‘King of mor lam’ Noppadon Duangporn passes away aged 78
Legendary mor lam singer, comedian and actor Noppadon Duangporn, has died at the age of 78, his family said.
The family said Narong Pongparp, who was better known by his stage name of Noppadon Duangporn, was pronounced dead at 8pm Thursday night at Siriraj Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital in late June for brain surgery.
Noppadon has been honoured as the Isaan heritage artist for his singing and composition of mor lam songs or traditional songs in the Northeastern dialect.
He formed the popular Isaan luk thung band of Phet Pinthong in 1972.
Born on December 15, 1941, Noppadon was a native of Tambon Pathum in Ubon Ratchathani’s Muang district.
After leaving school at the end of Grade 4, Noppadon joined the Chularat band of well-known artist Mongkol Amatayakul where he stayed for several years before form Phet Phinthong.
His band rose to fame for combining traditional Isaan harps with modern musical instruments and playing songs in the Isaan dialect.
He was also a well-known supporting actor and performed in several movies TV series including “Khru Ban Nok” (Countryside Teacher”) (1978), “Nong Mah Wor” (1979), and “Pleng Rak Rim Fung Khong” (“Romantic Songs on the Mekong’s Bank”) as well as the 2002 movie “15 Kham Duan 11” (“Mekhong Full Moon Party”) , which earned him the best supporting actor accolade at the Subhanahongsa Awards for his portrayal of Luang Ta Loh.