Thongchai McIntyre
Thongchai "Bird" McIntyre (born Albert Thongchai McIntyre, December 8, 1958) is a Thai pop singer who released his debut album in 1986. He is also sometimes known as Bird Thongchai, Thongchai McIntyre (Thai: ธงไชย แมคอินไตย์), Pi Bird (elder brother Bird) or (Daddy Bird) or simply Bird. He is a Superstar in Thailand, and has sold more than 20 million copies of his albums.
Biography
Thongchai McIntyre or "Bird Thongchai" is best known for his string (Thai pop) and luk thung music. He has also acted in numerous films, on television, musicals, and in commercials.
Thongchai McIntyre was born in Bangkok in 1958 to parents James and Udom McIntyre. His family were musicians, hence he enjoyed an upbringing in a musical environment. He started working in a bank as an officer. While working in a bank, he had a chance to meet the famous Thai TV producer "Kai Varayuth" who saw entertainment talent in Bird. Bird played his first TV series with Kai while still working in a bank.
This role revealed his talent. His most memorable role was that of Captain Kobori from Koo Kam, a tragic love story between a Japanese soldier (played by Bird) and a local Thai girl during the World War II.
He reached the height of his musical carrer in the early nineties. Among his best-known songs are Duay Rak Lae Pook Pan, Koo Gud, Sabai Sabai and Kob Jai Jing Jing. His popular singles released recently include luk thung singles Mah Tummai (with Jintara Poonlarp), Fan Ja (with Jintara, Nat Myria Benedetti and Katreeya English), Lao Su Kan Fang, and Yak Tham Kor Tob and Mai Kang Ying Pae from his album "Volume One".
Westerners became aware of him in the mid nineties as he became the first Thai artist to receive an International MTV Award, and when he appeared in the most high budget Thai film at the time, "Sunset at Chaopraya"(which reached international acclaim in Japan as well as the U.S.).
