Yon Koeswoyo, One of The Legend
Yon Koeswoyo, Koesyono Koeswoyo his birth name, born in Tuban, East Java, Indonesia at 27th September 1940. Yon Koeswoyo died in Pamulang, South Tangerang, 5th January 2018 at 77 years old. Yon Koeswoyo is a member of Indonesian legendary band, Koes Plus. Koes Plus previously named Koes Bersaudara.
Yon Koeswoyo is the sixth child from Raden Koeswoyo and Rr. Atmini from Tuban, East Java. Yon’s childhood passed in Tuban, East Java. At 1952, Koeswoyo’s moved to Jakarta. They lived at Jl. Mendawai III, no. 14, Blok C, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
Yon Koeswoyo started his career with his brothers forming his first band, Koes Plus. Jon Koeswoyo as bassist, Tonny Koeswoyo as guitarist, Nomo Koeswoyo as drummer, Yon Koeswoyo as vocalist, and Yok Koeswoyo as vocalist. First, Koes Plus previously named Kus Brothers at 1958.
After a while, their oldest brother, Jon Koeswoyo resigned. There were 4 people left and Tonny Koeswoyo as the leader. Then, this band rechange its name into Koes Bersaudara. In this new formation, Yon still was the main vocal.
This group had been imprisoned by Orde Lama regime Soekarno in Glodok Jail at 29th Juny 1965. They got imprisoned because they sang ngak-ngik-ngok songs (western songs) that was forbidden in that period.
In the vacuum period of Koes Plus, Yon launched a solo album. At 1981, with Tonny’s permission, he launched “Lantaran” solo album. “Lantaran” consists of “Lantaran”, “Senandung Malam”, “Jakarta”, “Tuan-Tuan”, “Kota Sunyi”, and “Kesan”. At 2008, Yon Koeswoyo launched his second solo album entitled “Song of Porong”.
At 5th January 2018, Yon died at 77 years old because of out of breath from his broken lungs. Yon was burried in Tanah Kusir, Jakarta. Many public figures come to say condolences to the family, starting from the President Jokowi, 5th Indonesian President, Megawati Soekarnoputri, the Coordinator of Human Development and Culture Ministry, Puan Maharani.
Moreover, the ex-Chief of State Intelligence Service , Jend. TNI. A.M. Hendropriyono, Emha Ainun Najib as litterateur, Dwiki Dharmawan, Erwin Gutawa, and General Secretary of PDIP Hasto Kristianto were also show their condolences.
Emha Ainun Najib, the litterateur, declared that all of the Koes Plus members are the national heroes. "Yon Koeswoyo and his whole family, Tony (Koeswoyo), who is still with us, Nomo (Koeswoyo), Yok (Koeswoyo), and all their Koeswoyo’s are national heroes,” said Emha Ainun Najib (Cak Nun) at the Yon Koeswoyo’s funeral.
Bagus Ilham R.
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