History of Sinn Sisamouth

Sinn Sisamouth (Khmer: ស៊ីន ស៊ីសាមុត was born 23 August 1932 – 18 June 1976) was a famous and highly prolific Cambodian singer-songwriter from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Widely considered the "King of Khmer music," Sin Sisamouth, along with Ros Sereysothea, Pan Ron, Mao Sareth and other Khmer artists, was part of a thriving pop music scene in Phnom Penh that blended elements of Khmer traditional music with the sounds of rhythm and blues and rock and roll to make a Westernized sound akin to psychedelic orgarage rock. Sisamouth died during the Khmer Rouge regime under circumstances that are unclear.

                               

                                                  Early life

Sinn Sisamouth was born in August 23, 1932, in Stung Treng Province, the son of Sinn Leang and mother Seb Bunlei.^[1]

He was the youngest of four siblings, with one brother and two sisters. His father was a prison warden in Battambang Province and was then a soldier during the Colonial Cambodia period. His father died of disease, and his mother remarried, and the union resulted in two more children.

Sisamouth attended Central Province of Stung Treng Elementary School when he was five. At the age of six or seven, he started to show interest in the guitar, and he would be asked to perform at school functions. He was also interested in Buddhist scripture and other books, as well as playing soccer and flying kites.

Around 1951, he passed elementary school and intended to study medicine in Phnom Penh, but continued working at becoming a singer and writing songs. Just as he had in elementary school, he became well known in his school for his music, and was asked to sing at school ceremonies.

By the time Cambodia was granted independence from France in 1953, Sisamouth's fine singing voice landed him a spot on national radio as a regular singer. He also continued his studies, working at Preah Ketomealea Hospital.

Native name	ស៊ីន ស៊ីសាមុត
Born	August 23, 1932 Steung Treng, French Protectorate of Cambodia
Died	June 18, 1976 (aged 43) Koh Thom, Kandal, Cambodia
Genres	Psychedelic rock, garage rock, traditional Khmer, romvong,saravan[disambiguation needed],jazz, bossanova, Latin, blues,cha cha cha, agogo, film
Occupation(s)	Singer, composer, bandleader,producer, film producer
Instruments	Mandolin, Sro lai, Pey Pok
Years active	1957–1975
Labels	Independent
Associated acts	Ros Sereysothea, Pen Ran,Houy Meas, Haim Sovann, So Savoeun, Hai Sokham, Dara Chom Chan, Mao Sareth, Keo Setha, Pen Ram, Chhoun Malay