Setha Sirachaya

Setha Sirachaya
เศรษฐา ศิระฉายา
Setha Sirichaya in 2007
Born	(1944-11-06)6 November 1944
Died	20 February 2022(2022-02-20) (aged 77)
Occupations	Singer actor television host
Spouse	Aranya Namwong
Children	1
Awards	National Artist of 2011

Setha Sirachaya (Thai: เศรษฐา ศิระฉายา; 6 November 1944 – 20 February 2022) is a 2011 national artist performing arts (International Thai Music - Singing) as a host, actor, drama and film director television drama producer former lead singer of The Impossibles band, and former president of the Foundation of Senior Actors Welfare.

Early life

Setha was born on 6 November 1944 in Phra Nakhon Province, Thailand, with one older sister and one younger sister. graduated high school from Wat Bowonniwet School, Bachelor's degree, Faculty of Political Science, Special Program Program Department of Politics and Governance Ramkhamhaeng University, Master's Class, Faculty of Business Administration Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bangkokthonburi University and Ph.D., Faculty of Political Science, Department of Public Administration, Bangkokthonburi University.

Career

Setha entered the entertainment industry at the age of 16 by carrying instruments in the band at the persuasion of his uncle was Surasit Sattayawong, an ex-famous movie male protagonist after World War II. Sometimes he even goes on stage to sing Elvis Presley's songs, even if he sings it wrong.

Later, Setha practiced music skills by memorizing the playing styles of senior musicians. Until becoming a singer at various entertainment venues, including American military camps in the provinces during the Vietnam War and formed a band Louis Guitar Girl, then he gathered his unemployed musician friends such as Winai Phanturak, Pichai Thongniam, Anusorn Pattanakul and Sumeth Intrasuta to formed a band named Holiday J-3 before changing to Joint Reaction and changed the name again to The Impossibles which is the name of an American cartoon shown on television in those days. In which he took the role of lead singer later in 1969, The Impossibles was able to win the royal trophy for winning the string combo band contest which was organized for the first time by the Music Association of Thailand under the Royal Patronage.

As a result, it became popular and was the turning point for Setha to experience the movie world for the first time when he and his bandmates were approached by a hot new film director at that time, Piak Poster or Somboonsuk Niyomsiri (later also honored as an national artist, performing arts (film director)), given came to a guest actor appearance and made a film soundtrack to Tone (1970), which the band's debut film.

The Impossibles still won the string combo band contest for 2 consecutive times in 1970 and 1972 (the competition was suspended in 1971) until being able to receive the royal trophy as the property of the band and the string combo band contest was eventually discarded. In the meantime, the band changed members when Sumet who was one of the founding members of the band, had resigned from the band, causing the band to receive two new members: Prachin Songpao in keyboard and brass instruments position and Sittiporn Amornphan in guitar position, becoming a member in the classic line-up era. After that, the band has made soundtracks for many movies became a famous band.

In 1975, after returning from an international concert tour with The Impossibles, Setha was persuaded by Juree Osiri, a senior actor and famous voice actor and national artist performing arts (and also the mother of Nopphon Komarachun, an actor, drama director, and a famous drama producer and national artist Performing Arts) given came to a serious movie appearance for the first time after being a guest actor along with bandmates in many movies, in the movie Fai Kaem Phrae (1975). causing him to receive the Royal Award Royal Saraswati the best supporting actor branch came to win immediately.

In 1976, The Impossibles officially disbanded, Setha then fully entered the entertainment industry, playing an outstanding role both as a host and as an actor. It is considered one of the most skilled actors who can take on a variety of roles, whether good, bad, funny roles, resulting in many works. One of his most notable films is Cheun Rak (ชื่นรัก, 1979) directed by Mom Chao Thipyachat Chatchai, in which he was cast as the hero opposite Aranya Namwong, the famous heroine of that era. It was the beginning of the relationship for both of them to later become a life partner.

2011, Setha Sirachaya was received honored as a national artist performing arts (International Thai music - singing).

Illness and death

Setha was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019. He was infected with COVID-19 in 2021 but made a full recovery.

He passed away on 20 February 2022 after undergoing further treatment of chemotherapy. The bathing ceremony with royally bestowed bathing water was held on 21 February 2022 at Wat Thepsirintrawat. The cremation ceremony with royally bestowed flames was held on 5 June 2022.

Personal life

Setha used to be married to a flight attendant but got divorced Later, he married with Aranya Namwong, an ex-famous heroine actress and former Miss Thailand runners-up. The couple have a daughter, Eve Putthida Sirachaya, a singer and television drama producer (Currently married to Termsak Sakdaporn, a businessman with 2 children.)

External links

• Illustrated biography published by the Ministry of Culture