Ismail Marzuki, National Hero of Indonesia
Ismail Marzuki Marzuki was born in Kwitang, Jakarta to a wealthy Betawi family. His father Marzuki owned an automobile repair shop, and played the rebana; his mother died while giving birth to him. From a young age Marzuki enjoyed music, listening to songs repeatedly on the family's gramophone and learning to play the rebana, ukelele, and guitar. Marzuki studied at an elementary school for Native Indonesians, the Hollandsch-Inlandsche School Idenburg in Menteng; he later attended the Dutch-language middle school Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs on Menjangan Street in Jakarta. He became fluent in Indonesian, English, and Dutch. He also studied religion at Unwanul Wustha Madrasah. However, he didn't study music formally, instead learning by himself. In 1931, Marzuki wrote his 1st song, "O Sarinah", which was about a suffering people. During his career he wrote between 202 and 204 songs. Among his most famous compositions are "Rayuan Pulau Kelapa", "Gugu...