Police corporal Niphon Praiwan (
Thai: สิบตำรวจโทนิพนธ์ ไพรวัลย์) or stage name Yodrak Salakjai (
Thai: ยอดรัก สลักใจ) was a famous
Luk thung singer and actor.
Life
1956–1972: early life
His nickname is Aew (). He was born on February 6, 1956, at Ngio Rai County,
Taphan Hin district
Taphan Hin (, ) is a district (''amphoe'') in the central part of Phichit province, central Thailand.
Geography
Neighboring districts are (from the east clockwise) Thap Khlo, Bang Mun Nak, Pho Thale, Bueng Na Rang, Pho Prathap Chang, Mueang ...
,
Phichit province
Phichit ( th, พิจิตร, , ) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (''changwat'') lies in lower northern Thailand and 330 km due north of Bangkok. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Nakh ...
. He was a youngest of the eight children of Boontham and Bai Praiwan. He finished educated from
Thonburi teacher's college.
In his family life, he was married to Ladda Praiwan and they had one son.
1972–2008: Entertainer
When he was young, his family financial status was very poor, his father passed away when Salakjai was seven. He left his family at age 11 to become a singer. He was a singer with Ked Noi Watthana Ram Wong Band, where he gained 5–10 baht.
Until he sang in various nightclubs and restaurants in
Takhli district,
Nakhon Sawan province (which at that time was a red-light district because it was home to a
United States Air Force Base
This is a list of installations operated by the United States Air Force located within the United States and abroad. Locations where the Air Force have a notable presence but do not operate the facility are also listed.
Background
The locatio ...
during the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
),
Dedduang Dokrak a famous Thai radio DJ was in the restaurant, where he was singing. His music tone was heard by Dedduang and Dedduang invited him to start on stage, with first stage name Yodrak Lukphichit (), and he recorded three studio albums, but was not popularised. Until in 1976,
Chonlathee Tharnthong composed a song titled Jod Mai Jak Naew Naa () which Yodrak sang, and became popular. He renamed his stage name from Yodrak Lukphichit to Yodrak Salakjai.
Throughout his 36 years in the showbiz he has performed 4,200 songs and has also starred in some films such as 1998's
Crime Kings. One of his most popular songs Sam Sib Yang Jeaw () has been re-recorded by young performers many times in various genres, not even
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
.
Death
In 2008, he went to get health checked. The doctor found that he had liver cancer, but he did not want his cancer treated. His health began to deteriorate and he died at the age of 52 at 1:05 am, on August 9, 2008.
ปิดตำนานลูกทุ่ง “ ยอดรัก สลักใจ ” สิ้นลมแล้ว
จาก ผู้จัดการ
Discography
* ''Jod Mai Jak Neaw Na'' (จดหมายจากแนวหน้า)
* ''Hom Tong Non Tay'' (ห่มธงนอนตาย)
* ''Khad Khon Hung Kaw'' (ขาดคนหุงข้าว)
* ''Ai Num Too Pleang'' (ไอ้หนุ่มตู้เพลง)
* ''Khad Nguen Khad Rak'' (ขาดเงินขาดรัก)
* ''Sam Sib Yang Jeaw'' (สามสิบยังแจ๋ว)
* ''Aao Nae'' (เอาแน่)
* ''Jam Jai Doo'' (จำใจดู)
* ''Long Luea Ha Rak'' (ล่องเรือหารัก)
* ''Kha Tha Ma Ha Ni Yom'' (คาถามหานิยม)
* ''Ar Ray Koe Koo'' (อะไรก็กู)
* ''Khob Khun Fan Pleang'' (ขอบคุณแฟนเพลง)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salakjai, Yodrak
1956 births
2008 deaths
Yodrak Salakjai
Yodrak Salakjai
Deaths from liver cancer
Deaths from cancer in Thailand
Yodrak Salakjai
Yodrak Salakjai