Sinan was born in 1944 in Svay village of Baray commune and district, Kampong Thom province. He currently lives in Boeung Samreth village of the same commune. In his younger days, he worked at Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory in Kampot province, and he befriended musician Nop Neum, the younger brother of actor Nop Nem. The musician taught Mr. Sinan how to play the saxophone, trumpet and drums. Realizing that he was slowly becoming a musician, he began to use his salary to buy songs to listen to and rehearse. The first record he bought was in 1964 and the last was in 1975, the year the Khmer Rouge regime came to power.
During the Khmer Rouge’s rule, he quickly hid these 401 records in the sewer beneath the home of a family who was killed by the Khmer Rouge in Kampong Thma district, Kampong Thom province, where he was transported to by the regime. He was also fortunate to survive, not be imprisoned like other artists, through this dark period because he was skilled at agriculture and could grow crops.
It was not until 1982 that he was able to bring his collection out of its hiding place and restore them. However, the secret of this massive collection was only known to the public in 2008, when he met Khuth Sokhoeun, who is a writer and lover of traditional music, who photographed his treasure and wrote articles about it. The articles became famous around the Kingdom and even overseas. Both local and foreign journalists have come to interview him, and many people have offered to buy vinyl records at extremely high prices.
Although he received many offers, he refused all and now only wants to open a small museum to display the musical works of the heyday of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
His 401 vinyl record contains about 900 songs, most of which are songs by Sin Sisamuth, Ros Serey Sothea, Pen Ron, Keo Sokha (Keo Montha’s sister), Nov Narin and some other singers.
According to phnompenhpost.com
