View source for Gombloh

{{short description|Indonesian singer and songwriter}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Indonesian name|patronymic=yes|Soemarsono|Soedjarwoto}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Gombloh
| image           = Gombloh 2020 stamp of Indonesia.jpg
| alt             =
| caption         = Gombloh on a 2020 stamp of Indonesia
| image_size      =
| landscape       = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| birth_name      = Soedjarwoto Soemarsono
| alias           =
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1948|07|14}}
| birth_place     = [[Jombang Regency|Jombang]], [[East Java]], [[Indonesia]]
| origin          =
| death_date      = {{death date and age|1988|01|09|1948|07|14}}
| death_place     = [[Surabaya]], East Java, Indonesia
| genre           = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| occupation      =
| instrument      =
| years_active    = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) -->
| label           = Nirwana Records
| associated_acts =
| website         = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
'''Soedjarwoto Soemarsono''' (July 14, 1948{{spaced ndash}}January 9, 1988), better known by his [[stage name]] '''Gombloh''', was an Indonesian singer and songwriter. He received the Nugraha Bhakti Musik Indonesia award from the Association of Singer Artists, Songwriters and Recording Music Arrangers of the Republic of Indonesia ({{langx|id|Persatuan Artis Penyanyi, Pencipta Lagu dan Penata Musik Rekaman Republik Indonesia}} {{ndash}} PAPPRI).
==Biography==
===Early life===
Gombloh was born Soedjarwoto Soemarsono in [[Jombang Regency|Jombang]] on July 14, 1948.<ref name="ginting210">{{harvnb|Ginting|2009|p=210}}</ref> His parents were Slamet and Tatoekah. He studied at Senior High School (SMAN) 5 Surabaya. After graduating he continued his studies at the [[Tenth of November Institute of Technology]].<ref name="tokohindonesia">{{cite web |url=http://www.tokohindonesia.com/biografi/article/347-selebriti/2836-seniman-kebanggaan-kota-pahlawan |title=Seniman Kebanggaan Kota Pahlawan |work=tokohindonesia.com |access-date=October 26, 2011}}</ref>
===Career===
He moved to [[Bali]] after quitting his studies and became a street performer. After that, he joined the [[symphonic rock]] band, Lemon Tree's Anno '69, which was influenced by [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer|ELP]] and [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]. They released ''Sekar Mayang'', a [[Javanese language|Javanese-language]] album, aside from their several [[Indonesian language|Indonesian-language]] albums.<ref name="tokohindonesia"/>
In 1982, Gombloh released the album ''Gombloh Berita Cuaca''.  In 1983, he released ''Gila'' under Nirwana Records, which boosted his popularity;<ref name=g212213>{{harvnb|Ginting|2009|pp=212–213}}</ref> however, these early albums were not very successful commercially.{{sfn|Rolling Stone Indonesia, 150 Lagu}}
In 1984, he released ''1/2 Gila'' (''Half Crazy''). In 1986, ''Apel'' (''Date [verb]'') and ''Semakin Gila'' (''Crazier'') were released.<ref name="tokohindonesia"/> ''Apel'' featured his most commercially successful song, "Kugadaikan Cinta" ("I Pawn My Love").{{sfn|Rolling Stone Indonesia, 150 Lagu}} In 1987, his last solo album, ''Apa Itu Tidak Edan'' (''Is it Not Crazy'') was released.<ref name="tokohindonesia"/>
===Death===
He died in [[Surabaya]] on January 9, 1988, due to lung disease. It has been attributed to his habit of staying up late and [[smoking]].
==Style and appearance==
Gombloh was different from other musicians. Asrat Ginting writes that some felt he was not worth watching, as he just wore white clothes, shoes without socks, dark glasses and a hat.<ref name="ginting210"/> ''[[Rolling Stone Indonesia]]'' also notes that Gombloh had a limited stage persona, looking as if he were constantly ill.{{sfn|Rolling Stone Indonesia, 150 Lagu}}
According to ''Rolling Stone Indonesia'', Gombloh's songwriting style was similar to [[Rick Wakeman]] in that he drew on local culture and nature; among elements that he used were traditional songs and ''[[wayang]]''. His lyrics were generally not confrontative, without being overly critical or grateful.{{sfn|Rolling Stone Indonesia, 150 Lagu}}
The themes of most of his music were humanity, patriotism, natural beauty, heroism and humor.<ref name="ginting210"/> Other songs, such as "Berita Cuaca" ("Weather Report"), "Hong Wilaheng Sekareng Bawono Langgeng", "Denok-Denok Debleng", "Ujung Kulon Baloran", "3600 Detik" ("3600 Seconds"), "Kebayan-Kebayan", "Hitam Putih" ("Black and White") and "Kami dan Alam" ("We and Nature"), gave his perspective on social life.<ref name=g212213/> However, "Kugadaikan Cintaku" ("I Pawn My Love") was commercially successful, which has been described by ''Rolling Stone Indonesia'' as a symbol of idealism losing to pressure.{{sfn|Rolling Stone Indonesia, 150 Lagu}}
His songs about patriotism and heroism include "Dewa Ruci", "[[Gugur Bunga]]" ("The Fallen Flower"), "Gaung Mojokerto-Surabaya" ("Mojokerto-Surabaya Echo"), "Indonesia Kami" ("Our Indonesia"), "Indonesiaku Indonesiamu" ("My Indonesia, Your Indonesia"), "Pesan Buat Negeriku" ("Message for My Country") and "BK". He also wrote social phenomena songs, including "Doa Seorang Pelacur" ("Prayer of A Prostitute"), "Kilang-Kilang" ("Refineries"), "Poligami-Poligami" ("Polygamies"), "Nyanyi Anak Seorang Pencuri" ("Singing of Son of A Thief") and "Selamat Pagi Kotaku" ("Good Morning My City").<ref>{{harvnb|Ginting|2009|pp=211–212}}</ref>
==Legacy==
In 1996, several artists from Surabaya formed the Solidaritas Seniman Surabaya (Surabaya Artists Solidarity) to commemorate Gombloh. They also created a bronze statue of him and placed it at Taman Hiburan Rakyat Surabaya. On March 30, 2005, Gombloh received the Nugraha Bhakti Musik Indonesia award from Persatuan Artis Penyanyi, Pencipta Lagu dan Penata Musik Rekaman Indonesia.<ref name="tokohindonesia"/>
In 2009, ''[[Rolling Stone Indonesia]]'' listed two of Gombloh's songs, "[[Kebyar-Kebyar]]" and "Berita Cuaca", as some of the best Indonesian songs of all time. "Kebyar-Kebyar", ranked second, was noted as being played every year in the national celebration for the Independence Day ceremonies. "Berita Cuaca", ranked 98th, was called extremely dramatic in its comparison of children playing and dead forests.{{sfn|Rolling Stone Indonesia, 150 Lagu}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
*{{cite journal |year=2009 |title=150 Lagu Indonesia Terbaik Sepanjang Masa |language=Indonesian |trans-title=150 Best Indonesian Songs of All Time |journal=Rolling Stone Indonesia |ref={{harvid|Rolling Stone Indonesia, 150 Lagu}}|issue=56 |pages=32–103 |publisher=Rolling Stone }} Songs discussed on pages 36 and 84.
* {{cite book |title=Musisiku |last=Ginting |first=Asrat  |year=2009 |publisher=Republika |location=Jakarta |isbn=978-979-1102-52-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ig3oH5TGv4oC |display-authors=etal}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:1988 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Jombang Regency]]
[[Category:Musicians from Surabaya]]
[[Category:20th-century Indonesian male singers]]
[[Category:Indonesian pop singers]]