Khin Maung Toe


Khin Maung Toe was a Burmese singer songwriter, and was the longtime lead singer of the Medium Wave band. He was one of the few successful Burmese singer-songwriters who wrote his own original songs. He released 35 albums in his career. He is best known for his 1984 hit "Maha Hsan Thu".

Career

Khin Maung Toe was born in Mawlaik, Sagaing Division in northwestern Myanmar, third son of Daw Khin Hla and U Khin Maung. His father was a regional government official.
Khin Maung Toe became first interested in making music in his second year at the Rangoon Institute of Technology in the late 1972s, when the Burmese pop music, modeled on Western rock-and-roll and country music, was just taking shape. He said in a 2000 interview that he and his generation of musicians faced both encouragement and criticism for the new kind of music. He released his debut album in 1973 with the E Machines band, and the follow-up album a year later.
In 1978, he left Mandalay for Yangon, then the capital and largest city. In the early 80s, he formed a band called the Mizzima Hlaing, and became the lead singer of the band. In 1984, the band released Maha Hsan Thu album. The success of the album made Khin Maung Toe and the band household names.
Their style was a modernized version of traditional Burmese music updated with Western musical instruments and arrangements. Their biggest hit, "Maha Hsan Thu", could have been a classic Burmese song from the prewar era if not for the background Western instrumentals and arrangements. In the 1980s and the 1990s, Khin Maung Toe and Medium Wave with their "original" music successfully carved out a niche in the Burmese pop music scene which was mainly dominated by covers of foreign songs. They released 18 albums in those two decades. However, the band broke up in the early 2000s after its Keyboardist Myo Khin had died.
His last performance was in September 2012 in a charity concert organized by the 88 Generation Students Group.

Personal life

Khin Maung Toe was married to Wai Wai Khaing. They had three children. He died on 15 November 2012 in Singapore from liver cancer.

Discography

He released 35 albums in his career.
  1. Kyezu Tin De, Gaba-Gyi-Ye
  2. Yin-Khon-Nay-Thaw Einmet-Nge
  3. Izzali A-Twet Izzali
  4. Waing Ye Hsiza
  5. Saung-Gyo-Hshaik-Than Ne Hse-Hnit-Ta Tay Mya
  6. Maha Hsan Thu
  7. Gyogya Than
  8. Myet-Thwè
  9. Yaung-Zin Khunna-Thwè
  10. Way-Ge-Bi Pan-Khayan-Pya
  11. Lwe-Lwe-Ne Ma-Hpyit-Bu Le & Hnot-Hset Chin
  12. Pan-Daw-U
  13. Myit-Da-Zin Hpyit-Ti-Mhu
  14. Live 94
  15. Selection Songs 1 & 2
  16. Thamudaya Kyo Thon Bin
  17. Yi-Ywè-Thu
  18. Mhi-Twè-Ya Lwan
  19. Hlaing-Htet-Ka Chay-Ya
  20. Yin-Khat A-Lwan
  21. Kwa No Thet-Hta
  22. Seit-Kyaik Tay – Best of Khin Maung Toe
  23. Thachin Da-Bok
  24. Letywayzin A-Kaung-Zon Tay-Mya
  25. A-Kaung-Zon Tay-Mya
  26. Teik-Ta-Kho
  27. A-Kyaik-Hson Gaung-Zi Tay-Mya
  28. A-Kyaik-Hson Dandayi Tay-Mya
  29. Lwan Wut-Hmon
  30. A-Kyaik-Hson Mandalay Tay-Mya"
  31. Khun-hna-hnit A-Lun
  32. Shwin-Lan Chan-Myei Ba Zay
  33. Mizzima Hlaing Gayet Mya
  34. The-U Thissa"
  35. Khun-Ah Phae Mi Nge