Minh Canh

Minh Canh (1939-    ) is a famous actor of Southern Vietnamese folk opera, known as Cai Luong, and singer of Vọng Cổ.

Nguyen Van Canh was born in 1938 in Cho Lon Saigon, South Vietnam.   At the age of 11, he moved in with his grandmother and sister  He began his career in 1959 as a Cai Luong performer on Radio Vietnam.  The following year, Minh Canh joined the prestigious Kim Chung Theater Troupe as the lead actor.  He would play the lead role in a series of successful Cai Luong stage productions including Nguoi Nghe Si Mu Dat Ha Tien, Phu Kieu Truong Han, Tieng Cuoi Bao Tu, Tuyet Phu Chieu Dong and Chieu Thu Sau Ly Biet that would gain him national recognition.

In 1961, Minh Canh scored his biggest hit with his audio recording of the Vọng Cổ song written by Vien Chau for the Asia record label.  Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, he along with veteran performer Ut Tra On were the two top-selling Vọng Cổ  male recording artists.  Among his most popular recorded Vọng Cổ songs include Võ Đông Sơ, Lưong Sơn Bá, Mưa Trên Phố Huế, Sầu Vương  Ý nhạc, Chuyến Xe Lam Chiều, Lưu Bình Dương Lễ, Lòng Dạ Đàn Bà, Em Bé Đánh Giày, Trái Sầu Riêng (recorded as a duet with My Chau), Đời Mưa Gió, Ni Cô và Kiếm Sĩ (recorded as a duet with Dieu Hien), Người Điên Yêu Trăng, Khóc Cưòi and Hai bản Đàn Xuân.  

My Chau and Minh Canh

In 1963, Minh Canh became the lead actor for the Kim Chung 2 Theater Troupe.  He went on to star in many more successful Cai Luong stage productions such as Manh áo Quê Nghèo, Bên Cầu Vọng Thê, Lưỡi Kiếm Thần, Lời Thơ Trên Tuyết, Bức Hoạ Da Người, Bẻ Kiếm Bên Trời, Hận Đầu Xanh, Bích Vân Cung Kỳ án and Trinh Nữ Lầu Xanh.  Minh Canh's career continued to flourish after the Fall of Saigon throughout the 1980s, 1990s and well into the 2000s before resettling in the United States. 

Minh Canh currently resides in San Jose, California with his wife, Cai Luong actress Tuyet Minh.  He was formerly married to the late Cai Luong actress, Kieu My, whom he had 5 children with.  On September 14, 2013, his youngest son, singer Nhat Son, was killed by his gay lover who was in a rage of jealousy.  Minh Canh was not able to attend his son's funeral.  

Link(s):

MinhCanh-MyChau.com