Harry Roesli

Harry Roesli was a legendary Indonesian musician, composer, and activist who was known for his innovative and experimental music style, influenced by various genres such as rock, jazz, classical, and traditional Indonesian music. He was born in Bandung, West Java, in 1951, as Djauhar Zaharsjah Fachruddin Roesli. He was the grandson of Marah Roesli, a famous Indonesian writer from Minangkabau background. He studied music under Remy Sylado and Slamet Abdul Sjukur, and aviation engineering at the Bandung Institute of Technology, but he dropped out and pursued his passion for music. He moved to Bali and became a street performer, and later joined the art rock group Lemon Tree's Anno '69. He released his first solo album, Philosophy Gang, in 1973, which was a protest album inspired by Bob Dylan. He wrote more than 20 albums, mostly in Javanese language, and some of his songs became popular hits, such as "Malaria", "Ken Arok", and "Lagu Putih". He was also involved in social and environmental issues, and donated to various causes. He founded the theater group Ken Arok in 1973, which performed musical dramas that criticized the political and social situation in Indonesia. He also collaborated with other artists, such as Putu Wijaya, Nano Riantiarno, and Teater Koma. He taught music psychology at the Indonesia University of Education and Pasundan University, both in Bandung. He died of a heart attack in Jakarta in 2004, at the age of 53. He was buried in his family cemetery in Ciomas, Bogor. He left behind a legacy of music that inspired many Indonesian musicians and listeners.