Fokus penelitian ini pada dasarnya mengungkap kesenimanan dan pemikiran Manthou’s yang lahir di Gunungkidul 10 April 1950 dalam blantika musik. Tanpa mengenyam pendidikan musik secara formal, Manthou’s mampu menciptakan genre musik baru yakni Campursari yang diakui keberadaannya sampai saat ini. Sasaran dalam penelitian ini adalah menelusuri perjalanan hidup Manthou’s semenjak kecil sampai dewasa, terutama berkaitan dengan latar belakang budaya yang melingkupinya, pendidikan, pengalaman bekerja, pengalaman berharga, dan tanda penghargaan yang diterimanya. Untuk itu dalam penelitian digunakan metode kualitatif yang menggunakan pendekatan multidisiplin dengan payung utama etnomusikologi, tanpa mengesampingkan konsep ilmu-ilmu sosial. Hasil penelitian ini mengungkapkan bahwa Manthou’s sejak kecil digembleng dengan disiplin tinggi mempunyai tekad yang keras, sehingga menjadi sosok seniman yang handal. Sebelum menciptakan Campursari Manthou’s telah malang melintang di blantika musik, terutama musik Keroncong dan sebagai penggubah lagu Pop Keroncong yang diakui sampai manca negara. Selain itu Manthou’s juga sebagai recording program di beberapa studio rekaman ternama. Kesenimanan Manthou’s dalam Campursari sebagai penyaji (pemain musik dan penyanyi), penggubah, pencipta, dan aktor manajer. Lagu Campursari karya cipta Manthou’s lirik, bahasa, dan persajakan sederhana. Lagu dicipta berdasarkan pesanan, situasi pribadi, dan strategi pemasaran. Tujuan Manthou’s menciptakan Campursari adalah agar karawitan dapat diterima oleh berbagai kalangan terutama generasi muda, walaupun dalam bentuk yang berbeda.

The focus of this study is basically to reveal Manthou's world of art and his thought as he who was born on 10 April 1950 Gunungkidul surrounded by music. Although he has no formal music education but was able to create a new music genre is Campursari. The aim of this study is to trace back Manthou's life history from his childhood until he become grown-up person, specifically related to the surrounding cultural background, education, work experience, valuable experience, and rewards he has achieved. For this purpose, the researcher adopted qualitative methods by using multidisciplinary approaches with ethnomusicology as the main theory accompanied by the concept of the social sciences. The study revealed that since his early age Manthou's was nurtured in a highly disciplined environment and has a strong determination to become a reliable figure in the art-world. Before composing Campursari Manthou's had travelled across of Pop Krontjong which was well recognized worldwide. In addition Manthou's also served as a recording programmer in several wellknown recording studios. The artistry Manthou's in Campursari was as a performer (both as music player and singer), composer, as well as the actor manager. Campursari song composed by Manthou’s had simple lyric, diction, and rhyme. Songs were composed in accordance with personal moods, marketing strategies and orders. Manthou's purpose of composing Campursari was that Javanese musical performance (karawitan) could be accepted publicly by all groups of people, especially the young generation, although it had been renewed different form.

Kata Kunci : Manthou’s, Campursari, penyaji, penggubah, pencipta, Manthou’s, Campursari, performer, arranger, composer