Biography
Who is Ahmad Dhani?
Early life and family
Ahmad Dhani was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, on May 26, 1972. His father was Eddy Abdul Manaf, a diplomat, and his mother was Joyce Theresia Pamela Kohler. He grew up with a musical influence from his stepbrother, Dadang S. Manaf, who was a well-known musician in Indonesia. His father encouraged his interest in music by purchasing a keyboard and enrolling him in formal lessons during his childhood, hoping he would pursue classical music.
Rise to fame with Dewa 19
In 1986, Ahmad Dhani co-founded the group Dewa with Andra Junaidi, Erwin Prasetya, and Wawan Juniarso, where he served as the vocalist and keyboardist. The band initially explored jazz music under the name Down Beat before returning to rock and rebranding as Dewa 19. Seeking professional opportunities, he moved to Jakarta in 1989 to secure a record deal for the group. After facing initial rejections, the band eventually signed with Team Records.
Solo projects and other bands
Following the dissolution of Dewa 19, Ahmad Dhani engaged in several new musical ventures. He collaborated with the Australian band Hospital The Musical to form the group known as the Rock. Their debut album, Master Mister Ahmad Dhani I, was commercially successful and sold over 150,000 copies. He also led the band TRIAD, where he performed as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist, releasing an album that contained both new tracks and cover songs.
Political career and personal life
Ahmad Dhani entered the political sphere and eventually ran for office. In the 2024 Indonesian legislative election, he represented the Gerindra Party as a candidate for the House of Representatives. He successfully won a seat representing Surabaya and Sidoarjo Regency after receiving 134,227 votes. His political involvement has been accompanied by public attention regarding his views on music copyright and royalty payments, which have occasionally sparked disputes with other public figures.
Birthday and age
Ahmad Dhani was born on May 26, 1972, which makes Ahmad 54 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Ahmad shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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