Tantowi, a man of a million talents

Tantowi, a man of a million talents

Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta

A man makes his way hurriedly down to the makeup room while
asking his assistant to find a list of songs he is supposed to
perform that night. He arrives late for the taping of Country
Road Special music program at state-run television TVRI.

Fortunately, it does not take long for the man to put on his
white cowboy hat and get on stage, greeting the audience who are
clearly pleased to see him.

Meet Tantowi Yahya, a man with a lot of talent.

"Howdy!" the host of RCTI's popular quiz show Who Wants to be
A Millionaire greets his enthusiastic audience of older men and
women dressed in country-style outfits along with cowboy boots
and hats, who are quick to respond.

While waiting for the TV crew to get ready, Tantowi entertains
his audience with jokes. He even shows off his new belt buckle to
those sitting at the front of the stage.

When everything is set up, he starts belting out country songs
while playing his guitar. The audience seems to really enjoy
dancing to the music.

The smart, clean-cut 42-year-old well-known quiz show host,
country singer and record producer, who is blessed with good
looks and an infectious smile, has the gift of being accepted by
audiences of any age.

He seems to be very aware of his star quality and does not
back down from acknowledging his hard-earned success.

"As a quiz show host, I'm already at the top in this country,"
he said, while driving to dinner after the show.

He, indeed, is very good at it, outranking his seniors like
Kris Biantoro and Koes Hendratmo.

Tantowi started his career as a quiz show host on Gita Remaja
produced by TVRI in 1989 after beating many other candidates to
the position. The show's producer, Ani Sumadi, who was looking
for "a good looking man who knew music and could speak well",
turned her eyes toward Tantowi, who at the time was a star in a
TV commercial.

"Today, I'm the host of the world's number one game show," he
said proudly, referring to Who Wants to be a Millionaire

Tantowi has also proved himself to be the country's top master
of ceremonies.

He was even asked by Indonesian billionaire Peter F. Gontha to
his daughter's wedding party in Beverly Hills in 2000 to
entertain guests including top celebrities like Celine Dion,
David Foster and Steven Seagal.

"It was not easy attracting people's attention at that kind of
big party, you know. But I did it. They paid attention to me and
they loved my jokes," Tantowi said.

Tantowi's unbeatable confidence, which makes him seem ready to
conquer a small country, did not grow in a single night.

Young Tantowi, a native of Palembang in South Sumatra, was
born on Oct. 29, 1960, and knew early on that he would be big
someday.

Raised as a happy, optimistic child, young Tantowi looked up
to his father, who played music, was active in sports and earned
a living selling used glasses on the sidewalk. His mother stayed
at home to take care of the kids.

For him, his father was a simple man with an advanced way of
thinking.

Back then, when he was just 14 years old, his father signed
Tantowi and his little brother Helmi Yahya -- who is also a well-
known quiz show host -- up for an English language course,
knowing that mastering the language was necessary if people
wanted to be successful.

"My father is my idol," he said in open admiration. He said
his father had always stressed that being humble and simple was
the best way to live ones life.

That was also his reason for falling in love with country
music. "It's simple, honest and harmonious," Tantowi said.

Many people may object to Tantowi's seemingly unsuitable voice
for country music, but his first album last year, titled Country
Breeze, comprised recycled local and western songs and went
double platinum selling 250,000 copies.

The album was produced and distributed by his own company,
Ceepee Production, which have also produced albums for high-
profile local artists like the all-girl group Molukas and child
sensation Sherina.

Still, the man, who has the big ambition of becoming an
internationally recognized country singer, feels he owes his
success in the local entertainment scene to his good relationship
with many people.

"Success is 30 percent education and 70 percent networking,"
Tantowi said. "I believe that only those who respect people will
get respect from others. Whatever you say will be echoed back to
you."

Tantowi is entitled to say so since, unlike many local
celebrities, he has been able to lead a clean life away from
cheap gossip and real-life melodrama.

He remains loyal to his wife, Dewi Andayani, although it took
the couple 11 years to have a child. He vows to raise his 15-
month-old son Muhammad Adjani Prasanna Yahya to be "a person who
is loved and appreciated by many people".

But with his career running at high speed when is he going to
slow down?

"Never," he said. "I still have a dream. But I can't tell you
what it is because it would make me sound arrogant."

"I'll never stop dreaming and nobody should either."