orapet Pinyoo is the stage name for Samoe Jandaa, born in 1950, in Bua Yai near Nakon Ratchasima in Isan. His story is typical of luuk tung singers in terms of humble rural beginnings, ambition and career development. He left school after finishing sixth class and started learning how to sing, because performing was a profession which does not require high educational qualifications. He went to watch all the travelling ramwong bands that came to his village and remembers that only he, out of his extended family of rice farmers, had a desire to be something different. All of his eight brothers and sisters are still rice farmers. When he was 15 years old, he entered a radio singing competition, at Chaiyapum and won. …