Benyamin Sueb (5 March 19395 September 1995) was an Indonesian comedian, actor, and singer. He released 46 studio albums and starred in more than 50 films. He received two Citra Awards for Intan Berduri in 1973 and Si Doel Anak Modern in 1975.

Early life

Benyamin was born in Kemayoran

Kemayoran

Kemayoran is a subdistrict of Central Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. Kemayoran is roughly bounded by Landas Pacu Barat and Landas Pacu Timur road to the north, Letjend Suprapto Road to the south, and a canal along the Sunter Raya road to the northeast...

, Batavia, on 5 March 1939. His parents were Suaeb and Aisyah. His father real name was Sukirman, but changed to Suaeb since he lived in Batavia. At the age of two, Benyamin's father died. Later on, he was permitted to be a street performer. In 1946, he studied at Bendungan Jago Elementary School. When he was in the fifth or sixth grade, he moved to Santo Yusuf Elementary School in Bandung

Bandung

Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...

. After graduating, he continued his studies at Taman Madya Cikini Junior High School, and then Taman Siswa Senior High School in Kemayoran. He later studied at the Jakarta Academy of Banking for one year, but did not finish. He originally wanted to become a pilot, but his mother forbade him; he eventually found work as bread seller, then as a bus conductor.

Music

In 1950s, Benyamin joined the Melody Boys, who played calypso music

Calypso music

Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...

, rhumba, cha-cha

Cha-cha-cha (dance)

The Cha-cha-cha is the name of a dance of Cuban origin.It is danced to the music of the same name introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in 1953...

, jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

, blues, rock n roll

Rock N Roll

-Personnel:*Ryan Adams - Bass, Composer, Costume Design, Guitar, Keyboards, Multi Instruments, Vocals, Vocals *Billie Joe Armstrong - Vocals *Melissa Auf der Maur - Vocals...

 and some keroncong. The band performed some famous songs including "When I Fall in Love

When I Fall in Love

"When I Fall in Love" is a 1952 popular song recorded by many artists.When I Fall in Love may also refer to:* When I Fall in Love , an album by Chris Botti, with a version of the 1952 song...

", "Blue Moon

Blue Moon (song)

"Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley....

" and "Unchained Melody

Unchained Melody

"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....

". They also performed their own songs, like "Kisah Cinta" ("Love Story"), "Panon Hideung" ("Black Eye") and "Si Neneng". He also played jazz with Jack Lemmers and Bill Saragih. In 1963, the Melody Boys changed their name to Melodi Ria. In the late 1960s, several songs that were composed by him were sung by Bing Slamet

Bing Slamet

Ahmad Syech Albar, better known by his stage name Bing Slamet, was an Indonesian singer, songwriter, comedian, and actor. During his career, he acted in 17 films and released "dozens" of albums. Shortly before his death, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Governor of Jakarta...

, including "Nonton Bioskop" ("Watching a Movie at the Theatre"), "Hujan Gerimis" ("Drizzle"), "Endeng-Endengan" and "Ada-Ada Saja" ("It is What it is"). From the late 1960s until early 1970s, he was influenced by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band, led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall, OBE. Mayall used the band name between 1963 and 1967, but then dropped it for some fifteen years. However, in 1982 a 'Return of the Bluesbreakers' was announced and...

' blues and James Brown

James Brown

James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...

's soul

Soul music

Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...

.

In 1992, he formed a new group named Al-Haj. The band released the album Biang Kerok. In "Ampunan" ("Forgiveness"), he sang seriously. However, in "I'm a Teacher" and "Kisah Kucing Tua" ("Story of an Old Cat") he sang humorously. Style-wise, "Dingin-Dingin Dimandiin" ("Cold when Bathed") is rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

. "Ampunan" influenced by Genesis

Genesis (band)

Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...

' Watcher of the Skies

Watcher of the Skies

Watcher of the Skies is the first track on Genesis' 1972 album Foxtrot. The title is borrowed from John Keats' 1817 poem "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer":Then felt I like some watcher of the skiesWhen a new planet swims into his ken;...

. The album was also influenced by The Beatles

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

' "Lady Madonna

Lady Madonna

"Lady Madonna" is a song by The Beatles, primarily written by Paul McCartney . In March 1968, it was released as a single, backed with "The Inner Light." The song was recorded on 3 and 6 February 1968 before the Beatles left for India...

".

Benyamin used music as a medium of reflection and contemplation, to critique the current socio-political situation. His music is a portrait of the marginal. Many of his used the theme of the "tukang" (meaning handyman in Indonesian), such as "Tukang Solder", "Tukang Becak", and "Tukang Kredit".

Film

In 1970, Benyamin made his debut in Banteng Betawi. In 1972, he starred in his eighth film as Jamal, the main character in Intan Berduri. He was paired with Rima Melati. In 1973, he collaborated with Bing Slamet on Ambisi (Ambition) and Bing Slamet Setan Djalanan (Bing Slamet the Street Devil). He also collaborated with Sjuman Djaya on Si Doel Anak Betawi. After starring in Si Doel Anak Betawi, he appeared in the sequel, Si Doel Anak Modern in 1975.

As a producer, he formed the movie company Jiung Film, which created Musuh Bebuyutan (1974), Benyamin Koboi Ngungsi (Benjamin the Cowboy Evacuates; 1975) and Hippies Lokal (Local Hippies; 1976). He also starred in eleven films which featured his name in the title, including Benyamin Biang Kerok (1972), Benyamin Brengsek (Benyamin the Asshole; 1973) and Benyamin Jatuh Cinta (Benyamin Falls in Love; 1976).

In 1980s, after releasing Betty Bencong Slebor (Betty, the Frightful Transvestite), he decided to stop producing his own films and closed his movie company due to his revenues being less than production costs.

He played in more than 53 films, as the main character or a supporting character.

Death

He died of a heart attack on September 5, 1995 after playing soccer.

Personal life

In 1959, Benyamin married Noni. He proposed to marry her, but rejected by her stepfather. After that, he proposed to Noni's real father and accepted. One year later, Beib, his first son was born. He divorced her on July 7, 1979 and reconciled in the same year.

Awards

In 1973, Benyamin received a Citra Award for Intan Berduri. In 1975, he won another for Si Doel Anak Modern. In 1995, he was received a special award from the committee of Festival Sinetron Indonesia for his contribution to the development of Indonesian soap operas.

Discography

• Kancil Kesasar/Kue Onde (A Clever Individual Animal Who Got Lost / Onde Cake; Mesra Records)
• Si Jampang (Melodi Record)
• Oom Senang (Happy Uncle; Mesra Record)
• Brang Breng Brong (Diamond Record)
• Jangkrik Genggong (Barking Cricket; Mutiara Record)
• Apollo (Indah Records)
• Tukang Tuak (Tuak Salesman; Undah Records)
• Nonton Pecoen (Watching Prostitutes; Remaco)
• Keluarga Gila (Crazy Family; Remaco)
• Tukang Sado (Sadomasochistic Man; Remaco)
• Tukang Becak (Pedicab Driver; Remaco)
• Terus Turun (Keep Going Down; Remaco)
• Steambath (Remaco)
• Dul-Dul Tjak (Mutiara Records)
• Patjaran (Dating; Indah Records)
• Ngupi (Remaco)
• Nyari Kutu (Looking for Mites; Indah Records)
• Tukang Loak (Seller of Second-hand goods; Indah Records)
• Ngibing (J&B)
• Maredel (Remaco)
• Mak Minta Makan Mak (Mom, Food Please Mom; Remaco)
• Anak Sekarang (Modern Children; Remaco)
• Blues Kejepit Pintu (Blues Caught in the Door; Remaco)

• Bul Bul Efendi (Irama Tara)
• Kicir-Kicir (Windmills; Remaco)
• Asal Nguap (Yawning Indiscriminately; Indah Records)
• Makan (Eat; Remaco)
• Main Congklak (Playing with Stilts; Irama Tara)
• Ketemu Bayi Tabung (Meeting a Test Tube Baby; Irama Tara)
• Soraya (Fila Records)
• Telepon Cinta (Love's Call; Insan Record/RCA)
• Martabak (Insan Record)
• Ngibing Betawi (Varia Nada Utama)
• Cintaku Berat di Ongkos (My Love is Heavy on the Cost; Virgo Ramayana Records)
• Assoy (Attractive; Ben's Records)
• Duit (Money; Mutiara Records)
• Bayi Tabung (Test Tube Baby; Insan Records)
• Mat Codet (Irama Asia)
• Tua-Tua Komersiel (Old but Commercial; Gesit Records)
• Saya Bilang (I Say; Abadi Records)
• Telepon Umum (Public Telephone; Purnama Records)
• Belajar Membaca (Learning to Read; Irama Asia)
• Nostalgila (Crazy Nostalgia; Asia Records)
• Sang Kodok (The Frog; BBB)
• Biang Kerok featuring Al-Haj (Provocateur; Virgo Ramayana/Ben's Records)