Vocalist (U) Maung Maung Gyi, who had sung renowned songs such as ‘How to Say to Beloved One’, ‘Sein-Lei-Nyo’ and so on, passed away in Yangon at the age of 92 at 3 pm on 15 January.
The cremation will be held at Yayway Cemetery on 17 January.
“As far as I knew, the singer was weak in hearing. In his old age, he did not arrive at MRTV. I knew he lay in bed for just a few days due to disease. He peacefully passed away. I heard his demise news when I returned from a memorial ceremony for famous vocalist Daw Mar Mar Aye at Santisukha Monastery,” said U Lwin Myint, Chairman of Myanmar Music Association (Central).
Vocalist U Maung Maung Gyi had been suffering from diabetes and died of old age, said veteran singer Than Myat Soe.
He continued, “I have been emulating U Maung Maung Gyi since my young age. He could attain a significant singing style, and he could sing songs of old film star Khin Maung Yin.
The vocalist always took a rehearsal for singing any songs. I had analyzed his songs. In this regard, the song “Sein-Lei-Nyo”, composed by Cho Tay Hset Ko Aung Koe, is my favourite. One more song, “Shwe-Nyar-Si-Thwar-Mel”, composed by his younger brother Ko Lay Nyunt, was a masterpiece. I mourned for his unexpected demise, and I prayed for him to reach the proper abode.”
U Maung Maung Gyi was born to U Khin Sein and Daw Khin Nyunt in Yangon on 1 February 1931. He joined the musical arena in 1947 and won the gold medal in the classic song-singing event of the cultural fine arts contest in 1953.
His first-ever song was broadcast by the Tatmadaw radio station in 1950 for the college Thingyan troupe. In 1951, his songs from Gita Lulin’s amateur band were aired by Radio Myanmar.
He aired classic songs to the accompaniment of harpist U Khin Myint and orchestra master Sein Bo Tint and modern songs of Gita Lulin, Gita Lulin Maung Ko Ko, Cho Tay Hset, War Office, Kay Thi Pan, Harpist Ni Ni, Harpist Chit Swe and Pyinmana Myint Hlaing troupes. He was a renowned vocalist with popular songs in commercial gramophones and films.
Vocalist (U) Maung Maung Gyi won the hearts of audiences with public favourite songs such as “Ta-khu-te-thaw-yi-hman-chet”, “Hna-sint-myitta”, “Nwe-hnaung”, “Shwe-nyar-si-thwar-mel”, “Akyeetan chit-thu”, “Kwan-taung-kaing”, “Eainmet-naing-ngan”, “Myitta Zatlan”, “Pin-taing-kyawt-hmu”, “Way-pyi-hmwe-yel”, “Tan-par-ma-phaya”, “Myitta-nunu-saylaryin-kwel”, “Sein-lei’nyo”, “Achit-ko-bel-lo-pyaw-ya-mel” and so on. — Htet Oo Maung/TTA
