Tantowi, a man of a million talents<\/p>\n
Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A man makes his way hurriedly down to the makeup room while
\nasking his assistant to find a list of songs he is supposed to
\nperform that night. He arrives late for the taping of Country
\nRoad Special music program at state-run television TVRI.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, it does not take long for the man to put on his
\nwhite cowboy hat and get on stage, greeting the audience who are
\nclearly pleased to see him.<\/p>\n
Meet Tantowi Yahya, a man with a lot of talent.<\/p>\n
"Howdy!" the host of RCTI's popular quiz show Who Wants to be
\nA Millionaire greets his enthusiastic audience of older men and
\nwomen dressed in country-style outfits along with cowboy boots
\nand hats, who are quick to respond.<\/p>\n
While waiting for the TV crew to get ready, Tantowi entertains
\nhis audience with jokes. He even shows off his new belt buckle to
\nthose sitting at the front of the stage.<\/p>\n
When everything is set up, he starts belting out country songs
\nwhile playing his guitar. The audience seems to really enjoy
\ndancing to the music.<\/p>\n
The smart, clean-cut 42-year-old well-known quiz show host,
\ncountry singer and record producer, who is blessed with good
\nlooks and an infectious smile, has the gift of being accepted by
\naudiences of any age.<\/p>\n
He seems to be very aware of his star quality and does not
\nback down from acknowledging his hard-earned success.<\/p>\n
"As a quiz show host, I'm already at the top in this country,"
\nhe said, while driving to dinner after the show.<\/p>\n
He, indeed, is very good at it, outranking his seniors like
\nKris Biantoro and Koes Hendratmo.<\/p>\n
Tantowi started his career as a quiz show host on Gita Remaja
\nproduced by TVRI in 1989 after beating many other candidates to
\nthe position. The show's producer, Ani Sumadi, who was looking
\nfor "a good looking man who knew music and could speak well",
\nturned her eyes toward Tantowi, who at the time was a star in a
\nTV commercial.<\/p>\n
"Today, I'm the host of the world's number one game show," he
\nsaid proudly, referring to Who Wants to be a Millionaire<\/p>\n
Tantowi has also proved himself to be the country's top master
\nof ceremonies.<\/p>\n
He was even asked by Indonesian billionaire Peter F. Gontha to
\nhis daughter's wedding party in Beverly Hills in 2000 to
\nentertain guests including top celebrities like Celine Dion,
\nDavid Foster and Steven Seagal.<\/p>\n
"It was not easy attracting people's attention at that kind of
\nbig party, you know. But I did it. They paid attention to me and
\nthey loved my jokes," Tantowi said.<\/p>\n
Tantowi's unbeatable confidence, which makes him seem ready to
\nconquer a small country, did not grow in a single night.<\/p>\n
Young Tantowi, a native of Palembang in South Sumatra, was
\nborn on Oct. 29, 1960, and knew early on that he would be big
\nsomeday.<\/p>\n
Raised as a happy, optimistic child, young Tantowi looked up
\nto his father, who played music, was active in sports and earned
\na living selling used glasses on the sidewalk. His mother stayed
\nat home to take care of the kids.<\/p>\n
For him, his father was a simple man with an advanced way of
\nthinking.<\/p>\n
Back then, when he was just 14 years old, his father signed
\nTantowi and his little brother Helmi Yahya -- who is also a well-
\nknown quiz show host -- up for an English language course,
\nknowing that mastering the language was necessary if people
\nwanted to be successful.<\/p>\n
"My father is my idol," he said in open admiration. He said
\nhis father had always stressed that being humble and simple was
\nthe best way to live ones life.<\/p>\n
That was also his reason for falling in love with country
\nmusic. "It's simple, honest and harmonious," Tantowi said.<\/p>\n
Many people may object to Tantowi's seemingly unsuitable voice
\nfor country music, but his first album last year, titled Country
\nBreeze, comprised recycled local and western songs and went
\ndouble platinum selling 250,000 copies.<\/p>\n
The album was produced and distributed by his own company,
\nCeepee Production, which have also produced albums for high-
\nprofile local artists like the all-girl group Molukas and child
\nsensation Sherina.<\/p>\n
Still, the man, who has the big ambition of becoming an
\ninternationally recognized country singer, feels he owes his
\nsuccess in the local entertainment scene to his good relationship
\nwith many people.<\/p>\n
"Success is 30 percent education and 70 percent networking,"
\nTantowi said. "I believe that only those who respect people will
\nget respect from others. Whatever you say will be echoed back to
\nyou."<\/p>\n
Tantowi is entitled to say so since, unlike many local
\ncelebrities, he has been able to lead a clean life away from
\ncheap gossip and real-life melodrama.<\/p>\n
He remains loyal to his wife, Dewi Andayani, although it took
\nthe couple 11 years to have a child. He vows to raise his 15-
\nmonth-old son Muhammad Adjani Prasanna Yahya to be "a person who
\nis loved and appreciated by many people".<\/p>\n
But with his career running at high speed when is he going to
\nslow down?<\/p>\n
"Never," he said. "I still have a dream. But I can't tell you
\nwhat it is because it would make me sound arrogant."<\/p>\n
"I'll never stop dreaming and nobody should either."<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tantowi-a-man-of-a-million-talents-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }