Thien Kim (1972- ) is an overseas Vietnamese singer. Born as Tran Thien Kim on August 29, 1972 in Saigon, South Vietnam, she began singing and had learned how to play the dan tranh, a Vietnamese musical stringed instrument similar to the Japanese koto, as a young child. Thien Kim's extraordinary vocal talents were further proven with her abilities to sing in various different Vietnamese music genres such as traditional Vietnamese folk opera known as cai luong and vong co. At the age of 14, she began performing regularly for major outdoor music venues and dance halls in Ho Chi Minh City. In 1998, with the encouragement from both her parents, particularly her mother who was also a professional singer known by her stage name, Thanh Truc, Thien Kim entered the prestigious talent competition, Tieng Hat Truyen Hinh Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh, where she impressively placed second with her solo performance of Xa Vang, a song written by composer Nguyen Van Hien.
During her freshman year in college, Thien Kim along with her family left their native Vietnam and emigrated to the United States on May of 1995. Resettling in Orange County, California, Thien Kim immediately resumed her music career recording for Nhac Tinh, a smaller overseas Vietnamese production label. She also found work as a regular performer at Vietnamese nightclubs around Orange County, beginning first briefly at the Can Nightclub in Garden Grove owned by singer Le Uyen (former member of a singing trio in Saigon known as The Loan Sisters) before joining the lineup of permanent performers at Ritz Nightclub in Anaheim owned by legendary promoter/musician Ngoc Chanh. Blessed with a strong, yet sensual lower-pitched singing voice and natural good looks, Thien Kim managed to acquire for herself a sizable following of fans which included not only audience members but also colleagues within the overseas Vietnamese music industry in just a short period of time after resettling in the United States. Through an introduction from director and music videographer Howard Hue, singer Nhat Ha's then husband, Thien Kim was able to make her debut appearance on music videos in Sao Sang (Shining Star), produced by legendary singer Giao Linh for Giao Linh Productions and released in 1997.
The year of 1997 would prove to be a major turning point in Thien Kim's professional life. She signed with Thuy Nga Paris as an exclusive artist for audio recordings and music video appearances on the popular live show series, Paris By Night. Her debut on the Paris by Night stage was on volume 39 where she appeared as part of a trio alongside male artists, Lay Minh and Khanh Hoang, performing Lien Khuc Dem Do Thi, a medley of Vietnamese songs written by composers Y Van, Nguyen Anh 9 and Bang Giang. Thien Kim remained with the Thuy Nga Paris label for a total of five years recording a series of solo studio albums which included Khi Nguoi Xa Toi (1997), Biet Lam Sao Thoi Nho (1998), Vi Sao (1999), Tinh La Gi? (2000), Sac Mau (2001) and Toc Gio Thoi Bay (2002), as well as a pair of duet albums with Quoc Hung, Con Gai Doi Muoi (1999) and Vo Sao Em Oi (2001), and a duet album with The Son, Neu Dieu Do Xay Ra (2000). She appeared on 23 different volumes on the Paris by Night video series from 1997 until 2001 performing various songs as a solo artist, as well as occasional duets and ensemble performances alongside other artists such as Don Ho, Nguyen Hung, Nhu Quynh, Luu Bich, Phi Nhung, Lynda Trang Dai and Nhu Loan.
In her personal life, Thien Kim has been a cancer survivor and also holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California, Irvine. In recent years, she has also become a restaurateur owning and operating Pho Thien Kim in Garden Grove, California. Thien Kim maintains an extremely busy schedule as an overseas Vietnamese singer, a businesswoman and a law student.
Link(s):
Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time
Thien Kim Facebook Page
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