Dozens of singers will perform in a concert at HCM City's Hoa Binh Theatre today to honour the late ethnic singer Y Moan, a rock star from Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) who popularised his region's music among young people. — Photo vtv.vn

HCM CITY (VNS)— Dozens of singers will perform in a concert at HCM City's Hoa Binh Theatre today to honour the late ethnic singer Y Moan, a rock star from Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) who popularised his region's music among young people.

The event, Y Moan-Huyen Thoai Cao Nguyen (Y Moan – The Legend of Central Highlands), features young singers Y Zak Urun, Rodamic, Y Soan and H'Zina Bya, who were also born and grew up in Tay Nguyen.

The singer's sons Y Vol and Y Garia, both young talents of the E De ethnic group, will be featured.

The singers will perform 20 songs in pop and rock in praise of Central Highlands and its culture and lifestyle, such as Em Muon Song Ben Anh Tron Doi (I Want to Live with You Forever), Ly Ca Phe Ban Me (A Cup of Ban Me Coffee), Doi Mat Pleiku (Eyes of Pleiku) and Rock Buon (Rock of Sadness).

They will sing with the support of a group of E De artisans playing cong chieng (gongs) before an expected audience of 2,000 at the theatre.

"Y Moan is the pioneer who brought Central Highlands music to the people. After his death in 2010, I believe no one can perform like him for the next 100 years," said composer Nguyen Cuong, who has spent more than 20 years writing songs about Central Highlands.

Cuong said he hopes through the concert singers can show their love and respect for the late Y Moan and his career.

Born in a poor family in Dak Lak Province's Buon Ma Thuot City, Y Moan liked to sing Ai Ray songs, a kind of folk song of E De ethnic minority people during his childhood.

He began his career at 19 at the Dak Lak Art Group led by musicians AMaNo and KaPaPui. In 1979, he studied music at the Ha Noi Music Conservatory and started singing professionally.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Y Moan went to villages around Tay Nguyen to use his singing to call many villagers away from the Fulro rebel group and return to the government's side.

He spent his all life introducing highland music.

The event will take place tonight at Hoa Binh Theatre, 240 3 Thang 2 Street, District 10. It will be broadcast live on Viet Nam Television's VTV9 channel. — VNS