National Artist Wang Te Wangdee dies at 87
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The 1988 National Artist for the lam tad performing arts, Wangdee "Wang Te" Nima passed away early Tuesday at a Bangkok hospital. He was 87.
Wangdee, who was better known as “Wang Te,” was hospitalised last July with cancer of the liver.
His funeral is being held today at 3pm at Lat Lum Kaew mosque.
Lam Tad, a Thai-style of impromptu antiphonal singing, consists of two groups of singers, with two to three persons in each group. The sung verses require competence in the Thai language. Obscene words with dual-meanings and innuendo 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).
He has long been recognised as the leading proponent of lam tad, with an ability to use the Thai language beautifully and a gift for improvising lam tad and other kinds of Thai folk songs.
Along with his own band called Wang Tae Lam Tad, he entertained Thai audiences for more than 40 years.
Wang Tae was honoured for conserving this Thai tradition and passing on his art to the younger generation.
