Pensri Poomchoosri
Encyclopedia
Pensri Pomchoosri was a Thai
pop
singer
and actress, active for more than five decades from the 1940s. She was named a National Artist of Thailand in 1991. She was married to writer Suwat Woradilok
, also a National Artist, who died on April 15, 2007. Her nickname was Pee Jow .
, she entered singing contests at the age of eight. She won several trophies including one from the Phu Khao Thong (Golden Mountain) fair, where a number of artists made their musical debuts. By the age of 12 she had made a record and had changed her name to Pensri. Her first record, Sila Tham Tang Ha (Five Precepts in Buddhism) was written by the renowned composer Siwa Woranat.
An oft-told legend about Pensri is that in 1941 her family had no money to pay medical bills for her father, who was hospitalized, and Pensri knelt down and sang for the doctor, who was so moved by her singing voice that he waived all the expenses.
As a teenager, Pensri joined a band led by Eua Sunthornsanan
and Wes Sunthronchamorn, and received vocal training. She attracted national acclaim in 1947 when she performed "Sai Fon", a song composed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej
, in a live broadcast. She recorded the song in 1948. Other songs she is remembered for include "Sakultala", "Man Sai Yoi" and "Rampan Sawad".
. The two artists then married. Pensri was featured in the musical film, Dark Heaven
, released in 1958. Suwat wrote and produced, and it was directed by Rattana Pestonji
.
The couple became controversial when returned from a trip to China
in 1957 and were charged with being engaged in communist
activities and jailed. In jail, she remained by her husband's side, and refused early release on parole. She was jailed for four years. After her release, Pensri returned to singing.
in performing arts (international music), alongside Suwat, who was named a National Artist for literature.
Suwat died on April 15, 2007. Less than a month later, on May 14, Pensri choked while having breakfast and collapsed. She was rushed to a local clinic, and then to Muang Samut Hospital in Samut Prakan, where she collapsed again and died of heart failure.
Funeral rites were held at Wat Makut Kasattriyaram in Bangkok
, and her body was to be cremated
along with that of her husband.
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and actress, active for more than five decades from the 1940s. She was named a National Artist of Thailand in 1991. She was married to writer Suwat Woradilok
Suwat Woradilok
Suwat Woradilok was a Thai writer. He produced a variety of works, including short stories, novels, plays, scripts for television dramas, radio dramas and screenplays. He had several pen names, including S. Voradilok, Phrai Visanu and Rapheeporn. He was named a Thailand National Artist for...
, also a National Artist, who died on April 15, 2007. Her nickname was Pee Jow .
Early life and career
Born Pongsri Pomchoosri in Phitsanulok ProvincePhitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok is a provinces of Thailand, located in the north. Neighboring provinces are Loei, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Uttaradit. In the north-east it also has a short border with Xaignabouli of Laos....
, she entered singing contests at the age of eight. She won several trophies including one from the Phu Khao Thong (Golden Mountain) fair, where a number of artists made their musical debuts. By the age of 12 she had made a record and had changed her name to Pensri. Her first record, Sila Tham Tang Ha (Five Precepts in Buddhism) was written by the renowned composer Siwa Woranat.
An oft-told legend about Pensri is that in 1941 her family had no money to pay medical bills for her father, who was hospitalized, and Pensri knelt down and sang for the doctor, who was so moved by her singing voice that he waived all the expenses.
As a teenager, Pensri joined a band led by Eua Sunthornsanan
Eua Sunthornsanan
Eua Sunthornsanan was a Thai composer and bandleader. A pioneer in introducing Western music into Thai popular culture, he founded the Suntaraporn band in the 1940s. Thailand's best-known big band, it continues to play concerts and special functions....
and Wes Sunthronchamorn, and received vocal training. She attracted national acclaim in 1947 when she performed "Sai Fon", a song composed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
, in a live broadcast. She recorded the song in 1948. Other songs she is remembered for include "Sakultala", "Man Sai Yoi" and "Rampan Sawad".
Marriage, jail
In 1951 and 1952 she joined a theater troupe of Suwat WoradilokSuwat Woradilok
Suwat Woradilok was a Thai writer. He produced a variety of works, including short stories, novels, plays, scripts for television dramas, radio dramas and screenplays. He had several pen names, including S. Voradilok, Phrai Visanu and Rapheeporn. He was named a Thailand National Artist for...
. The two artists then married. Pensri was featured in the musical film, Dark Heaven
Dark Heaven
Dark Heaven is a 1958 musical-comedy-romance-drama film directed by Rattana Pestonji and written by Suwat Woradilok.-Plot:A poor orphan girl, Nien, is on the run after stealing some food that a wealthy man had purchased to feed some dogs...
, released in 1958. Suwat wrote and produced, and it was directed by Rattana Pestonji
Rattana Pestonji
Rattana Pestonji was a Thai film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer and is regarded as the father of contemporary Thai film. Although his filmography was brief, his films placed Thai cinema on the world stage. He also pushed for innovations, and was one of the first Thai...
.
The couple became controversial when returned from a trip to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1957 and were charged with being engaged in communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
activities and jailed. In jail, she remained by her husband's side, and refused early release on parole. She was jailed for four years. After her release, Pensri returned to singing.
Later life
In 1991 she was named a National ArtistThailand National Artist
The National Artist is a title given annually by the Office of the National Culture Commission of Thailand, recognizing notable Thai artists in literature, fine arts, visual arts, applied arts and performing arts .Since 1985, the honors have been presented on...
in performing arts (international music), alongside Suwat, who was named a National Artist for literature.
Suwat died on April 15, 2007. Less than a month later, on May 14, Pensri choked while having breakfast and collapsed. She was rushed to a local clinic, and then to Muang Samut Hospital in Samut Prakan, where she collapsed again and died of heart failure.
Funeral rites were held at Wat Makut Kasattriyaram in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, and her body was to be cremated
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
along with that of her husband.