SIN Sisamut was the most famous male singer and talent lyricist in Cambodia before Pol Pot Regime, titled “Akthireach Samleng Meas”. His voice is soft and very sweet to listen. He sang different kind of songs like traditional (Romvong, Lam Leav, Saravan…), Rock & Roll, Twist, Jerk, Jazz, Cha Cha Cha, Ago Go, Madison, Hala Hala, Mambo, Ayai, Yikae, Chapey, Bassac, emotional, etc. He was born on August 30, 1932 in Steung Treng Province. On the day of his birth, there was the strange phenomenon that all the chicken in the village shouted as the welcome for his birth in the year of rooster. SIN Sisamut had four siblings; two brothers and two sisters. He was the youngest child in the family. His father, SIN Leang, was the prison guard in Battambang Province and the former revolutionized soldier against the French Colonial; later he died because of serious illness. SIN Sisamut used to live with his father some time in Battambang Province. His mother, SEB Bunlei, was a Laotian-Chinese; after the death of his father, she remarried and gave birth to another two children.
SIN Sisamut was considered as a serious man and helpful. He was a quiet man and some days talked only a few words per day; he usually locked the door of his room and concentrated on song writing. In writing songs, he usually consulted with three different dictionaries (Khmer, Pali, and Sanskrit) to choose the right words carefully. His house in 1970s was near Tuol Tumpong Market (Russian Market) along the road 454 in Phnom Penh today. His favorite food is Laotian and Khmer food including Prohok and Pha Ork Trey; he did not have alcoholic drinks, chili, pepper and cigarette since it affected his voice. Additionally, one of his friend said that while he and SIN Sisamut was drinking coffee in the morning; SIN Sisamut talked and felt unconscious about the amount of sugar he had put into his coffee. Therefore, it means that SIN Sisamut did not take much sweet things that might cause problems to his voice. It should be noticed that after finishing performing, he usually ate porridge with his co-workers and SIV Sun was an administrative person as secretary of SIN Sisamut to arrange the documents tidily and assist SIN Sisamut in other administrative tasks. In his free time, he likes playing soccer and flying kites. Besides, he likes watching film, Khmer and French. He could speak Khmer, Lao, Thai, French and English very well.
He attended the primary school in Steung Treng Town when he was five years old. He was a smart and kind boy reading books during his free time; everyone in the school liked him. He also showed his interest in music when he was 6 years old, his school usually called him to play guitar during the special ceremony. Furthermore, he usually visited the nearby pagoda studying more from monks about Khmer Literature, Pali, Sanskrit, and the articles on Buddhism. His hard working brought a success for higher education. In 1951, he moved to Phnom Penh to pursue his higher degree in Health Science staying with his uncle; he rarely went out and just stayed at home after school. Being interested in singing and musical writing, he strived very hard to learn by himself for both skills. His talent showed up in the college being popular among students and professors. He was usually nominated to sing and play musical instruments during the college ceremony. Simultaneously, he created a band, Preah Chan Reaksmey, consisting of 9 members. In early 1953, his band became so famous in Phnom Penh and was invited to join the national radio band, Reach Sey. Then he sang in many occasions such as wedding ceremony, radio program, etc. His parents were not happy about him taking singing career, but he had to pursue what he likes from birth.
In 1953, he became a famous radio singer singing and writing music using mandolin. Simultaneously, he graduated from college in the major of Health Science and also worked for Preah Keto Mealea Hospital besides singing career. After that, he married his cousin, KHAO Thorng Gnut, as the arrangement of older people in the family and got four children for the following years. He used to challenge in a singing contest in Phnom Penh and got the second rank since he lacked of gesture while he was singing. In fact, everyone believed that he had the greatest voice and would get the first rank if he used gesture well. His fame had been quickly well-known and the information was brought to Queen SISOWATH Kosomak Nearyrath Sereyvathana, the mother of King NORODOM Shihanouk. She invited SIN Sisamut to join the royal band singing for the formal occasions of the Royal Palace.
One of royal songs sung by SIN Sisamut was “Romvong Ekareach” to alert all Cambodian residents to show their happiness and solidarity for Khmer Independent. Also, he and his friend, SOS Mat was appointed by Queen SISOWATH Kosomak as the permanent nurse in the Royal Palace, too. Since then SIN Sisamut gained more respect and honor from the public and royal group; he was filmed in King Shihanouk’s movies singing with SIENG Dy still remained until now. In the 1950s, he pursued his singing career in public with other singers and lyricists like SIENG Dy, MAO Sareth, KEO Setha, POV Sipho, SVAY Som Oeur, HASS Salorn, MA Laopi, SOS Mat, MAE Bun, etc. In Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime, SIN Sisamut usually followed King NORODOM Shihanouk to overseas singing. The King’s songs he sang were “Phnom Penh”, “Reatrey Chuob Pheak” (with KEO Setha), Tassana Krong Phnom Penh (with MAO Sareth), and so on. Other famous songs are Somros Chhnae Kep, Chong Srol, Violin Snaeha, Anusavry Phnom Kravanh, Srey Sros Khmeng, Prek Eng Os Sangkheum, Steung Pursat, etc. Unfortunately, his fame caused the family conflicts and his wife went back to Steung Treng Province being a nun.
His voice became sweeter and sweeter. In 1963, he sang the song “Champa Battambang” quickly catching the attentions of all Cambodian people; this song was broadcasted as the first song on Khmer TV in 1965 according to his interview on TV in 1971. In this 1960s, his popularity went to the peak of his fame. He started to sing with next generation singers like SO Savoeurn, DY Saveth, PEN Rorn (1966), ROS Sereysothea (1967), HUY Meas, IN Yeng, MEAS Samorn, HEM Sovan, etc. Singing not only in Khmer, he also sang in English, French, and Thai. Therefore, he got an innovative idea to mix the music of foreign and Khmer together creating very good songs. In 1967, he wrote and sang the song “Champei Siem Reap” for his wife; they lived together again. He continued to write more songs; his songs were more famous with his new singing partner, ROS Sereysothea. Unfortunately, ROS Sereysothea returned to Battambang Province because of the conflicts with her husband, SOS Math. Facing such situation, he took action to recover by persuading ROS Sereysothea to come back and protected her from the disturbance of SOS Math. One day, he stood to prevent SOS Math disturb ROS Sereysothea while they were singing together the song “Kort Bros Mok Khmol”. He said he was the one to take her there, so he must the one to protect her. Then SOS Math left there quickly.
On March 18, 1970 the coup d’état in Phnom Penh caused a change to the life of SIN Sisamut. He was forced to sing the patriotic songs against King Shihanouk and Khmer Rouge Army even though he paid respect and trust to King Shihanouk and Royal Family. Those patriotic songs are “Lea Srey Tov Chbaing”, “Samrek Chheam Khmer”, “Lea Pov Tov Bomreu Chiet”, “Bong Ba’Oun Bei Neak”, etc. In this regime, he did not have enough time to write songs, so most of the songs he sang were written exclusively by other lyricist VOY Hor. His voice still kept him the most famous male singer in Cambodia from the early 1950s to the mid 1970s. In 1974, King of Thailand called him to live in Thailand and be a singer for Thai nation instead of Cambodia. Being wrong to think that way for SIN Sisamut, he would devote his life to die in his homeland better than running away, so he refused to that request.
On April 17, 1975, SIN Sisamut forced to leave Phnom Penh separately from his family for Koh Thom district, Kandal Province. On the way, he met KONG Bunchhoeurn and talked a while; a Khmer Rouge Officer came with the radio broadcasting his song and asked him whether that is his voice (Nis Chea Samleng Mith Men Te?). One month later in Koh Thom District, he was forced by Khmer Rouge officers to sing the songs for Khmer Rouge Regime, but he failed to satisfy the Khmer Rouge Officers. On May 18, 1976, he was killed; before he was killed, he asked the Khmer Rouge Officers to sing a patriotic song as the last voice of his life. Somehow when he finished, they killed him immediately. His wife and two children among four children were alive after this black regime.
In conclusion, life of SIN Sisamut (1932-1976), Cambodia’s Golden Voice, was a real experience for all people to study and learn. Being so sad to lose such a talent person from Cambodia; not only his talent in arts and medical skill, but his strong supports on his nation was gone with his soul. He died with less hope for the future of Cambodia; but his soul will see the development of Cambodia today and keep smiling again for the future prosperity of Cambodia.“Even though there is the death in front, believe and trust on own nation will never be forgotten!” “Homeland, nation, and culture are the things you should not forget!”
(Source: Wikipedia on SIN Sisamut in Khmer Version and other sources)
By: POK Panhavuth
