Sayan Sanya, one of the most famous luk thung stars, died of liver cancer and other ailments at Thonburi Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. He was 60 years old.
Sayan, surrounded by his friends and relatives, performed a charity concert in Samut Prakan in July. It was held to raise funds for him. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Religious rites for the Thai country singer will be held at Wat Rai King in Nakhon Pathom province, the announcement said.
Sayan, whose real name was Sayan Deesamer, was admitted to hospital in July after suffering from symptoms of fatigue and having lost about 15 kilogrammes in weight in June.
He was born to a corn farming family on Jan 31, 1953 in Doembang Nangbuat district of the central province of Suphan Buri. He grew up with a strong desire to be a luk thung singer.
Cholathee Tharnthong, a famous songwriter who discovered Sayan's talent and later helped guide him to fame, said he heard him humming a song by Sornkhiri Sriprachuap when Sayan was working as a car washer at a petrol station in Bukkhalo of Thon Buri.
Mr Cholathee asked him whether he wanted to be a singer and gave him the song "Police Chief's Daughter'', which became a hit and launched him to stardom.
''The first time I heard him sing, I knew this kid had talent,'' the songwriter recalled.
Sayan has recorded more than 1,000 songs in his career, about 300 of them written by Mr Cholathee.
Below is a music video of Sayan's "Police Chief's Daughter''.
Below is Sayan singing a song called Dear Kai at a show in 2009.
Below is Budding Lotust/Ripen Lotus - another hit song of the legendary luk thung crooner.
