Live and learn with a little swing
Legendary singer Kamala Sukosol will perform her hits and other classics with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and her family
It is by no means the norm that a long-established business magnate also happens to be a passionate performing artist blessed with natural stage magnetism. However, in the case of prolific hotelier and vocalist Kamala Sukosol — affectionately known as Thailand’s “First Lady of Swing” because of her inimitable singing style — achievements in these disparate roles have clearly won her a special place in Thai society. This is in no small part due to the combining of her two professional personalities to carve out a further laudable reputation as a committed philanthropist. Among numerous accolades over the decades, being included in Forbes Asia “48 Heroes of Philanthropy” in 2009 is perhaps her crowning honour.
For more than 30 years she has presented her own charity concerts and produced numerous album recordings, proceeds directed at myriad causes as wide ranging as the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer, Tsunami Relief Effort, Oncological (Cancer) Society and the Flood Relief Fund. Well over 60 million baht has been raised to date, with an annual charity concert for the Thai Red Cross having become something of an annual fixture for Bangkok audiences, with 100% of box office and album takings being donated.
As the matriarch of a multi-talented dynasty who have appropriately been dubbed the “musical hoteliers of Thailand”, what is even more remarkable is that these multitasking qualities have been passed on in equal measure to her four children, two of whom are soon to appear alongside her in concert with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
Precocious son Krissada Sukosol Clapp is perhaps best known as the charismatic frontman of successful rock group Pru, a band noted for achieving a big upset at the 2002 MTV Asia Awards when they outdid both Bird McIntyre and Tata Young. Better known to fans as simply Noi, he is also comfortable on screen, winning the best actor award at the Supanahong Film Awards for the thriller 13 Beloved. All the time serving the family business by overseeing the interior decorating side of their hotels, he advocates that “making music, movies and hotels are actually the same. You’re telling stories and building dreams that you hope will inspire people”.
Noi’s equally admired sibling vocalist Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi has earned great respect for environmental work which recently won her a Green Growth Award. Once described as “Thailand’s minor national treasure” on her own merits, she appropriately chose to sing What A Wonderful World at the acceptance speech. Executive vice-president of Sukosol Hotels, Marisa is responsible for marketing and branding within the family’s business portfolio. Her outward-looking approach is reflected in a 2009 recording of the Asean anthem, whilst her role as ambassador for the Unicef breastfeeding campaign is one of many such other social and healthcare interests. In 2010, she even wrote a best-selling book entitled Marisa... The Love Album — a biographical account of the illustrious family’s dealings.
Proudly overseeing her children’s musical and extra-musical versatility as a mirror of herself, their famous mother likes to inspire her offspring with the sentiment that business alone isn’t everything, occasionally reminding them “what good is a world without music?” Thus the holistic philosophy spreads through the generations, and these days even her grandchildren participate in charity concerts.
Kamala has recorded songs in eight different languages, but widespread musical fame in Thailand came in 2003 with the hit song Live & Learn by iconic songwriter Boyd Kosiyabong. Included on the album Million Ways To Love – Part 1, it was an overnight success and won the season award for best song of the year in 2003/04. Subsequently asked to perform it live to a football stadium audience of 50,000 people, Kamala was delighted that she had made an impression on the masses in this manner, truly bringing the long-time businesswoman into the public consciousness as an artist also. With albums now numbering more than 30, she continues to release two annually, one given to friends at her annual birthday party celebration and the other to the annual Red Cross charity event.
But it is Live & Learn — which may well be considered her signature tune — that will be the highlight of the upcoming appearance with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. Marisa is perhaps likewise best known for her 2004 recording of another hit by Boyd Kosiyabong — the ballad Suk Wan Neung — and this will be her own showcase in this special concert. Meanwhile Krissada (Noi) will bring to the stage classics by his rock band Pru, such as Tuk Sing and Pru Pru.
Making up the rest of a varied programme of immortal jazz standards and lush ballads will be: It Had To Be You (Jones/ Kahn); Your Song (Elton John); Chandelier (Sia); Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel); Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Arlen/ Harburg); Almost Like Being In Love (Loewe/ Lerner); New York New York (Kander/ Ebb); and My Way (François/ Anka).
Even though Live & Learn is set to be the pièce de résistance of the whole show, even this might possibly be matched by Kamala’s renditions of La Vie En Rose and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. As she pays tribute to the great French legend Édith Piaf, it will be quite clear that she has no regrets whatsoever, either in business or indeed show business!
Kamala has recorded songs in eight different languages