Bruce Gaston (11 March 1946 – 17 October 2021) was an American musician who lived in Thailand and helped pioneer a contemporary style of Thai classical music through the Fong Naam band, which he co-founded with Boonyong Ketkong and Jirapan Ansvananda.

Bruce Gaston was born on 11 March 1946 in Los Angeles, California.[1] He studied music at the University of Southern California, obtaining a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a master's in music in 1969, before electing to work in Thailand under alternative service as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War.[1] He established a music education program at Payap College (now Payap University) in Chiang Mai, learned Thai classical music, and settled down in the country. He met National Artist Boonyong in 1979, and in 1981 they formed the Fong Naam band, which experimented with the classical tradition by blending in elements of Western electronic music, forming a new contemporary movement. In 2003, he co-founded Gitameit, a music school, in Yangon, Myanmar.[1] Gaston received an honorary Silpathorn Award in 2009 for his contributions to the field.[2][3][4][5]

Gaston died on 17 October 2021 in Bangkok.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mydans, Seth (29 October 2021). "Bruce Gaston, American Maestro of Thai Music, Dies at 75". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  2. ↑ Thoopkrajae, Veena (17 October 2021). "Influential musician Bruce Gaston passes away at the age of 74". Thai PBS World. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Musician Bruce Gaston dies aged 74". Bangkok Post. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  4. ↑ Hyndman, Kathleen L. (24 November 1989). "L.A. Native Heads Thai Group Fong Nam : Music: Led by Los Angeles native Bruce Gaston, the band puts Thai and Western music 'through a metamorphosis.'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  5. ↑ ""ครูช่าง-พิมพกา-อรสม" คว้ารางวัลศิลปาธร ปี'52 "บรูซ แกสตัน" รับศิลปินเกียรติคุณ". Manager (in Thai). 18 June 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
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