Thai Thanh

Thai Thanh:  Timeless Voice

Thai Thanh (1934-2020) was a legendary Vietnamese songstress.  Known as Tieng Hat Vuot Thoi Gian (Timeless Voice), her singing voice has been one of the most recognizable in the history of Vietnamese music.  The youngest out of five children, Thai Thanh began her career as a young child when she joined the music group, Ban Hop Ca Thang Long.  In the 1950s, she migrated to South Vietnam with older brother, Pham Dinh Chuong, and older sister, Thai Hang, who was married to legendary Vietnamese composer Pham Duy.  In South Vietnam, Thai Thanh became famous with a string of hits including Tinh Hoai Huong, Sang Ngang, Tinh Ca Tieng Nuoc Toi, Mua Thu Paris, Ky Vat Cho Em, Buon Tan Thu, Dong Song Xanh, Co Hong and Nua Hon Thuong Dau.  

In 1956, Thai Thanh married legendary film actor Le Quynh.  Their marriage lasted until 1965 and produced five children. Her daughters, Y Lan and Quynh Huong, would both later follow in her footsteps to become established Vietnamese singers after resettling in the United States..

After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, Thai Thanh remained in Vietnam for another decade.  Upon resettling in the United States in 1985, Thai Thanh continued with her music career and collaborated with Diem Xua Productions, the label that would release all of her studio recorded albums since resettling overseas.  Her first studio solo album produced overseas, Ngay Xua Hoang Thi, was released within the same year of her arrival in the United States.  Subsequent releases under the Diem Xua Productions label of recorded studio albums by Thai Thanh included Que Huong va Ky Niem (1987), Chieu Ve Tren Song (1988), Dem Nho Trang Sai Gon (1990), and Hoi Trung Duong (1993).  Thai Thanh's career continued to prosper while living in the United States as she would maintain a busy touring schedule performing at live shows for overseas Vietnamese audiences throughout North America, Australia and Europe, as well as appearing on several music videos on the popular music variety series, Paris By Night, produced by Thuy Nga Paris.  In the 1990s, she along with fellow legendary Vietnamese singer Duy Khanh and renowed classical pianist Nghiem Phu Phi collaborated to open a music instructional class in Orange County, California.  Thai Thanh announced her retirement in 2002.  On March 17, 2020, Thai Thanh passed away at the age of 85.  A premiere chanteuse with a Timeless Voice which had truly helped define the sound of Vietnamese modern music, Thai Thanh's legacy and career contributions will undoubtedly continue to live on in the hearts of her countless fans and admirers for many generations to come.