Sinn Sisamouth

Sin Sisamouth
King of Khmer Music
Background information
Native name	ស៊ីន ស៊ីសាមុត
Born	(1932-08-23)August 23, 1932 Steung Treng, French Protectorate of Cambodia
Died	June 18, 1976(1976-06-18) (aged 43) Koh Thom, Kandal, Cambodia
Genres	Psychedelic rock, garage rock, traditional Khmer, romvong, saravan, jazz, bossanova, Latin, blues, cha cha cha, agogo, film
Occupation(s)	Singer, composer, bandleader, producer, film producer
Instruments	Mandolin, Sro lai, Pey Pok
Years active	1957–1975
Labels	Independent
Associated acts	Ros Sereysothea, Pen Ran, Houy Meas, Haim Sovann, So Savoeun, Hai Sokham, Dara Chom Chan, Mao Sareth, Keo Setha, Pen Ram, Chhoun Malay

Sinn Sisamouth (Khmer: ស៊ីន ស៊ីសាមុត [sɨn siːsaːmut]; 23 August 1932 – 18 June 1976) was a famous and highly prolific Cambodian singer-songwriter from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Widely considered the "King of Khmer music," Sin Sisamouth, along with Ros Sereysothea, Pan Ron, Mao Sareth and other Khmer artists, was part of a thriving pop music scene in Phnom Penh that blended elements of Khmer traditional music with the sounds of rhythm and blues and rock and roll to make a Westernized sound akin to psychedelic or garage rock. Sisamouth died during the Khmer Rouge regime under circumstances that are unclear.

Sinn Sisamouth was born in August 23, 1932, in Stung Treng Province, the son of Sinn Leang and mother Seb Bunlei.

He was the youngest of four siblings, with one brother and two sisters. His father was a prison warden in Battambang Province and was then a soldier during the Colonial Cambodia period. His father died of disease, and his mother remarried, and the union resulted in two more children.

Sisamouth attended Central Province of Stung Treng Elementary School when he was five. At the age of six or seven, he started to show interest in the guitar, and he would be asked to perform at school functions. He was also interested in Buddhist scripture and other books, as well as playing soccer and flying kites.