Aed Carabao


Aed Carabao is the stage name of Yuenyong Opakul, born 9 November 1954. He is a singer/songwriter and leader of the Thai rock band Carabao, known for its songs in the "songs for life" genre.

History

Early life

He was born in a Thai Teochew Chinese middle-class family in Tambon Tha Phi Liang, Mueang Suphan Buri, Suphan Buri Province in central region of Thailand. He is the third generation of overseas Chinese immigrants living in Thailand. His grandfather came from a small village in the Fengshun, Meizhou north of Han River, Guangdong Province. His father's name Manus Opakul, who was highly regarded in the local area as a local sage. He was a merchant, look thung band manager, writer, local historian and was the pioneer of first Suphan Buri local newspaper.
As a youngster, Yuenyong was exposed to the music of central Thailand: call and response songs, Thai folk music, Thai dancing, and look thung which his father was a band manager. When Yeunyong was a teenager he was influenced by Western music, and learned to play Western musical instruments. These were influences he drew on as a musician.
Yuenyong began primary education at Wat Suwan School, then left for further studies in Bangkok. He continued on in his studies at Uthenthawai Vocational School, where he majored in architecture. Then he continued in architecture for one year at the Mapúa Institute of Technology in the Philippines.
In the Philippines, Yuengyong Opakul met Kirati Promsakha Na Sakon Nakhon, or Keo, another Thai student. They listened to the music of Led Zeppelin, John Denver, the Eagles, and Peter Frampton from records that a third friend, Sanit Limsila, or Kai, had accumulated. All three agreed to set up a band with the name "Carabao" to perform folk music at the institute.
When Yuenyoung Opakul graduated and returned to Thailand, he found work as an architect. Later, when Kai and Keo returned from the Philippines, all three met to play music together again in the Windsor Hotel restaurant in central Bangkok. They played at the Hotel Mandarin Samyan on weekends. All three friends were fired from their jobs for skipping work without notice.
Jobless, Kai left the group to work in south Thailand. Aed and Keo stayed and continued playing music together with the band Hope. In 1980, Yuenyong was working as an architect in an office managing a National Housing Authority project. Keo was working as an engineer for a Filipino company opening a branch in Thailand. Together, they played music in the evenings at a bar in the Ambassador Hotel Sukhumvit.

Achieving stardom

Aed produced the first album of the group Hammer in 1979. With this album, Hammer became known. In 1980, Aed composed the song "Teuk Kwaai Tui" for Hammer to record for their album Bpak Dtai Baan Rao. That album vaulted Hammer to fame. Later, Aed worked with Hammer to come out with an album named Khanchanmueang with a folk-look thung musical style. He participated in composing songs for a movie starring the singer Phonom Napon in 1981.
Aed got together with Keo and produced their first album under the name "Carabao" in 1981. The album, Kee Mao, achieved little notice. So the band toured, playing in cinemas across the country to small audiences.
Carabao became successful with their fifth album, Made in Thailand, selling five million copies, and making "Aed Carabao" a household name in Thailand. It wasn't until he made it big that he quit his day job as an architect, a job he has said he enjoyed very much. He has since toured in Europe, Japan, and the US.
Aed has written and performed no fewer than 900 songs, making him one of the most prolific singer–songwriters in the world.

Social role

Aed has not limited himself to the role of song artist only, but also hosts television programs and composes music for movies. He has acted in several movies and has composed musical public service announcements on issues or to advertise a project.
Aed is a keen observer of the Thai political and social scene. He has composed songs on salient events affecting the country:
, a business for manufacturing, marketing, and selling energy drinks, was incorporated in 2001. The company was a joint investment by Mr Sathien Setthasit, Miss Nutchamai Thanombooncharoen, and Aed Carabao. Aed serves as "brand ambassador" for Carabao Dang.

Honors