Ahmad Dhani

Ahmad Dhani
Background information
Birth name	Dhani Ahmad Prasetyo
Born	May 26, 1972 (1972-05-26) (age 39) Surabaya, Indonesia,
Genres	Rock Pop Alternative
Occupations	Musician, Entrepreneur
Instruments	Voice Guitar Keyboard
Years active	1986–present
Associated acts	Dewa 19 Mulan Jameela Agnes Monica T.R.I.A.D. Mahadewa
Website	[www.ahmaddhani.com] Ahmad Dhani's signature

Dhani Ahmad Prasetyo (born May 26, 1972 in Surabaya), better known as Ahmad Dhani or Dhani Manaf, is an Indonesian rock musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer. Described as a "rock star",^[1] Dhani is the frontman of Dewa 19 and Ahmad Band, and also a member of inter-continental band The Rock. He is also the owner and chairman of Republic Cinta Management.

Throughout his career, Dhani has scored many hits and also has been a talent promoter for the careers of other artist including Maia Ahmad, Agnes Monica, Alexa Key and Mulan Jameela, and has written songs for these artists and others. He has won numerous awards including the IMA best musical arrangement and best producer and many other awards as the member of Dewa 19. His influence in the industry made him one of the most influential musician in Southeast Asia.

Early life

Ahmad Dhani was the first child of three children of the marriage between Eddy Abdul Manaf, an Indonesian Diplomat with Joyce Theresia Pamela Kohler, an Indonesian of German-Jewish descent. His grandfather, Friederich Kohler was a German Jew who fled to Indonesia to escape Nazi rule. Dhani stepsister, Dadang S. Manaf is an acknowledged Indonesian musician and is a big influence on Dhani musical interest since his childhood. Dhani's father bought him a keyboard when he was young and paid for musical lessons, highly persuading him and hoping Dhani would excel in classical music.

Career

Dewa 19

Dhani musical talent began to show when he still in secondary school. Along with his friends Andra Junaidi, Erwin Prasetya, and Henry Juniarso, he formed the band Dewa 19 {ofter referred to as Dewa} in 1986 of which Dhani act as a vocalist and keyboardist. Highly interested in music, Dhani often skip school just to hang out with his friends and play musical instruments at Henry's house in the area of Airlangga University complex.

Early in his Dewa career, Dhani begin to put an interest in jazz music which is then followed by the change in the name of Dewa into Downbeat. Together with Downbeat, Dhani won the Youth Jazz Festival in East Java, and became the first winner of Festival '90, a high school band competition at the Djarum Super Fiesta Musical. But finally back to focus on Rock genre and flying the flag of Dewa with the addition of a new vocalist Ari Lasso.

Since there is no adequate studio in Surabaya, in 1991 Ahmad Dhani moved to Jakarta to look for a record company for Dewa 19. With minimum investment, Dhani step into the national capital city, roaming from one record company to another using public buses. Having been rejected by a number of labels, eventually Dhani talent is recognized and Dewa is recruited by Jan Djuhana from Team Records. Their first album "Dewa 19" (1992) became a huge success with a number of hits such as "Kangen" and "Kita Tidak Sedang Bercinta Lagi". The album was the best-selling album of 1993 and Dewa was awarded as best newcomer in the Indonesian Music Awards.

Since it's inception, Dhani has helped to produce eleven Album for the band including Dewa 19 (1992), Format Masa Depan (1994), Terbaik Terbaik (1995), Pandawa Lima (1997), The Best Of Dewa 19 (1999), Bintang Lima (2000), Cintailah Cinta (2002), Atas Nama Cinta I & II (2004), Laskar Cinta (2004), Republik Cinta (2006), dan Kerajaan Cinta (2007). Although it has been through several changes of personnel, Dewa 19 still is a one of the biggest force in the Indonesian music arena mainly with Dhani as their driving force.

His album Warriors of Love (Laskar Cinta) reportedly "challenged militant ideology" and was "massively popular" in Indonesia.^[1]

Personal life

Dhani married Maia Estianty in 1994, after a long relationship when both are still in secondary school at SMA Negeri 2 Surabaya. They have 3 children from their marriage of which Dhani named after Islamic prominent Sufi leader whom he admires, namely Ahmad Al Gazali, El Jalaluddin Rumi, and Ahmad Abdul Qadir Jilani. Since late 2006, Dhani and his wife had been in an affair of 'accused alleges' that led to the divorce suit filed by Maia Estianty. Their households officially ended on September 23, 2008 through the decisions of judges in South Jakarta Sharia Court. Dhani had since married Mulan Jameela, a singer and former member of the disbanded duo pop group Ratu of which Maia is the other member.

He is highly influnced by the British rock band Queen.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Comic strip heroes take on al Qaeda". Stuff.co.nz. 26 March 2008. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4452497a12.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 

External links

• "Republic Cinta Management"
• "Ahmad Dhani Meets With Children at Rumah Belajar", US Department of State
• "Eddy Abdul Manaf Interview"
• "Ahmad Dhani, Yahudi, dan Lagu Cinta"

Persondata
Name	Dhani, Ahmad
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 26, 1972
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death