Eua Sunthornsanan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eua Suntornsanan
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
เอื้อ สุนทรสนาน
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| Birth name | Boon-Eua Suntornsanan |
| Also known as | Suntaraporn. |
| Born | 21 January 1910 Amphawa, Samut Songkhram, Thailand |
| Died | 1 April 1981 (aged 71) Bangkok, Thailand |
| Genres | Luk Krung |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, composer, bandleader |
| Years active | 1928 —1981 |
Eua Suntornsanan (Thai: เอื้อ สุนทรสนาน; RTGS: Uea Sunthonsanan; January 21, 1910 – April 1, 1981) was a famous Thai singer, composer, and bandleader. He led the Suntaraporn Band. Eua Suntornsanan was a pioneer in bringing Western music styles into Thai culture. He started a new trend of Thai music called Phleng Thai Sakon, which means "international style Thai music."
He wrote over 2,000 songs that are still popular today. Some of his well-known songs include "Rumwong Loy Kratong" and many songs for Thai New Year (Songkran). In 1975, the King of Thailand honored him with a special award.
In 2007, the Thai Ministry of Culture suggested that UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recognize Kru Eua. In 2010, UNESCO honored him as a "Personality of the Year."
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Eua Suntornsanan was born on January 21, 1910. His birthplace was Amphawa, in Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand. His parents were Mr. Dee and Mrs. Sae Suntornsanan. He had three brothers and sisters.
When he was nine years old, Eua moved to Bangkok to live with his brother. There, he began his primary education. He studied Western classical music at the Phran Luang School. His first musical instrument was the violin. By the age of nine, Eua was skilled enough to play in an orchestra.
Music Career and the Suntaraporn Band
Eua wrote his first song, "Yod Teong Tonk Lom," when he was 20 years old. This song was featured in a musical comedy called Mea Ruen. People quickly noticed his unique singing voice and his talent with instruments. At that time, he worked for the government in the Performance Department. He also played in a Big Band and worked at the Fine Art Department. He performed at many important events.
In 1936, at age 26, Eua got a chance to create music for a film. His first recorded song was "Nart Naree," which he sang as a duet with Ms. Wasana. After this, Eua became a lead composer for several Thai films. He mixed Thai music with Western styles like Jazz and classical music. His style later became known as luk krung, which means "child of the city." This music was often linked to people living in Bangkok.
He later recorded his third song, "Nai Fahn," for the movie "Than Fai Khao." When the film company he worked for closed, his band moved to a government office. This office was called the Publicity Department of Thailand.
Eua then started his own group, the "Suntaraporn Band." This was the first Thai band to play Western-style music. The Suntaraporn Band started a new era of Western-style music in Thailand, lasting from the 1940s to the 1970s. The band's name, "Suntaraporn," comes from a mix of his last name, "Sunthornsanan," and his wife's first name, "Arporn."
At first, some Thai people criticized Eua for bringing Western sounds into traditional Thai culture. However, the Prime Minister at the time, Plaek Phibunsongkhram, supported his music. The government was encouraging Thailand to become more modern and Western.
Eua led an orchestra under Thailand's Public Relations Department. They performed live on national radio and at many government events. This orchestra was the main one in Thailand during Second World War. Eua was the chief of the orchestra and the music section. He retired in 1978 due to illness. He had spent 42 years changing Thai music. Eua Suntornsanan was a very dedicated artist throughout his life. He passed away on April 1, 1981.
Personal Life
Eua Suntornsanan married Arporn Kannasuth on May 14, 1946. As mentioned, the name of his band, Suntaraporn, came from combining his last name and her first name. They had one daughter, Atiporn Suntornsanan. Today, Atiporn runs the Suntaraporn Foundation. This foundation works to promote the life and music of Kru Eua Suntornsanan and the Suntaraporn Band.
Film Work
Eua Suntornsanan composed songs for many films. Some of these include "Satsanar Ruk Nan Jone" (1950), “Supap Buruth Suea Thai” (1950), "Chai Chart Suea" (1951), and "Naresuan" (1957). He also appeared as a main character in the movie "Ngen Ngen Ngen" (1965).
Tributes and Recognition
In 2018, Eua Suntornsanan was featured as a Google Doodle. This happened on what would have been his 108th birthday, celebrating his lasting impact on music.
Images for kids
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Kru Eua Suntornsanan
See also
- Music of Thailand
