Eua Sunthornsanan

Eua Sunthornsanan (Thai: เอื้อ สุนทรสนาน; rtgs: Uea Sunthonsanan; January 21, 1910, Amphawa, Samut Songkhram Province – April 1, 1981) was a singer, Thai composer and bandleaderof Suntharaporn band in the 1940s. He was a pioneer in introducing Western music into Thai culture. He started the trend of international style Thai music, or Phleng Thai Sakon, under the help of the Music Association of Thailand under the patronage of his majesty the king. He composed over 2,000 songs that were popular for many centuries, for example Songkran songs, and Thai traditional songs. In 1975, He was given an insignia by the king. In 1981 He died of cancer. In 2007, the Ministry of Culture of Thailand nominated Kru Eua for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization (UNESCO) to honor Kru Eua Sunthornsanan as one of the world personalities on the list of Anniversary of World Personalities and Historic Events 2010-2011, which was granted two years later.

Biography

Eua Sunthornsanan was born on January 21, 1910, in Amphawa Samut Songkhram Province. His father was named Mr. Dee Sunthornsanan. His mother was named Mrs. Sae Suthornsanan. He had 3 siblings. At age 9, he came to stay with his brother in Bangkok and started his primary education. Eua studied Western classical music at the Phran Luang School. His first instrument was violin. By the age of nine, Eua was developed enough to play in an orchestra. At age 18, he enrolled at the Vithaya Sakol Dontri Sathan music school. He primarily studied harmony and arrangement.