The farmer knows how to sing.

Meritorious Artist Cao Minh has spent over four decades singing revolutionary and folk songs. He is also known as the "golden voice" for his songs about President Ho Chi Minh and revolutionary songs. At the age of 62, he remains passionate about singing and teaching music.

However, most of Meritorious Artist Cao Minh spends his time on the eco-tourism resort and self-built theater in Dong Nai. He pursued this idea with the aspiration of bringing people interesting experiences and the opportunity to enjoy authentic music .

In a conversation with VTC News, the male artist described himself as an "eccentric and unconventional farmer" who likes to do things that go against the mainstream. For him, labor is a way to "cultivate his character" and improve his health so he can pursue his passion.

Nobody thinks I'm an artist.

With over 40 years dedicated to revolutionary music, Meritorious Artist Cao Minh has achieved many remarkable accomplishments. Did his early fame bring him many advantages on his singing career path?

In 1988, while a student at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, I won first prize in the first National Concour (classical music category) held in Vietnam. Later, I won the award for best singer of a folk song about Ho Chi Minh .

Winning numerous prestigious awards while still a student made me very proud. At that time, I promised myself that I would continue to learn, research, and train to become a professional singer specializing in revolutionary and folk music.

I used to work with the Bong Sen troupe, then I left and joined the Au Co song and dance troupe. After a while, I became a freelance singer, and it was thanks to the awards I won that I became more widely known.

Meritorious Artist Cao Minh said he pursues art out of passion.

- He became famous early and quickly, leading many to believe that he was very lucky?

On the day I won the award, many people thought it was just luck. However, I know for myself how much effort and hard work I had put in.

I was born in a poor rural area where many people had a passion for art but never dared to dream. I consider myself more of a risk-taker than a lucky person for daring to step through this door.

According to Cao Minh, labor is for "cultivating the mind" and improving health so that one can pursue art.

My teacher once called me "a country bumpkin who came to the city." When he discovered my singing talent, that's when I decided to audition for the Conservatory and it changed my life.

I had to study for nine years before I could step onto the stage. During that time, there were many times I longed to sing, but I didn't allow myself to do so. I wanted to be truly worthy of the title of singer when I finally stepped onto the stage.

- Born in a poor rural area of ​​the Mekong Delta, he chose revolutionary and folk music, especially songs about President Ho Chi Minh. When mentioning these songs, people often assume that this is a strength of artists from the North. What was the reason behind his passion and decision to pursue this genre of music?

From the very beginning of my singing career, I've loved revolutionary songs. This genre always expresses the heroic spirit of our army and people, the pride of our nation, and hope for life. Folk songs, on the other hand, nurture the human soul, helping people to love and feel more connected to their homeland.

I am proud to be the only winner of the "Best Singer on the Theme of Ho Chi Minh" award. No matter where I am, in a cave or under the sea, my love for my homeland, my country, and Uncle Ho remains unchanged. Therefore, it's impossible to say which region has the best talent for singing songs about Uncle Ho.

In art, I learned how to generate energy. So, when using sound to interact with this energy, it touches the soul. When the two are connected, we become a work of art.

- It seems that even at this age, his passion for music is still as strong as it was in his youth?

I still sing regularly and built my own theater to fulfill my passion for music. My theater is open every Saturday. The audience enjoys me playing the piano and singing.

I don't use electronic music because I feel it would energize the audience. For me, true art must come from the soul of the artist. I love art, but I'm also very angry because I feel I've been deceived for too long. That's why I founded my own symphony theater.

The deception I'm referring to is that music today is increasingly losing its quality. Many singers and songwriters don't even know a single musical note, yet they confidently stand on stage. When they sing like that, the songs lose their emotion. Furthermore, nowadays, many singers don't even have formal training but still accept invitations to be judges on television.

Furthermore, nowadays, many compositions also rely on electronic music. If we continue to overuse it, we will eventually exhaust our artistic creative abilities.

- Many people say that Meritorious Artist Cao Minh became very wealthy thanks to his singing career?

Many people also call me the richest real singer in Vietnam (laughs). I consider myself rich in spirit because I don't care about living a life of luxury. Since I started my music career, I've had virtually no scandals because I've always preferred the simplicity and down-to-earth nature of a farmer.

I once told my audience, "Don't call me a singer. I'm just an educated farmer who can sing." Even if nobody on the street knows Cao Minh, when I get on stage and sing, the audience will definitely recognize me.

I'm not a rich singer, because to be rich you have to do something else. At this age, I feel I was right to be angry at art. Because I was angry, I decided to become a farmer. That's the reason I'm rich (laughs).

Even though I'm a farmer, I still think about singing. This also helps me stay healthy, so I can still sing very well at this age.

- In your opinion, are today's singers really as wealthy as the audience perceives them to be?

For me, an artist should have experienced many different jobs, not just be glamorous. Artists struggle financially. I know many of my students didn't make a single penny from their live shows.

Many singers nowadays even flaunt their wealth. However, only when they get sick or face hardship will you know whether they are truly rich or not.

He personally built two tourist resorts.

Despite being a renowned artist, what motivated Meritorious Artist Cao Minh to focus on becoming a "farmer" by building an eco-tourism resort and opening a theater?

I decided to change direction after the Green Wave program. I think audiences already have many choices in music, so I wanted to create my own musical space for them.

I've never mentioned money when I sing. It's not that I'm rich, but singing is simply my passion. I switched to building an ecosystem not for profit, but to improve my health, mental clarity, and overall well-being, which helps protect my voice.

In real life, Meritorious Artist Cao Minh is simple and down-to-earth.

Previously, I opened a tea house at home. Later, I switched to building an eco-tourism resort. When I came to Dong Nai, I found the area to have beautiful forests, rivers, lakes, and waterfalls, and the people were friendly and approachable. So I bought 20 hectares of land to build the Cao Minh Eco-tourism Resort to fulfill my dream, and occasionally perform for the locals.

Currently, I want to transform this place into a "music garden." I will invite friends to come and create top-notch musical programs. Many people might think I'm arrogant and conservative, but this unconventional personality has been with Cao Minh for a long time. I don't use music to make myself famous, but simply want art to develop in a meaningful way.

- How did you build your own eco-tourism resort?

I was born into a poor family, so I had to be self-reliant in everything; I had no one to support me. I earned a few million dong a month teaching singing, which I used entirely to buy building materials. At one point, my relatives tried to stop me from working, wanting me to sing instead because they thought it was too hard. However, the harder it was, the more passionate I became.

Like a farmer, I learned through trial and error, so even without any formal training, I was able to build a house and invent many kinds of machinery and equipment to help with production.

Ecotourism area of ​​Meritorious Artist Cao Minh

Many people may not believe it, but I built two tourist resorts by myself in seven years. I collected old bricks and stones, and even recycled some materials to build them. Besides these resorts, I also bought five islands in Tri An Lake. I built and landscaped them myself, without any assistants.

I was fortunate to be able to build my eco-tourism area myself without borrowing from anyone. Back then, land was very cheap, even free in many places. I hated having to borrow money. Many people said it was illogical to do business without borrowing. However, I always believed that if you borrow, you have to repay; if you can't repay, you'll carry that debt for life. That's what I feared most.

- It seems like you still have a very busy life at the age of 62?

At this age, I still work from 5 am until dark. I resent the sky for darkening so quickly that I can't continue working. My work also changes constantly every day. Sometimes I build runways, sometimes I modify cars, sometimes I discover antiques, and then I'm digging and constructing like a farmer.

Furthermore, due to my passion for airplanes, I currently hold the position of Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Aviation Federation. I also built my own theater to sing to my heart's content. I quietly transformed myself into a farmer—a farmer who loves to sing and wants to sing exclusively for his audience.

Success thanks to my wife.

With such a demanding job, how does he find time for his family?

Currently, I live in Dong Nai to focus on my business, while my wife remains in Ho Chi Minh City. However, I still travel frequently for work. My family is always happy. My wife was the former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music. Although retired, she still dedicates a lot of time to writing books.

Meritorious Artist Cao Minh describes himself as having a "quirky and eccentric" personality.

My daughter is also pursuing music and is currently studying piano in France. She has recently won several awards. Currently, she doesn't want to stay abroad and wants to return to Vietnam to open a music school with her mother.

- Did having such a capable wife ever become a source of pressure for you?

My wife has always seen me as a simple, down-to-earth farmer since we first met. She says she loves me for this simplicity.

If you ask if there's any pressure, the answer is absolutely not. My wife and I went to the same school; she was a year younger than me. She's very articulate, which is why she was nominated for a leadership position. To be honest, I didn't want my wife to be a leader. I just wanted her to be a music critic and focus on writing books.

- Did his wife's work contribute significantly to the success of Meritorious Artist Cao Minh?

When we got married, my wife said something very insightful: "You're a public figure, and when a husband and wife get married, they're bound together by a red thread. But to only bind you to yourself would be selfish, so I'll let you go so you can be useful to society." She meant that our careers weren't tied together.

However, I assert that Cao Minh's success today is due to his wife "letting him free" so he could gain strength outside of work. The strength I'm referring to here is the love and support of his audience.
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Source: https://vtc.vn/nsut-cao-minh-nguoi-nong-dan-biet-hat-ar805450.html