This is a place for exchanging thoughts about Broery.
1. Irma Pane
2. Adibah Noor
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| Irma Pane | |
Colleague Irma Pane knew Broery very well: ‘Broer as we used to call him, was a normal young man when I got to know him. He was just like other musicians, he also had to start from the bottom. The 'music-circuit' in Indonesia is very small and everyone knows each other. So we started doing gigs in the sparkling and enthusiastic Jakartan night life. It wasn't paying that well in the beginning. Sometimes we did 2 or 3 gigs on one day to make a little money. So we played during lunch time, during happy hours and at night. Because of this we all circled through the crowded and busy capital of Indonesia and we saw each other at all different places. 'Broer' always was very gentle but soon started to feel a little bigger than the others because of his beautiful voice and successful entertainment. He was a little on his own but still friendly, helpful and he never said no to a jam session with colleagues during the late hours after a performance. I remember once, that when I was singing in the club at the highest floor of the Hilton, while he was performing in the lobby, he always came by during the breaks. Not only to see me I suppose, because at that time he started to be one of the most wanted singles in Jakarta, haha...
When broer had a car, which most artist didn't have, he often brought us home. He borrowed a lot of tapes from my music collection, which of course I never saw back... (pinjem lupa). He was already on his way up to become the most famous and important singer of Indonesia.
At that time he didn't need the 'hotel circuit' anymore. He played at big gala nights and sometimes we didn't see him for a while because of the many recording sessions he had. His entertainment and piano playing was formidable. Mr. Las Vegas as he was called, or 'Elvis of Indonesia' often went abroad to Europe (Germany, the Netherlands) and to the States. At first just for church performances, because he was very religious I think. Later, he also started to play at parties in the US, and we lost track of him.
The last three or four years of his life he was back in Indonesia for most of the time. He didn't like to go on the tiring trips abroad. He also didn't need the money anymore, he had made his pile. He only did some interesting gigs on special parties for VIPs. At the same time his health was declining. He was feeling the heavy way of life he had.
Two years before he died I met Broer in the President hotel where we had to sing that night. He still was a marvelous singer and he himself was playing on a white grand piano. We even did some duets and later that night we talked behind the side wings. He looked tired; the years started to count. I told him to take it easy.
A short time after, I heard that Broer had suffered a stroke. From then he lived in his house in Cinere, where he had to stay in a wheel chair. Due to a second stroke he died in April 2000.
A great talent had left us. I felt empty and sad for a long time. A lot of good friends and musicians died in the past years, but Broer has always been the most special for me...'
More info on Irma Pane at www.irmapane.com.
Adibah Noor
She is in showbiz since 1994. Adibah Noor is a much-sought after singer, master of ceremony, entertainer for royal, corporate or private, and (sometimes) public functions. Her first solo album is expected to be launched in September 2005. Adibah Noor was one of Broery's back-up singers when he was in Kuala Lumpur (back in late 1995) to perform for the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamed.
Adibah Noor tells us about the photo with Broery: 'About the most memorable picture I have in my collection... That pic of me and the late great Broery was taken somewhere in end of 1995 when he was invited to sing for a function organized by the Malaysian Public Service Department (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam). It was a dinner to honor the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed (he was then Yang Amat Berhormat Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamed).
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| Adibah Noor and Broery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1995. | |
I will forever cherish the moments I was privileged to share with the great Broery. The hours of rehearsals, the preparation for the show and sharing the same stage with him, watching him do his magic. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I was shaken by the news that he had a stroke years later and was bound by the wheel chair. And shed tears by the news of his departure.'