Veteran crooner Charin Nanthanagara returns to the stage of the Thailand Cultural Centre next month with what promises to be another sell-out concert.

"Duay Peek Haeng Rak" is the 73-year-old look krung (popular song) singer's eighth show in the "Charin in Concert" series, which debuted in Bangkok back in 1999 and has proved so popular that organisers are offering fans a choice of back-to-back performances on November 11 and 12 at 2pm.

This year, Charan will be accompanied by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and four leading lady vocalists. The ladies are Viyada Komarakul Na Nakorn, Orawee Sajjanon, Panadda Wongphudee, and Pavarisa Penchart.

"I'm the first GMM Grammy singer to perform with the 70-piece Bangkok Symphony Orchestra," he says with pride. "Orawee is a regular at these concerts. She has a great voice and can bring the look krung to life. Panadda can sing anything.

"I fell in love with Viyada song's 'Phieng Khae Jai Rao Rak Kan' when it was covered by actress Nathaya Dangbu-nga. Pavarisa or Noo Waen is my niece," he says.

The four ladies will perform solos and also duet with Charin in the concert, which features 29 well-known numbers rearranged by BSO member Nora-art Chanklum.

The golden oldies include "Namta Saeng Tai", "Fah Khluem Fon" and "Khid Thueng Phi Mai".

Charin, who has toured several countries and performed extensively in the US, Europe and Asia, has staged concerts all over the country, but didn't sing in the capital until 1999, when he put his own money up for "Khuen Fah Suay".

"I wasn't my intent to make the concert into a series. I arranged the show to celebrate being named a National Artist in 1998 and the audience liked it," Charin explains. "We were amazed when the first concert sold out, earning Bt1.2 million in ticket sales."

The success of the concert series drew GMM Grammy's attention, and Charin has since returned to the Bangkok stage annually.

Charin, whose real name is Boonmai Ngammuang, started to show an interest in singing at the age of eight. While pumping water in front of his home in Chiang Mai, the youngster was often heard trying to sing along with the tunes coming from the Sriwieng Theatre opposite.

In the late 1930s, his mother, Chandee was a sub-concessionaire of conglomerate Bombay Burma, which had been granted logging rights in the Northern forests.

"My mother's financial situation improved, and she employed 14 workers to cut the logs," he recalls. "The labourers took hourly breaks, and I had to pump water for them. As I pumped, I sang along to numbers by Vinai Julapusaka, Manthana Morakul, Euea Sunthornsanan and Luan Khwantham."

In the early 1950s, Charin moved into the city to study at Assumption Commercial School and was soon a keen member of the school's rugby and football teams. But any dream of becoming a professional player was nipped in the bud when he broke his kneecap during a match. It was then that his interest turned back to music.

"I always avoided standing in line with the other pupils in the morning because I wanted to listen to Boonchuay Hiransuksom's 'Nang Kaew Nai Duangjai', which was played on the radio at 7.50am. So my teacher made me join the church choir!"

The training paid off, and when the school hired a band to celebrate a special event, bandleader Salai Krailert discovered that Charin had talent. He subsequently practised his pitch with Salai and was later taken in hand by Luan Khwantham.

"Khru Salai taught me a lot, especially about the notes and scales. He also taught me how to pronounce 'phor' and 'por' [two different consonants in the Thai alphabet]. In those days, the microphones were of low quality, but I managed to stay in tune with the melody and I knew how to pronounce and mix the [Thai] tones.

"Khru Luan taught me how to breathe from the diaphragm. To help me expand my lungs, he ordered me to buy skewered truffles on ice at Wat Phra Kaew and then run back to his house, which is where the Ratanakosin Hotel stands today.

In 1951, Salai wrote "Duangjai Nai Fun" for Charin and the number was played on several radio stations during the intermission of a Suwat Woradilok-penned play, "Nang Phrai". It was later recorded on vinyl.

"Although 'Duangjai Nai Fun' was the first song I recorded, 'I-Nao Ramphan' was the first one that sold. My name wasn't known, so it was the flip side of a record by [professional vocalist] Chusri Phumchusri.

"During that time, I sang songs written by Khru Salai for the owners of several music companies including Kamol Sukosol's Tieng Osiri, Tor Ngeg Chuan of Rabbit vinyl brand and Tosit Sribunruang of Philips," he says.

Compared with today's new generation, Charin made little money and often went hungry. "Songs weren't played on the radio all the time like they are today and there weren't any public appearances. I was proud to make it through the hard times.

Tickets for "Charin & BSO: Duay Peek Haeng Rak" cost Bt2,000, Bt1,500, Bt1,000, Bt800 and Bt500 and are available at Thaiticketmaster. The Bt2,000 tickets come with a Charin's greatest hits CD.

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

 The Nation