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 is called Mawar Widuri.
His ballad Angin Malam (Night Breeze) skyrocketed through the
charts.
After he was hit by a stroke in 1998, he regularly went in and out of
hospitals. He left a wife and two children.
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).
His father is Gijsberth Pesulima and his mother is Wilmintje
Marantika.
His brothers are Henky, Freejohn and Hemi (†).
The singer is first married to singer and entertainer Anita Sarawak
from Singapore. After their divorce Anita Sarawak moves to Las Vegas
(USA). Broery then marries Wanda Irene Latuperisa. They have
two children: Indonesia Pesulima and Nabila Methaya Pesulima. Wanda and her children live in the United States of America.
Broery dies in Jakarta on the 7th of April 2000 caused by a stroke. During
his life and after his dead he is one of the foremost Indonesian artists.
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.
Somewhere about 1975 Broery played in the band The Pro's, together with
Chrisye (Chrismansyah Rahadi), Abadi Soesman, Dimas Wahab, Poma and Ronnie
Makasutji.
One of their records is Love Me Tender (Star Swan SSE 522). (The picture of the cover was made available by David Greenfield.)
In 1981 Broery falls in love with Anita Sarawak. Anita in October 1981:
'Broery and I are very much in love and we want to be together, whatever
happens.' In the period of his marriage with Anita Sarawak, Broery lives
in Malaysia. That was the time he changes his name into Broery Abdullah.
After their divorce, Broery returns to Indonesia. He makes a comeback
with his songs composed by Rinto Harahap. One of them is Aku Begini,
Engkau Begitu.
Broery, Wanda and the kids.
In about 1989 Broery marries to Wanda Irene Latuperisa. They have two children, in 1990 Indonesia Putra (Don) is born and in 1991 Nabila Methaya (Laya) is born.
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).
While his condition is improving Broery gives testimonies at various church
activities. However, on May 14, 1999, he suffers another stroke while
singing in a church. It is this second stroke that paralyzes him. He is
no longer able to speak and he spends most of the time lying down in bed
with his eyes closed.
Chrisye
Bob Tutupoly
Dewi Yull
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'.
