More jailhouse rock with Sala
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Musicians boost morale and offer a way back into society
Singing coach Sala Kunnawut, who’s been behind the success of many luk thung and songs-for-life artists, spent some time in jail recently. He was just visiting, however – for his third annual “Music Therapy Brings Good Men Back to Society”, organised by Grammy Gold.
This time the lock-up was the central prison in Ubon Ratchasima, Sala’s home province. The therapy workshops began at a Sisaket prison in 2012 and the second took place at Si Kiew in Nakhon Ratchasima last year.
Welcomed by prison chief Wichai Chotipativejkul, Khru Sala was joined by fellow entertainers Tai Orathai, San Naka and Satien Tummuer in showing the inmates how music soothes – and develops – the mind.
Sala opened the proceedings with a string of his own songs, such as “Tong Mee Sak Wan”, “Yak Hai Ther Khao Jai” and “Yard Nguea Phuea Mae”, explaining the inspirations in turn.
Tai Orathai, a popular luk thung singer, hit the stage with a mor lam blast, which promptly got the inmates on their feet in a ram wong dance. They joined in with Satien too, as he strummed on his guitar and sang tunes the prisoners could fully understand. Tears flowed as well while San Naka sang his ode of dedication “Mae” (“Mother”) and other hits.
“That was a memorable day for me,” Sala said afterward. “It’s a good project that should be done every year because it help bring people who made a mistake back to society again. Nobody wants to be in a cell, and most people are ready to forgive these guys and give them a chance.”
“I was really happy seeing them all smiling,” Tai remarked. “They looked happy, not stressed out, even though the show was quite short. But it’s a small part in turning them back into good men so they can live in society again.”
