Rhoma Irama

Rhoma Irama
Rhoma Irama gave lecture in Palembang, 2015
Member of People's Representative Council
In office
1 October 1997 – 1 October 1999
PresidentSuharto
B.J. Habibie
Parliamentary groupF-KP
ConstituencyJakarta
Personal details
Born
Oma Irama

(1946-12-11) 11 December 1946 (age 77)
Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia
Political partyGolkar[1]
Other political
affiliations
Idaman (2015–2018)
Spouses
Children5, including Debby Irama, Vicky Irama, and Ridho Rhoma
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • guitarist
  • actor
  • entrepreneur
Signature
Musical career
Also known asRaja Dangdut (King of Dangdut)
GenresDangdut
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1958–present
Labels
Websiterhomairama.info

Raden Haji Oma Irama, better known as Rhoma Irama (born 11 December 1946), is an Indonesian dangdut singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sundanese descent.

Starting in the late 1960s, he began his musical career as Rhoma Irama as a part of the pop band Orkes Melayu Purnama, pioneering several dangdut music elements. He then formed his band, Soneta Group, achieving multitudes of musical successes with groundbreaking dangdut style that incorporates Western, Malay, and Bollywood influences.

From the late 1970s, he began transforming into more Islamic-oriented style, commanding the religiously pious popular music culture.[2] During the height of his stardom in the 1970s, he was dubbed "Raja Dangdut" ("the King of Dangdut") with his Soneta Group.[3] He has also built his career in the film industry.

He has been active as well in the political arena, with a history of joining campaigns for the Islamic United Development Party (PPP) during the New Order era. In 2015, Irama founded Peace and Safe Islamic Party and served as the party chairman until 2018, when he decided to merge the party into the National Mandate Party.

  1. ^ Hakiem, Lukman. "Dari Panggung Sejarah Bangsa: Belajar dari Tokoh dan Peristiwa".
  2. ^ Maribeth Erb, Priyambudi Sulistiyanto (2009). Deepening Democracy in Indonesia?: Direct Elections for Local Leaders (Pilkada). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p.219.
  3. ^ "Rhoma Irama". Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010.