Rhoma Irama (Orkes Melayu Purnama/Soneta)

Name: Raden Oma Irama
Born: 11th December, 1946 (Tasikmalaya, Indonesia)

Profile: He is an Indonesian dangdut guitarist, singer and actor. During the height of his stardom in the 70's, he became the self-proclaimed 'Raja Dangdut' (King of Dangdut) with his group "Soneta".

History: His career began in the late 60's when he recorded solo records and with the group "Orkes Melayu Purnama". He sang duets on several record LPs with Indonesian female vocal stars such as Inneke Kusumawati, Ellya Khadam, Lily Junaedhy, Vivi Sumanti, and the later to be crowned 'Queen of Dangdut', Elvy Sukaesih.

It was at this period of time, a new popular music called Dangdut emerged from the slums and suburbs of Jakarta in Indonesia. The music was performed on an electrified and modernized version of the older acoustic orkes melayu orchestra and combined influences from Indian and Malaysian film music, Islamic popular music and American popular song, primarily rock.

The name dangdut is an onomatopoeic reference to the tabla-like pair of drums used in the ensemble that supply the genre with its defining rhythm: DANG dut, in which a heavy, low-sounding pitch off the beat ("dang") is followed by a light, higher pitch note on the downbeat ("dut"). The form was originally characterized by love duets between young men and women.

Once Oma broke from recording with "Orkes Melayu Purnama", he eventually formed "Orkes Melayu Soneta", the first so-called Dangdut group. In fact, Oma established the term Dangdut with a song by that name from the early 70's. He wrote the classics 'Kareta Malam' and 'Kuda Lumping' which were sung by Elvy Sukaesih. Once "Soneta" was established in the early 70's, Oma changed his name to Rhoma and went on a decade long run of successful hit records and films, all of which starred Rhoma playing himself while performing all of his hits.

During the 80's, Dangdut was synonymous with the on-stage persona of Rhoma, dressed in a tight black tanktop, headband, leather pants, gloves and boots, and playing a black flying-V guitar, sweatily glistening in heavy-metal dangdut glory-certainly a far cry from the bubblegum, coy flirtatiousness of the heavily made-up teen dangdut singers of the genre's early years. By the late 80's, Rhoma had become fabulously wealthy. During this era, he continued to record and develop an international reputation, collaborating with such legends as Lata Mengeshkar, the golden voice of Bollywood.

Today, Rhoma is still active with the dangdut and entertainment business. However, with his semi-retirement, dangdut has reverted mostly to light flirtatious songs, and today it greatly resembles other forms of more overtly Westernized Indonesian genres of popular music.

Influences: Unknown

Axology: Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Flying V

Signature song(s): Begadang - Rhoma Irama (Begadang, 1978)

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bimiSFIDCN4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flJ57d1zRZw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkG9id2eXb0&feature=related