1. Rhoma Irama then formed his band, Soneta Group, achieving multitudes of musical successes with groundbreaking dangdut style that incorporates Western, Malay, and Bollywood influences.
18 Facts About Rhoma Irama
1. 2.
Rhoma Irama has built his career in the film industry.
3.
Rhoma Irama has been active as well in the political arena, with a history of joining campaigns for the Islamic United Development Party during the New Order era.
4.
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.
5.
Rhoma Irama recorded Indonesian pop music during this period with the Zaenal Combo and Galaksi, while the album Ingkar Janji was recorded in 1969 with Orkes Melayu Chandraleka.
6.
The song featured a topless Oma Rhoma Irama wearing tight trousers and holding an electric guitar.
7.
Rhoma Irama has stated that he took his guitar style from Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple.
8.
Rhoma Irama's 1973 hit "Terajana", one of the best-known dangdut songs of all time, was the first to use the newly coined, and arguably derogatory, term dangdut, distinguishing the Javanese Orkes Melayu music, heavily influenced by Indian Bollywood records, henceforth dangdut, from the established Orkes Melayu, associated with North Sumatran Malays.
9.
Once Soneta was established in the early 1970s, Oma changed his name to Rhoma Irama and went on a decade-long run of successful hit records and films, all of which starred Rhoma Irama playing himself while performing all of his hits.
10.
Rhoma Irama wrote the classics "Kereta Malam" and "Kuda Lumping" which were sung by Elvy Sukaesih.
11.
Rhoma Irama is notable with the use of some notable musical instruments including various models of Steinberger guitars.
12.
Rhoma Irama resolved that his music should instruct, and not merely entertain, a form of devotion waged through music.
13.
On 14 October 2015, Rhoma Irama declared the Peace and Safe Islamic Party, abbreviated as Idaman.
14.
In 2000s Rhoma Irama was known to be a vocal critic of moral vice.
15.
Rhoma Irama warned his audience against voting for candidate pair Joko Widodo and Basuki Cahaya Purnama because according to him, the former had Christian parents and the latter is Chinese and Christian.
16.
The initial investigation ended with Rhoma Irama shedding tears in front of journalists saying "to Joko Widodo and Basuki Purnama, I love them all" but insisted he did nothing wrong.
17.
Later, Rhoma Irama met face to face with Joko Widodo in an episode of Indonesia Lawyers Club show albeit through teleconference medium.
18.
Rhoma Irama refused to apologize to Joko for falsely stating to his audience about the religion of Joko's parents.