THORN Sithon was born in 1979 in Kampong Cham Province. Being so friendly and hard-working, Sithon struggled to be a good singer following the singing intonation of SIN Sisamut. In 1989, it was the first time for him to listen to the songs of SIN Sisamut and started to love SIN Sisamut’s voice. Then he did his best to sing followed SIN Sisamut beside study and work. When he was 15 years old, he strived to study as well as work in the rice field to earn 1 USD per day using half of this amount to buy the cassette and CD of SIN Sisamut’s songs. From day to day, he sang better and better. One night, he dreamt SIN Sisamut came to introduced him to walk on one way and a person walking across him. Being so strange in this dream, he believed that SIN Sisamut came to guide him and was so happy to continue his journey for singing career. Listening to SIN Sisamut’s song one by one, he learned the intonation of SIN Sisamut and tried to sing using the intonation. Seeing his son love singing the songs of SIN Sisamut, his father, YAN Then, was a professional in Smotr taught him more. In 1998, he was introduced by his non-birth parents to Mr. Phally, a musician of a local song production in Phnom Penh, in order to sing in the studio. After that, he got successful to sing for Bayon TV in 2000 through the introduction by Dr. Thea in Suong to Mr. THAY Noreak Sathya and was titled “Samut Sithon” by Mr. Noreak Sathya since Sithon was able to use the right intonation following SIN Sisamut. Later, he was usually supported by Noreak Sathya in singing for Bayon TV until 2003. During these three years, he was well-known to residents in rural area of Cambodia. Finally, he left Cambodia later for France and prepared his own studio in this country. He sang the new songs and issued some CD to all Khmer residents in France as well as in Cambodia. One day, he came to Cambodia to show his singing ability in the national singing contest in Phnom Penh. He sang the song “Prot Phnom Sompov”, the original singer SIN Sisamut. He did sing very well making us think about SIN Sisamut. His intention is not only to sing for Khmer people in France and Cambodia, but also in Canada, the United State, and Australia. “Remaining golden age songs is the good lesson for next generation even though oldies singers have gone away long time ago!” “The belief and love brings you the most hard-working spirit!” “Admiring, conservation is the best way to be grateful for the original owner!”
(Source: The RFI Interview with THORN Samut Sithon)
By: POK Panhavuth
