Indonesia's Frank Sumatra performs concert for Obamas, First Family cutting trip short

Jakarta, Indonesia--The international tour continued this week for the Obamas with a stop in this culturally rich nation of more than 230 million people. The President, who had a certain spring in his step, was returning to the land where he lived for four years as a child.

After an extravagant welcome by Indonesian government officials, celebrities and local students, President Obama and the First Lady were treated to an intimate concert in the capital of this nation that is made up of more than 10,000 islands. One of these welcoming celebrities, and the concert's main event, was the infinitely-popular Frank Sumatra, the country's lone Frank Sinatra impersonator.

"It was a ... lovely concert. I was told this was to be a traditional Indonesian concert," said Obama, appearing somewhat confused at what he had just witnessed. "I don't think it was. But I'm not sure. I've never really ever heard that rendition of "New York, New York." But, I guess I just did."

After the concert, Michelle Obama was asked by the intense media horde, which were not permitted inside the concert hall, if Sumatra performed his most popular song.

"Oh, yes. I think he did," said the First Lady, showing her warm, welcoming smile somewhat nervously, unsure how to answer the query. "He performed 'My Way' for his last song of the night. Let's just say ... he definitely did it his way. Yes, his way indeed."

"Frank Sumatra can't walk down a street in Indonesia," said Budi Chahaya, 45, a longtime fan of Sumatra's from the city of Bandung, who traveled to the capital to get a glimpse of the impersonator. "And I don't mean because of his hip. I heard he was coming to Jakarta and I had to come. He's rarely seen in public. Thank you Mr Obama for bringing Frank Sumatra out into the public. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Sumatra was born Pramana Setiawan in Penengahan on the island of Sumatra, which is just across the fifteen-mile strait that separates Sumatra from the island of Java. The singer has always been very secretive about his age, but some have speculated that he is approximately 82 years old. He rarely does interviews and lives in an undisclosed suburb of the enormous metropolis that is Jakarta.

As a young child, Pramana and his mother would take the ferry to Jakarta to the movie theaters and karaoke halls where the future singer would hear his first Sinatra song "My Way." The youngster was hooked.

In his 2004 autobiography His Way, Sumatra said he always dreamed of performing alongside Sinatra one day, but, sadly, it wasn't meant to be. In the Jakarta Times bestseller, Sumatra concludes the 467-page book with this line: "Looking back, I'd like to think I did it his way. Yeah ... his way."

The President announced immediately following the concert that his trip to Indonesia would unfortunately have to be cut short because of the erupting Mount Merapi volcano and the ash and magma that could possibly prevent a departure on the originally scheduled date.

"Sadly, we have to leave. Now!" said Obama at the post-concert news conference, forcing a smile and a half-hearted wave. "This volcano is getting bad, I think. There's a volcano that's erupting, right? Somewhere? Great, here comes Frank. Michelle, please get your coat we have to go. Can somebody get Michelle's coat. Is the car out front? Is it running?"