BANGKOK, June 26 – Thailand’s Lam Tad national artist ‘Wang Tae’ died at the age of 87 of liver cancer and pneumothorax at a Bangkok hospital.
Wangdee Nima, or known in the country as ‘Wang Tae’, was hospitalised since July last year.
His body was picked up by his family and taken to Pathum Thani province for a Muslim ceremony.
‘Lam Tad’, a Thai-style of impromptu antiphonal singing, consists of two groups of singers, two to three persons each group, according to sex, while verses sung require competence in language. Obscene words with dual-meanings and innuendos are often used in this form of entertainment to draw laughs from the audience.
Wang Tae was honoured in 1988 as Thailand’s national artist for the field of the performing arts (Thai dance).
Up until now, he was nearly unchallenged in his gifts, having the ability to use the Thai language beautifully, while being able to improvise Lam Tad and other kinds of Thai folk songs.
Having his own band called ‘Wang Tae Lam Tad’, he became symbolic of the field and had entertained Thai audiences for over 40 years.
Wang Tae was honoured as an immortal artist regularly conserving this Thai tradition and passing on his art to younger generations.
