Ms. Minh Phong: From the person who mentioned the light to the "prince of the stage"

Nearly 50 years working with the Cai Luong stage, in the most flourishing period of this art, Minh Phung in the memory of the audience is a beautiful duo, with a characteristic voice with a high, sweet and deep sound.

Glory comes from destitution

Minh Phung real name Ngo Van Thieu, born in 1945 in My Tho. Young Thieu's childhood passed miserably in a family of 10 children. From the age of seven, he had to get up every day at 4 a.m. to help his mother clean up small goods to the market. Thieu's main job after school is selling roasted peanuts and fried bananas to help his family. In adolescence, thanks to his beautiful voice, Thieu was introduced to Tan Do singing by musician Huong Huyen and given the stage name Tan Tien by his manager.

His first role was as an old monk in The Mourning Ben. At the age of 17, Tan Tien changed his name to Minh Phung from the two names "Minh" and "Phung" of a close friend. Since then, Minh Phong's life has floated for more than 10 years through dozens of large and small singing troupes with all kinds of roles and even the profession of reminding to make a living.

Hardship and perseverance tempered him to become brighter and brighter to catch the eye of drama journalists. Since 1968, Minh Phung name began to be mentioned by the press on the stage of the Capital. After that, invited by Kim Chung's troupe to sign a contract, it was also the time when the voice was ripe, the performance became sharp, from destitution, artist Minh Phung began to receive the glory of a stage star. His name is comparable to the names of first-class diggers at that time such as Ut Bach Lan, Snow White, My Chau, Le Thuy, Phuong Lien, Thanh Kim Hue ... from the field of tapes to the stage.

After 1975, Minh Phung was the leader of the Homeland Singing troupe of Ben Tre province, famous for his role as Luc Van Tien. After that, this delegation was assigned to the provincial Department of Culture and Information. In 1976, NS Minh Phung joined the Huong Autumn Singing Troupe, working as a duo, performing through the plays "Han River Grass", "White Stork", "Airport Fire" ...

In 1994, he re-established the Huong Autumn Troupe with young actors, Minh Phung Autumn Huong Troupe performing in Minh Hai province (Ca Mau) and neighboring provinces. He later changed his name to Minh Phung Golden Bell Troupe. From 1996 onwards, the singing companies lost money, Minh Phung Golden Bell Troupe held out, lasted until 2000 and then stopped singing. Artist Minh Phung has lost a lot for the troupe and has had to sell his house many times to pay off debts due to pregnancy.

After heart surgery in 2005, Dr. Minh Phung needed treatment for kidney failure and prolonged leg necrosis. In early November 2008, he still tried to appear in the live show of artist Ngoc Deng held at Hung Dao Theater. That was the last time he appeared on stage alongside his wife, NS Qiao Tien.

On 29-11-2008, Minh Phung was announced dead and buried at Artist Pagoda, HCMC. The artist died at the age of 63 due to complications from various diseases.

Strong love story with NS Kieu Tien

In 1977, Dr. Minh Phung after divorcing from Dr. Dieu Hue returned to Huong Autumn Luong reform troupe. Here, he met and fell in love with a beautiful young female artist of this brand, which is NS Kieu Tien.

"I knew he was married and had just broken up with his wife, but my mother was afraid her daughter would suffer, so she tried to stop him. But then his love for him was too great because on stage, with his singing career, he was a man who considered his career above all else. When I came back to live together after the wedding, I noticed that he was devoted to art. This was a period when we had many roles together on stage, especially on the home troupe, where he invested in singing, working as both a duo and a pregnant man. This opportunity allows him to fulfill the dreams of his life as an artist, which means to make the plays he likes," said NS Kieu Tien.

As a latecomer in Minh Phong's life, Qiao Tien is attached, loved, and cared for her husband even after he died, because, when she was alive, she felt devotion and thoughtfulness to his wife and children. Outside, Minh Phung is a beautiful peach blossom, surrounded by many fans but he always keeps the limit in relationships.

It is the softness of his treatment of the audience and Mingfeng's respect for his family that makes Qiao Tien respect. In response, the artist is very respectful of her husband's relationships. She happily accepts that her husband is a celebrity, not immune to moments of weakness. Their behavior earned their children admiration.

Despite Minh Phong's death, on the anniversary of his death, fans and fellow artists still visit the grave and sing ancient songs and famous excerpts associated with his name.

NS Kieu Tien confided: "In the 1960s, the golden era of Cai Luong theater, young artists with golden voices, just needed to be famous for their ancient singing or immediately enlisted by the singers to sign gigs for a very high amount of money. From a 7-year-old child whose mother sold goods at My Tho market, my grandfather learned to sing through the radio, then was taught to sing to the rhythm by artisan Tu Xuan in My Tho and auditioned by composer Huong Huyen Anh when he returned to his hometown to perform.

Minh Phung entered the profession quite early, working as a reminder to learn the craft, by the age of 17 he flashed, nicknamed "the prince of the stage" by the press and fans. I am happy to be his wife, to be his co-star, even though I know to the audience, they love my husband through their love affairs on stage with my sisters: Le Thuy, My Chau more than me, which is a source of pride for me and my family."

The roles of the Minh Phung - Kieu Tien couple were all left and bad, at that time, when working as a pregnant woman, Minh Phung wanted to stage plays about the status of a gentle woman, suffering a lot but living with energy. Therefore, the plays of the period with NS Kieu Tien easily won the hearts of the audience.

Qiao Tien once said that I think that's why even though he has gone away, the audience who admire Cai Liang theater still love him. Not only on the anniversary of his death, but on birthdays and holidays, a group of young fans still bring flowers, candles and flocks to sit around the grave singing his songs that they belonged to. It's very emotional. That gesture made me and my family feel happy.

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