The music of Chennai-based bass singer Dr Samuel Grubb

Dr Samuel Grubb, who passed away recently, has been conductor of the Madras Musical Association, member of the GATT Quintet that performed at the Sydney Olympics and sung for Ilaiyaraaja. But what he will be undoubtedly remembered for is his deep voice, one that American gospel queen, Mahalia Jackson, called ‘the Bottomless Bass’

I first met Dr Samuel Grubb in 1964 when he was chosen as the bass soloist for a cantata called ‘Redemption’ which my father had composed with the legendary Richard Singh. I was still a boy singing alto in the YMCA Augumented choir then and Grubb was at least a decade older. The concert was a grand success and the stand-out performer was Grubb. Even though Grubb was a famous conductor later, he is still well known for his bass voice. Low G was a piece of cake. The GATT Quartet (then comprising Samuel Grubb — bass, Kalyan Subrahmanyam — 1st tenor, Allan Sathyadev — 2nd tenor, and James (Tony) Davids — 2nd tenor) was well known even when I was in college. GATT stood for Grubb, Allan, Tony and Theophilus (which was Kalyan’s middle name). When Kalyan joined medical college, I teamed up with him for our medical college gigs doing Simon and Garfunkel and a bit of Country. Kalyan introduced me to the GATT with me singing baritone, when Allan left for higher studies to the UK in 1974. People still called us the GATT so we let it ride. We rehearsed many times in my car as I drove ourselves to all our performances which were mainly in consulates for Christmas concerts and memorial services. Regular matinee concerts were held at Stella Maris College and Women’s Christian College. Grubb being the oldest was the unofficial leader of the GATT, and for 20 years we were a quartet till Allan rejoined in 1994. The quintet was now a group of three doctors, an aerospace engineer and a musician.