On Friday the 7th of April 2000 many people were terribly shocked by
the message that the Moluccan singer Broery Pesulima, had passed away.
He belonged to a small group of famous Indonesian artists that also was
successful abroad. One of his most famous hits was called Mawar Widuri.
His ballad Angin Malam (Night Breeze) skyrocketed through the
charts. Broery is born in Ambon on the 25th of June 1948 as
Simon Dominggus Pesulima. During his career he also uses
the name Broery Marantika (after his mothers family name).
As a kid Broery is member of a church choir in Ambon. In 1964 he joins
a singing contest conducted by the Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Ambon.
A year later he moves to Jakarta. There his professional career as a singer
is starting when he participates in the Remy Leimena group. Broery has his first records in the years 1968-1969. His popularity suddenly
rises after his role in the movie Akhir Sebuah Impian (End
of a Dream) that circulates in Malaysia in 1971. In this film he
is singing two songs, Angin Malam (Night Breeze) and Mimpi
Sedih (Sad dream). At that time he is not only respected as a singer
but also as an entertainer. In November 1991 Broery wins in four of six categories at the Jakarta
Music Festival: best video clip, best soundtrack, best composition, and
best producer. That night he sings Once There Was Love (lyrics
by Ian Rod Thompson). Broery for the first time suffers a stroke on September 23, 1998, after
jogging with his wife Wanda. He stays in the hospital for one and a half
month. After recovering he manages to complete his duet album with Dewi
Yull, 20 Spesial Nostalgia. He also finishes Keroncong and
30 Years in Review (consisting of his most popular songs such
as Angin Malam and Mimpi Sedih).
On Friday morning the 7th of April 2000 Broery passes away, unattended by his wife Wanda. She is at a church mission in Los Angeles, USA. One and a half year after his first stroke he dies at the Puri Cinere Hospital in South Jakarta. He leaves his wife, Wanda Latuperisa, 31, and two children, Indonesia Pesulima Putra (10) and Nabilia Methaya Pesulima Putri (9). Singer and tv-entertainer Bob Tutupoly, Broery's close
friend, couldn't see Broery suffering. 'I just can't stand seeing him
in convulsions,' Bob tells Sri Rahayu Drianurmini of GATRA. His colleague
Chrisye also feels sad. 'Broery was a dedicated singer', Chrisye says.
'There are many singers, but only Broery could really sing, with all his
heart and soul'. |