The Birth Of Multitalented Composer Erwin Gutawa On Today's History, May 16, 1962

Erwin Gutawa (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Today May 16, 59 years ago, or in 1962, Erwin Gutawa Sumapraja was born. Erwin was a famous composer of the country. His presence is able to give color to Indonesian music. He became the brains of the famous concerts of major artists, such as Ruth Sahanaya, Chrisye, and Rossa. How he started his carrier?

Long before becoming a composer, Erwin started his career as an actor. His fortune in the world of acting was also quite successful.

Erwin Gutawa's talent has been seen by many people from a young age. Indonesian audiences have often seen little Erwin perform on the screen. Especially at Bina Vokalia events in the early 1970s.

At that time, Erwin became the star of the musical drama Si Limp. There Erwin sang as well as being an actor. Afterward, Erwin Gutawa's face became more and more often seen on the screen playing the role alongside other child stars, such as Nanien Sudiar and Ria Irawan.

In the course of his career, Erwin claimed to get support from many parties. The most support to him came from Bina Vokalia founder, Pranadjaya. That figure opened Erwin Gutawa's eyes to the world of music.

"Mr. Prana that makes my mind open to music. Not an instant process, but through a long road, through the discipline of training, learning and hanging out with peers in the workshop", said Erwin Gutawa quoted by Nugroho Dewanto in his paper in Tempo Magazine titled "Raising Indonesia with Music" (2005).

Nugroho added, over time Erwin Gutawa's talents in the music world became more prominent. Plus his talent is proficient in reading block notes. He joined Bina Musika.

At first, he held a vibraphone and accordion, until one time in a performance in Palembang, the bass players of his band were unable to attend. Without a plan, his band coach appointed him to replace him.

Since then, Erwin Gutawa has been released as a bass player as well as the vocalist of the boy band. They often perform various dances ranging from Mak Engket, Piring Dance, Umbrella Dance, to dangdut on television. The payment at that time was IDR 2.500 once performed. Long story short, Erwin began to, unfortunately, cross the national music scene as a bass player.

Afterward, he performed with Telerama Orchestra led by Isbandi, musi Transs and Karimata. In fact, thanks to that, Erwin can play abroad. Precisely, at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague, Netherlands.

Multitalented

As an experience-hungry person, Erwin Gutawa is always hungry for new knowledge. He never lived in one kind of music. When he often played with Telerama Orchestra, Erwin Gutawa then got the opportunity to make orchestral arrangements.

Erwin first made an arrangement of the song Tudung Periuk in a medley of regional songs. All his musical knowledge he gained outside of formal school.

His ability increased along with his diligent reading of books while reading songs from his collection cabinet. Whether it's from a CD or a DVD. As a result, Erwin Gutawa became a kind of complete package in the world of Indonesian music.

Erwin Gutawa can transform into anything. He became a singer, songwriter, producer, and conductor of the orchestra. Even though the songs don't get hit much, they're of pretty high quality. In fact, he often earned awards in the world of music.

"Erwin's exploration as an arranger was not in vain. Repeatedly he was rewarded with pride. In 1989, he won BASF's version of the best music arranger award. Three years later he won the best music arranger award at Finland's Midnite Sun Song Festival. After that, he won the award as the best music arranger of Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI) version from 1997-2001", Nugroho Dewanto wrote.

Erwin Gutawa's work not only gives light to the music in the country. However, he and his music are famous in Malaysia. One of the moments that Malaysians remember most is when he became part of the musical theater performance of the famous Malaysian legend and composer of the 1960s era, P. Ramlee, Life, Love, and Inspiration. The show that was performed in 2007 was quite successful.

"The show was quite successful. For 17 days the opera house was always crowded with spectators. The excitement of the staging can not be separated from Erwin's touch. Not only became a composer, director, and arranger, he also became a conductor: directing the National Symphony Orchestra Malaysia for two hours of performances", which was written in the Tempo magazine report (2007).

OTHERS ON TODAY'S HISTORY