Si Phu (1942-2000) was a popular Vietnamese singer. Born in Bonneng Thaket, Laos, Si Phu spent his first years growing up in North Vietnam. At the age of twelve, Si Phu and his family relocated to Saigon where he would graduate from high school and later on attend college at the University of Saigon, School of Science.
In 1962, Si Phu began his military career with the ARVN. In 1968, Si Phu began his singing career with his appearance on national Vietnamese television. He recorded for various Vietnamese record labels in Saigon prior to 1975 such as Continental, Premier, Song Nhac, Shotguns and Viet Nam. Among his most popular songs included
Noi Long, Mat Biec, Ta Ao Xanh, Chiec La Cuoi Cung and
Hoai Cam. Si Phu rarely ever performed at any cabarets or nightclubs in Saigon, but regularly made appearances at an admiral's club that was located near Tan Sinh Nhat International Airport.
After the Fall of Saigon, Si Phu left Vietnam for the United States in 1975. He continued with his music career after 1975 touring successfully around the world for Vietnamese audiences across the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. In 1983, Si Phu experienced the death of his daughter which caused him to no longer pursue an active career in performing. His last album was entitled,
Con Chut Gi De Nho, released at the Majestic in Huntington Beach, California just three weeks prior to his death. Si Phu passed away on July 19, 2000 at UCI Medical Center of lung cancer. His long time companion whom he had lived with until his death, Ngoc Lan (not to be confused with
Ngoc Lan, the late overseas Vietnamese singer), had her memoirs about her life with Si Phu published in a book called
Biet Bao Gio Nguoi in 2008. Prior to meeting Ngoc Lan, Si Phu had been in a previous relationship with singer
Uyen Ly. And before that, he had been romantically linked to singer
Kim Loan during the 1960s in Saigon.
