Music In the 1950s, Benyamin joined the Melody Boys, who played
calypso music,
rhumba,
cha-cha,
jazz,
blues,
rock n roll, and some
keroncong. The band performed some famous songs including "
When I Fall in Love", "
Blue Moon" and "
Unchained Melody". They also performed their songs, like "Kisah Cinta" ("Love Story"), "Panon Hideung" ("Black Eye"), and "Si Neneng". He also played jazz with Jack Lemmers and Bill Saragih. In 1963, the Melody Boys changed their name to Melodi Ria. In the late 1960s, several songs that were composed by him were sung by
Bing Slamet, including "Nonton Bioskop" ("Watching a Movie at the Theatre"), "Hujan Gerimis" ("Drizzle"), "Endeng-Endengan" and "Ada-Ada Saja" ("It is What it is"). From the late 1960s until the early 1970s, he was influenced by
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers'
blues and
James Brown's
soul. In 1977, Benyamin wrote "Pungli", a critical song to the government. In 1992, he formed a new group named Al-Haj. The band released the album
Biang Kerok. In "Ampunan" ("Forgiveness"), he sang seriously. However, in "I'm a Teacher" and "Kisah Kucing Tua" ("Story of an Old Cat") he sang humorously. Style-wise, "Dingin-Dingin Dimandiin" ("Cold when Bathed") is rock. "Ampunan" was influenced by
Genesis'
Watcher of the Skies. The album was also influenced by
The Beatles' "
Lady Madonna". Benyamin used music as a medium of reflection and contemplation, to critique the current socio-political situation. His music is a portrait of the marginal. Many of his used the theme of the "tukang" (meaning handyman in
Indonesian), such as "Tukang Solder", "Tukang Becak", and "Tukang Kredit". His musical style was various. He used some
blues,
soul, and
funk music in his works. Other genres he used in his songs were rock and
dangdut. In 1973, he collaborated with Bing Slamet on
Ambisi (
Ambition) and
Bing Slamet Setan Djalanan (
Bing Slamet the Street Demon). He also collaborated with
Sjumandjaja on
Si Doel Anak Betawi. After starring in
Si Doel Anak Betawi, he appeared in the sequel,
Si Doel Anak Modern in 1975. As a producer, he formed the movie company Jiung Film, which created
Musuh Bebuyutan (
Arch-Nemesis; 1974),
Benyamin Koboi Ngungsi (
Benjamin the Refugee Cowboy; 1975) and
Hippies Lokal (
Local Hippies; 1976). He also starred in eleven films which featured his name in the title, including
Benyamin Biang Kerok (1972),
Benyamin Brengsek (
Benyamin the Asshole; 1973) and
Benyamin Jatuh Cinta (
Benyamin Falls in Love; 1976). In the 1980s, after releasing
Betty Bencong Slebor (
Betty, the Frightful Transvestite), he decided to stop producing his films and closed his movie company due to his revenues being less than production costs. He played in more than 53 films, as the main character or a supporting character. == Death ==