Amanapunyo Theressa

Amanapunyo Theressa

SENDJA DI PRIANGAN 1959 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64pLH_nPyG4

Dekat Hati Tjipt. E Sambaion   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNKbk4nR9A8

Born as Theresa Amanupunnjo in Larantuka, Flores in January 6, 1935. Her father Eferandus Amanupunnjo was a Sergeant Major of KNIL (the Nederland-Indische soldier)
She worked as a singer at the historical Savoy Homann hotel in the early 50′s with the band named Rino Gasparini and His Combo, led by an Italian pianist Rino Gasparini. There were two Indonesian joined the band while the other one came from Hungary. She sang variety of songs in different genres in there to entertain the guests, including pop, hawaiian and also jazz. Theresa got married in 1953 with Raden Mohammad Zen from Palembang, the brother of Sadak, the owner of Savoy Homann at that time. She participated in "Bintang Radio Indonesia" competition organized by Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI). She became the winner for West Java region and sent to compete nationally. In this higher stage she did it 4 times, competed with some legendary names such as Ratna (a very famous singer in the 50′s-60′s) and the living legend Titiek Puspa. She grabbed the third winner three times, in 1956, 1957, and 1958, and then in 1961 she finally made it as the first winner. We can still see her trophies well kept at her home. .One day she was approached by a dutchman, telling her that a composer was looking for her. "I asked who, and he said, it's Ismail Marzuki. I was really surprised." she said with a smile. Ismail Marzuki is known as one of the most important legendary composer of Indonesia. Then she met Ismail Marzuki after that, and found out that Ismail had just wrote two songs that were made especially for her. Those songs were the timeless song, one of Ismail Marzuki's masterpiece entitled "Sabda Alam" and "Kunang-Kunang." "Sabda Alam" is still very popular until today.