Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Suraphol Sombatcharoen

Role / Field:

The 'King of Luk Thung', a pioneering Thai singer and former Air Force officer.

Born:

1930-09-25

Died:

1968-08-16

Century / Era:

1930s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Suraphol Sombatcharoen (25 September 1930 – 16 August 1968) (Thai: สุรพล สมบัติเจริญ) was a Thai luk thung singer and former Air force officer. Dubbed the "King of Luk Thung", he was one of the first and most important stars of the genre. He was fatally shot while seated in his own car after a live performance in Nakhon Pathom. Born as Lamduan Sombatcharoen in Suphan Buri province to a wealthy family, he chose Suraphol as his stage name.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His first hit came in 1954 with "Nam Ta Lao Wieng" ("Tears of a Lao Girl"). It marked the emergence of luk thung, a Thai counterpart to such crooning styles as Japanese enka and Indonesian kroncong. The genre also embodied influences such as Hollywood film music, American country music, Malay pop and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Enjoying popularity at the same time as Elvis Presley and The Beatles, Suraphol Sombatcharoen was sometimes called the "Thai Elvis". During the 1960s, there was no Thai performer who was better known than Sombatcharoen.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Suraphol Sombatcharoen composed more than 100 songs. Among his best known compositions are "Sao Suan Taeng" ("The Girl from the Cucumber Field"), "Mong" ("Look"), "Nam Ta Ja Tho" ("The Tears of a Corporal...

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• 1930 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1930
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Frequently Asked Questions about Suraphol Sombatcharoen