Usha’s Studio in Kolkatta. I was in her studio there to get Usha sing for one of my songs composed by Loy (Shanker, Ishan & Loy). I also invited Emil to a marquee event in New Delhi to perform along with Usha Uthup. That was the last time I spent time with him reminiscing those early days in Cochin. He was very nostalgic. Emil was with Usha’s professional studio for nearly 40 years. He even picked up some Bengali – of course not anywhere as near as Usha’s.
Emil passed away at the age of 70 on the 3rd January 2018 at a private hospital in Cochin. I was in New Delhi at that time and couldn’t attend his funeral services. I have lost a strong link in the wonderful world of music.
