Pen Ran

Pan Ron ប៉ែន រ៉ន
Background information
Origin	Cambodia
Years active	1963-1975

Pan Ron (Khmer: ប៉ែន រ៉ន, Khmer pronunciation: [paen rɑːn]), also known as Pen Ran in Western popular culture, was a Cambodian singer and songwriter who was at the height of popularity in the 1960s and early 1970s. She had some success in the early 1960s after her hit "Pka Kabass" in 1963, but she became a national star when she began recording with Sinn Sisamouth in 1966.

In the late 1960s, Ron recorded many solo hits and duets with Sinn Sisamouth. Ros Serey Sothea's debut in 1967 had little effect on Pan's career and perhaps even broadened Pan Ron's popularity as the second leading lady of music.

During the 1970s, aside from singing film songs, Ron had a number of hits including "Kanha 80 Kilograms" featured in Voy Ho's 4th album in 1972, and "Komlos Jreus Jap". Pan Ron is considerably one of the most versatile singers in the history of music, having a repertoire consisting of traditional, rock, twist, cha cha cha, agogo, mambo, madizon, jazz, and folk songs, leaving a legacy of Cambodian 1960s and 1970s music behind. While Pan Ron was the second lady of Khmer music during the 1960s and 1970s, little is known about her life. What is known of her comes from hundreds of songs, many of which she both wrote and performed.

Not much is known about Ron's personal life, as she was noted to keep as much of her private life out of the public's eye. Her younger sister Pan Rom, said her sister survived up until the Vietnamese invasions when the Khmer Rouge launched their final series of mass executions. In a 2015 BBC documentary on the band Cambodian Space Project, which has covered many of Ron's songs, it was alleged by an interview subject that Ron was tricked by the Khmer Rouge into performing one of her songs, after which she was led away and executed.

Discography

Some of the songs (from the hundreds) that she actually composed and sang herself or with Sin Sisamouth or Ros Serey Sothea include:

Solo performances

• Tvey beu jeung mek nov chgai
• Srolanh doj j'eung
• Mao Sereiroat
• Kmum na min tij
• Oh Pleang Euy
• Bong kom Prouy (Darling, Don't Worry)
• Cherng Maik Por Kmao
• Mamai Bei Dong
• Bondam Tunle Buon Mouk
• Chan Penh Boromey
• Chnam Oun 31
• Chrolom Pdey Keh
• Jumno Trocheak
• Juob Ter Bros Kbot
• Kam Peah
• Kdao Tngay Min Smoe Kdao Chit
• Komlos Lan Krahorm
• Konlong Pnhei Kluon
• MeMai Sabay Jet
• Meta Own Pong
• Min Jong Skarl Teh Kdey Snaeha
• Min Sok Chet Te
• Mjass Chenda
• Mtay Kaun
• Oun Skol Chet Bong Srey
• Pka Sondun
• Preah Paey Popok
• Pros Chang Reiy
• Pros Reang Yeh Yeh
• Reatrey Nov Pailin
• Rom Ago Ago
• Rom Jongvak Twiss
• Rom Som Leis Keh
• Sabay Avey Mles
• Sday Chit Del Sralanh
• Sein Kmas Keh
• Sneh Krom Mlob Chhrey
• Somleng Kmous Kah
• Sour Ey Sour Jos
• Sromai Jea Nich
• Tgai Na Bong Tomne
• Tgnai Nis Reabka Khynom
• Thngai Sonrak
• Tonsa Mok Pi Na
• Veal Smoa Khiev Kchey

Duets with Sin Sisamouth and other artists

• Somposs Chan Kreufah
• Kaal Na Pka Reek
• Kuu Nep Nit
• Ahnet Oun Phorng Pdei Euy (Pan Ron & Eng Nary)
• Bondaet Kbone Laeng (Pan Ron & Sisamouth )
• Brorjum Knea Rom Sabay (Pan Ron)
• Cer Chaet Chol Chnam (Pan Ron & Sisamouth)
• Deing Eiy Teh Bong(Pan Ron & Meas Samon)
• Jole Jroke Sin Nean (Pan Ron & Sisamouth)
• Lit Ondat Chea Bakse(Pan Ron & Eng Nary)
• PasDai Ban Heiy (Pan Ron & Sisamouth)
• Sahao Bomput Dot Manoos Tieng Ruos
• Smak Bong Lan Tmey
• Smak Oun Mouy (Pan Ron, Sothea & Sisamouth)
• Snea Douch Jeung Meik (Pan Ron & Sisamouth)
• Soom Gneak Mok Niss (Pan Ron, Sothea & Sisamouth)
• Srey Chnas Bros Chnerm (Pan Ron & Sisamouth)
• Srey Sross Somross Kmean Ptum(1963)
• Srorlanh Srey Nas (Pan Ron & In Yeng)
• Tgnai Jey Nak Phnom (Pan Ron & Tet Somnang)
• Tov Surprise Mdong (Pan Ron & Sereysothea)
• Trov Bong Sleak Kbin (Pan Ron & Sisamouth)