Musician Charles Hutagalung dies of stroke

JAKARTA (JP): One of Indonesia's pop song composers, Charles Hutagalung, 52, died here on Monday after suffering the effects of a stroke that he had three years ago, Antara has reported.

Charles' eldest son Immanuel said his father died at 7:53 a.m. on the way to Pertamina Hospital.

"Papa told me to take care of Mom," Immanuel said, quoting the last words from Charles, a father of four children and husband of Deli Sriati.

Charles' body will be buried on Tuesday at Joglo public cemetery in West Jakarta.

Charles was a member of The Mercy's, a popular group in the 1970s.

Charles was born in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, on Oct. 14, 1948.

Charles had about 100 album titles to his credit. Until recently, he still wrote songs.

His hit songs include Kisah Seorang Pramuria (The Story of A Prostitute), Tiada Lagi (Nothing More) and Hanya Satu (The Only One). (imn)