29 Facts About Sinn Sisamouth

Sinn Sisamouth died during the Khmer Rouge regime under circumstances that are unclear.

Sinn Sisamouth was born in Stung Treng Province, the son of Sinn Leang and mother Seb Bunlei.

Sinn Sisamouth's father was a soldier during the Colonial Cambodia period and served as prison warden in Battambang Province.

Sinn Sisamouth's father died when he was a child and his mother then remarried.

Sinn Sisamouth learned to play stringed instruments at the age of six or seven, and showed a natural singing talent.

Sinn Sisamouth was often invited to perform music at school functions.

Sinn Sisamouth began composing his own songs around this time.

Sinn Sisamouth graduated from medical school around the time that Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953.

Sinn Sisamouth initially worked in a Phnom Penh hospital as a nurse, but was hired by the Cambodian national radio station as a singer with its band.

Around this time, Sinn Sisamouth married his cousin Keo Thorng Gnu in an arranged marriage, and they eventually had four children.

The Queen invited Sinn Sisamouth to join the Vong Phleng Preah Reach Troap with which he performed at royal receptions and state functions.

Sinn Sisamouth achieved hit songs on national radio around this time, first writing and performing songs based on traditional Khmer music.

Sinn Sisamouth became known for his crooning voice, which has been likened to that of Nat King Cole, while his stage presence has been compared to that of Frank Sinatra.

Sinn Sisamouth was a leader of these trends, moving from traditional Khmer music and romantic ballads to Latin jazz, cha cha cha, agogo, and eventually psychedelic rock in which he employed younger rock musicians.

Sinn Sisamouth had become established as Cambodia's most popular singer and songwriter.

Sinn Sisamouth collaborated directly with Mao Sareth and Chounn Malay, among others.

Sinn Sisamouth wrote songs for, and duetted with, other popular Cambodian singers to nurture their careers.

Sinn Sisamouth is credited with launching the career of Ros Serey Sothea, who had been singing at weddings and later became the leading female singer in the Cambodian rock scene.

In later years, Sinn Sisamouth contributed songs to the soundtracks for a number of popular Cambodian films, such as Orn Euy Srey Orn, Tep Sodachan, and Thavory Meas Bong.

Sinn Sisamouth's son Sinn Chanchhaya believed that Sisamouth wrote roughly one song for every day that he was a professional musician, a period of nearly 20 years.

Sinn Sisamouth disappeared during the Khmer Rouge genocide and his exact fate has never been confirmed, with multiple sources making contradictory claims.

Sinn Sisamouth looking very sad, told me that he was sent from Prek Eng, Kien Svay district, Kandal province, and he was jailed there for three days already.

Sinn Sisamouth did not commit any fault but he was accused by the Khmer Rouge as being an imperialist.

In 2009, Sinn Sisamouth's son claimed to know the name of his father's executioner and that the person was still alive.

Sinn Sisamouth is extensively profiled in the 2015 documentary film on the history of Cambodian popular music, Don't Think I've Forgotten, in which several interview subjects describe Sisamouth as the most important Cambodian musician of all time.

In 2014, Sinn Sisamouth's family provided proof of composition and was awarded copyright ownership for over 180 songs.

Sisamouth's son Sinn Chanchhaya became a singer for the Cambodian Radio, though he admitted he could not be compared to his father.

Documentary filmmakers Chris G Parkhurst and Stephanie Vincenti are currently in post-production on a feature-length documentary about Sinn Sisamouth called Elvis of Cambodia.

The film will make use of rare archival footage and interviews with Sinn Sisamouth's surviving contemporaries, while exploring his continuing popularity with the people of Cambodia.