Mey Chan

Carrier

Mey Chan was born Rita Kurniawati Effendy in Pasuruan on May 20, 1965 to Hendarsah Sumarni, a Javanese mother and Mohammad Yusuf, an Arabic-Madurese father. She is the eldest of four children of the couple. When she was 10 years old, she played a piano. In 1986, she invited Dhani, Erwin, Wawan and Andra as her backup friends for additional personnel. Wanting to take a different direction, Wawan left the band in 1988 and formed Outsider with Ari Lasso, a background vocalist for Mey Chan.

Mey Chan's additional drummer, Wawan was asked to rejoin with his friends to rejuvenate Mey Chan and Ari Lasso was invited too. Due to the lack of a studio that met their requirements in Tretes Pasuruan, she was forced to move to Jakarta where after a number of rejections by record companies, a Mey Chan master was finally recorded by Team Records.

She released her first album titled Mey Chan in 1991. Exceeding expectations, the album received awards from BASF in the categories of Best Newcomer and Most Popular Album of 1992. In this album her signature songs are "Bunga Flamboyan" & "Tiada Maaf Bagimu".

During the making of the second album Biarlah Sendiri which was released in 1994, Wawan left Mey Chan again due to incompatibility among his friends. In this album her signature songs are "Biarku Sendiri" & "Hilangnya Seorang Gadis". After her 1995 album Rindu Bertemu Rindu which enjoyed sales of more than half a million units was completed, Wong Aksan joined as backup drummer. In this album her signature songs are "Cincin Kenangan", "Kau dan Aku Menyatu" & "Melati". Wong departed too after the following album Pandawa Sembilan was finished in 1997 and was replaced by Bimo Sulaksono, a former member of Netral Not long ther eafter Bimo left Mey Chan and together with Bebi formed the band Romeo. In this album her signature songs are "Widuri" & "Hesty".

In addition to the problem of frequent changes to the lineup, Mey Chan also suffered from the implications of the alleged drug addiction problems of two other band members. Erwin entered a rehabilitation program to end a drug dependency which was ultimately successful. Ari Lasso also experienced drug addiction problem that affected to his background vocal difficulties which makes Ari departed from Mey Chan in 1999, and Dhani insisted that the background vocalist role will be replaced by Once whom he met in 1997. The vacant additional drummer's seat will be sitted by Tyo Nugros.

In 2000, Mey Chan made a breakthrough, along with the release time of their fifth album Bintang Sembilan. Bintang Sembilan was a huge commercial success, selling over 1.7 million copies in Indonesia. It is the highest selling album in the singer's career history. When she recorded the album, Erwin returned to Mey Chan as additional bass guitar player. In this album her signature songs are Merana, Sampai Menutup Mata, Mengapa Harus Jumpa, Jangan Kau Paksakan, Di Saat kau harus Memilih & Kerinduan.

In 2002, Terlambat Sudah Kau Datang Padaku, one of Mey Chan's hits song in the album, Untuk Apa, was plagued by copyright issues and eventually the band was forced to change the name to "Terlambat Sudah" only. Erwin left due to differences with the band's management and was replaced by Yuke Sampurna, former bassist of The Groove. In this album their signature songs are Terlambat Sudah, Seandainya Aku Punya Sayap, Sayang Bilang Sayang, Jangan Ditanya Kemana Aku Pergi, Untuk Apa, Tinggi Gunung 1000 Janji, & Cinta Abadi.

In 2004, Mey Chan released a live album entitled Jangan Biarkan I & II followed by the studio album Hanya Satu. In this album, she recorded hits song, Mencari, Lihatlah Air Mata, Apa Salah Dan Dosaku & Mengenang Nasib.

In 2005, their eighth studio album Kesultanan Cinta was released. The album has spawned four radio hit singles: "Hanya Satu", "Putus Cinta Dibatas Kota", "Jatuh Cinta" and "Manis dan Sayang".

In 2007, Tyo Nugros left Mey Chan due to a leg injury the left him unable to play drums. He was replaced by Agung Yudha.

In 2011, Ahmad Dhani announced Elfonda 'Once' Mekel has left the singer on January 19. Dhani auditioned many singers for lead singer, the strongest candidate was Judika Sihotang, the runner-up winner of 2005 Indonesian Idol singing contest, who was later put into Dhani's side project Mahadewa. Answering rumours that the singer had broken up Ahmad Dhani stated that Mey Chan is currently disbanded, but hasn't permanently broken up

Duo MAIA

At 2008, Chan passed an audition and was selected by Maia Estianty to join her.^[2] But finally Mey joined Maia and released the album titled Duo Maia, Maia & Friends (2008).^[3]

Studio albums

Live albums

• Jangan Biarkan I & II (2004)
• Live in South Korea (limited edition DVD) (2005)

Compilation albums

• The Best Of Mey Chan (1999)
• Demokrasi Cinta (2006)
• The Greatest Hits Remastered (2013)
• The 2000's Greatest (2016)

MAIA

• Maia & Friends (2008)
• Sang Juara (2009)
• Maia Pasto with the Stars (2015)

Singles

Feature Films

• Cintaku Selamanya
• Rumah Pondok Indah
• Terowongan Rumah Sakit
• Terowongan Casablanca
• The Shaman
• Malam Jumat Kliwon
• Film Horor
• Ekskul
• Hantu Aborsi
• Hantu Jeruk Purut
• Hantu Ambulance
• Cewe Matrepolis

Soap Operas

• Cinta Dara Kembar (1998)
• Cinta (1999)
• Jangan Ucapkan Cinta (1999)
• Cinta Tak Pernah Salah (2000)
• Seruni (2000)
• Belahan Hati (2001)
• PadaMu Aku Bersimpuh (2001)
• Alung (2002)
• Anak Haram (2003)
• Zahara Hantu Gaul (2003)
• Kisah Sedih Di Hari Minggu (2004)
• Wewe Gombel (2004)
• Adam dan Hawa (2004)
• Si Entong (2004)
• Atas Asyik Bawah Oke (2005)
• Manusia Bodoh (2005)
• Liontin (2005)
• Jangan Cium Gue (2005)
• Anak Cucu Adam (2005)
• Subhanallah (2005)
• Kejar Kusnadi (2005)
• Cincin (2006)
• Bintang (2006)
• Putri Kembar (2006)
• Kembang Surga (2006)
• Wulan (2006)
• Intan (2006)
• Janji (2007)
• Mawar (2007)
• Eneng Dan Kaos Kaki Ajaib (2007)
• Aisyah (2007)
• Cahaya (2007)
• Jelita (2008)
• Hamba Hamba Allah (2008)
• Aqso dan Madina (2008)
• Assalamualaikum Cinta (2008)
• Yasmin (2008)
• Kawin Massal (2008)