Jonny Olsen Khaen Lao

About this user

Jonny Olsen is a "Mawkhaen" professional expert player of Lao folk melodies on the khaen Lao bamboo mouth organ. He can play all khaen modes, and Lum styles in Laos from North to South. He can also play American Folk songs, Italian Folk songs, and other genre like Pop/Rock/Hip Hop/Jazz/Blues on the khaen. In China and Japan they have mouth organs but they differ from the khaen Lao. What makes the Lao khaen so unique is the different modes that can be played with it. In Thailand, they play the khaen which originates from Laos Lan Xang Kingdom as so does Morlum Folk music.

The khaen is the ancient predecessor of the harmonica, and an important symbol of Lao culture. Lao people say "Where there are sounds of the khaen, sticky rice, and fermented fish, there are Lao people living there." Jonny plays the khaen to honor and promote Lao culture. He also loves to entertain everyone! He loves to perform and has learned many different styles of playing.

Jonny is the first westerner, often referred to as "Farang" (non Lao/Thai) to win a khaen playing contest. He became the "First White Westerner (American) Khaen Champion" at the Silk Festival in Khon Khaen, Thailand 2005. He is the first famous Farang known to be a "Mawkhaen," performing in many villages throughout Esan Thailand with Mawlum Ratri Sivilai. He started studying the khaen at a village in Buriram, Thailand in 2004 with brothers Nyot (R.I.P) and Yoon, then he made his way through the rest of Northeast Thailand learning from many other khaen players including Ajahn Sombat Simlah. He continued and eventually ended up in Vientiane where he learned all the original Lao melodies from Ajahn Somdee Luangnikorn. Jonny doesn't just play khaen, he also sings.

Jonny has been singing in Lao and E-san styles since 2005. He went to Laos and found out the history and the origin of Morlum and khaen, which is from Laos. Just so happens that Northeast Thailand "E-san" used to be part of Lao Lan Xang Kingdom. Jonny has made history by being the first White Westerner or Farang to make a music album of Lao Traditional Folk music in Laos. Thank you so much for welcoming him and supporting him. Jonny learned to sing Morlum from Mae Ratri Sivilai. He has traveled through the land of the top Master Lum Singers and Master Khaen players. He has met them and performed with them. He has teachers and Lao songwriters to write his music. He likes to keep the traditional Lao folk melodies alive in his music. He has great passion for Lao music. It comes from his heart.

Jonny has appeared on Thai and Lao TV numerous times and has performed with Ponglang Sa-On at their Amazing Thailand Show in the Muang Thong Thani Arena, Thailand on September 1, 2007. He performed at the Boon That Luang Festival in Vientiane, Laos in 2008. He also has performed with Thai superstar Tai Oratai in Pakse, Laos 2010. U.S.Ambassador Ravic Huso also invited Jonny Olsen to perform the khaen and sing for the U.S.A. Lao 55th Diplomatic Relations in February 2010.

Jonny helps donate money to build schools in Laos for SKL Inc. He has helped raise funds for many Lao charity groups, and Lao temples all throughout America. He has influenced a lot of younger Lao kids in America and others to want to play the khaen. His goal is to raise awareness on the khaen more. He would like to set up a project on how to make the khaen and how to play it. He also would like to teach English and help the poor all he can.

Jonny used to work at a Thai restaurant and that's how he found out about Lao culture. He had a friend he worked with who used to be a Lao Folk singer. Jonny listened to him everyday and became fascinated with the Lao melodies. Before he could sing, he couldn't even speak the language that well, but there was something special and catchy about the music that made Jonny love it so much and he just wanted to sing it! Through the music he learned more of the language.

People at the Thai restaurant used to call Jonny- "Fun pai gone" which means a daydreamer, but Jonny's dream came true! "Fun ti pen jing!" Jonny followed his dream to be a professional khaen player and a Morlum singer and now he is. He plans to keep studying about the music, language, culture, and the people of Laos. He's proud to be able to play the khaen and sing Morlum, and wants to promote the Lao/E-san culture through playing music wherever he goes.Thank you to everyone for all your support! I would like to thank all my teachers too especially Ajahn Yot (R.I.P.) who passed down his power to me through the spiritual ritual of the "Wai Kru."

If anyone wants to cpntact Jonny, you can call 1-714-650-1264 or e-mail jonnyplayskhaen@gmail.com

A message to other youtube users out there- please do not upload Jonny's music videos. I have uploaded them already. Thank you.

Jonny has 3 albums made in Laos. "Jonny Yaak Pen Khon Lao" 2007, "10 in 1" 2009, "Morlam Hip Hop" 2010.