Angkanang Kunchai, also transliterated as Aungkana Kunchai or Angkana Khunchai (Thai: อังคนางค์ คุณไชย) is a morlum singer from Thailand. She is sometimes called "The Original Molam Queen". Born as Thongnang Khunchai (Thai: ทองนาง คุณไชย) on February 6, 1956 in Chanuman, Amnat Charoenin the province of Ubon Ratchathani in Isan (the northeastern region of Thailand), Kunchai was a young female prodigy who emerged on the Molam scene, and became one of the first generations of Molam performers who were able to "sing" popular music. From an early age she was mentored by renowned national Molam artist Chaweewan Dumnern, and in her mid-teens joined the legendary musical troupe the Ubon-Pattana Band as the lead vocalist. In 1972 at the age of 16, she released her debut single "Isan Lam Plearn," which went on to become an enduring classic, covered most recently by major contemporary pop star Tai Orathai. The song was also a defining moment in the career of Ubon's legendary producer Surin Paksiri, as it was the first recording in which Isan music -- in particular Molam -- was fused with Luk Thung from Bangkok to form the new musical genre of Luk Thung Isan. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.