Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Chrisye

Role / Field:

Pioneering Indonesian progressive pop singer and songwriter.

Born:

1949-09-16

Died:

2007-03-30

Century / Era:

1949s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Hajji Chrismansyah Rahadi ([krisˈmanʃah raˈhadi]; born Christian Rahadi [kristiˈan raˈhadi]; 16 September 1949 – 30 March 2007), better known by his stage name Chrisye ([krisˈjə]), was an Indonesian progressive pop singer and songwriter. Born in Jakarta of mixed Chinese-Indonesian descent, Chrisye became interested in music at an early age. At high school, he played bass guitar in a band he formed with his brother, Joris. In the late 1960s, he joined Sabda Nada (later Gipsy), a band led by his neighbours, the Nasutions.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1973, after a short hiatus, he rejoined the band to play in New York for a year. He briefly returned to Indonesia and then went back to New York with another band, the Pro's. After once again returning to Indonesia, he collaborated with Gipsy and Guruh Sukarnoputra to record the 1976 indie album Guruh Gipsy. Following the success of Guruh Gipsy; in 1977, Chrisye recorded two of his most critically acclaimed works: "Lilin-Lilin Kecil" by James F. Sundah, which eventually became his signature song, and the soundtrack album Badai Pasti Berlalu.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Their success landed him a recording contract with Musica Studios, with whom he released his first solo album, Sabda Alam, in...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Alan Menken — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
• Alexei Shchusev — Contemporary (Died in 1949) (1949): Master Russian architect spanning Art Nouveau, Constructivism, and Stalinist styles.
• Al Oerter — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw, pioneering athletic consistency.
• Albert Ellis — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Pioneering figure in psychotherapy, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
• Alfred Peet — Contemporary (Died in 2007) (2007): Dutch-American founder credited with starting the US specialty coffee revolution.
• Albert Szent-Györgyi — Shared historical date (09-16 · Born) (1893): Pioneering Hungarian biochemist, Nobel laureate for Vitamin C and muscle research.
• Aleksandr Medved — Shared historical date (09-16 · Born) (1937): Legendary Soviet/Belarussian freestyle wrestler, celebrated for Olympic dominance.
• Albert Pierrepoint — Shared historical date (03-30 · Born) (1905): Prominent English hangman who executed hundreds of people in a 25-year career.
• Anna Sewell — Shared historical date (03-30 · Born) (1820): English novelist celebrated for the pioneering work, Black Beauty, a novel about a horse.
• 1949 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1949
• September 16 (09-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 16
• 2007 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2007
• March 30 (03-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Chrisye