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Song in his heart: Performer Tan Tai. — VNS File Photo |
Born in 1938 in An Giang Province's Nui Sap District, Tai, whose real name was Le Tan Tai, was a primary teacher after school, but he loved singing tai tu (a kind of Southern traditional music) when he was a child.
He began his theatre career as a cai luong (reformed opera) performer in 1962. Travelling across the region, Tai worked for leading cai luong troupes, including Buom Vang, Da Ly Huong, Hau Giang and Kim Chung.
After four years of performing professionally, he won the Thanh Tam Prize, the city award for the year's best cai luong artists.
From1962 to 1975 he worked with music producers in Sai Gon, now HCM City, to record more than 1,000 tai tu songs and perform as a leading character in 500 cai luong plays, playing an important role in preserving and developing the art.
In 1964, he opened his own troupe called Thu Do, attracting young performers.
He was honoured with the title "King of cai luong recording" by music producers and fans.
After 1975, he worked for the Hau Giang Cai Luong Troupe then in 1990, he started work as a guest artist for the city's Tran Huu Trang Theatre.
A prolific performer, Tai devoted his life to cai luong, which celebrates the culture and lifestyle of Vietnamese people in the south.
The performer's funeral will be held on Monday at the Nghe Si (Artists) Temple in Go Vap District. — VNS
