From July 19-August 6, 2007, CLA Master Kung Nai, known as the "Ray Charles of Cambodia," and his star protege student Ouch Savy toured outside of Cambodia in the UK as part of the 25th Anniversary of the Peter Gabriel-inspired WOMAD Festival, providing audiences in England with the rare chance to see one of Cambodia's most treasured masters of the chapei dong veng perform.
He was accompanied by many members of the growing CLA Family, including Board members Charley Todd and Carol Dugger, and student, translator, and friend of CLA Somongkol Teng. To follow our masters on their journey through the UK, please see his blog at mongkol.wordpress.com.
The tour was organized by Dickie Chappell, an engineer at Peter Gabriel's RealWorld Studios, together with support from Peter Gabriel and assistance from at least 20 staff members at RealWorld Studios. Dickie Chappell, who traveled to Cambodia in August 2006 to observe the Cambodian Living Arts National Youth Arts Festival, where he fell in love with Cambodia, its traditional culture, and in particular, the talented songs of Master Kung Nai. Dickie Chappell made several recordings of Kung Nai and brought them back to the UK, sharing them with Peter Gabriel and arranging for him to participate in this amazing tour.
"As a singer I am very drawn to voices, and it was Kung Nai's voice that pulled me right in at the beginning," said Peter Gabriel.
The tour was an amazing experience for Master Kung Nai and his protege Ouch Savy, who was traveling outside of Cambodia for the first time. Over the course of the entire tour, they performed in front of about 18,000 people and received wide press coverage in:
The Guardian
The Wiltshire Times
BBC's "The World"
BBC Radio 4's "In Touch".
Dickie Chappell and Peter Gabriel had also produced and had available for sale copies of Mekong Delta Blues and Khmer Passages, with proceeds from sales going to benefit Master Kung Nai, his students, and Cambodian Living Arts.
Somongkol Teng, a Fulbright student from Cambodia and a friend of CLA's, translated and moderated Q & A's and discussion. CLA board members Carol Dugger and Charley Todd also joined the tour and helped with merchandise sales.
In March of 2008, they toured Australia and New Zealand, performing in WOMAD festivals there.
To follow our masters on their journey through the UK, please see the blog of Somongkol Teng, their translator and a great friend to CLA at mongkol.wordpress.com.
