Suthiyong Mekwattana or commonly known as Thierry Mekwattana (Thai: สุทธิยงค์ เมฆวัฒนา, เทียรี่ เมฆวัฒนา; born: April 23, 1958) is a Thai singer and musician of Swiss and Chinese descent, he is best known as a member of Carabao, a famous and popular Thai rock and Phleng phuea chiwit (Thai protest song) band.

Thierry Mekwattana
เทียรี่ เมฆวัฒนา
Mekwattana (third from left) with Carabao members, Preecha Chanapai (leftmost) Yuenyong Opakul (second from left) and Anupong Prathompatama (rightmost) in Switzerland on June 6, 2008.
Born	Suthiyong Mekwattana (1958-04-23) April 23, 1958 (age 64) Laos
Occupation	Singer-songwriter musician composer record producer
Years active	late 1970s–present
Spouse(s)	Uthumphon "Jum" Silapan [th] ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 2002)​
Children	2, including Mekhala "Jane" Mekwattana (daughter) and Mek "Jessie" Mekwattana (son)
Musical career
Genres	Folk rock Phleng phuea chiwit Luk Thung
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	Warner Music Thailand
Musical artist

Biography and career

Thierry was born in Laos on April 23, 1958 to a Thai-Chinese father, Anek Mekwattana (เอนก เมฆวัฒนา), who worked for the United States's CIA (with the delivery of military equipment to the US Army), and a Swiss mother. Later, when a coup in Laos in 1960 occurred, Anek led his family to settle in Thailand permanently. In addition, he is also a cousin to Sondhi Limthongkul, a Thai journalist who is the owner and founder of the Manager Daily newspaper and also a political activist (Mekwattana's father was a younger brother of Sondhi's mother).[1]

He started playing guitar at the age of 11 with Cliff Richard's Flying Machine was the first song. His father did not like, but his mother is a supporter and encouragement. His favorite artists are Bob Dylan, Don McLean, The Beatles and Queen.

He entered the entertainment industry in the late 1970s to early 1980s as a model and actor, he acted round about 2–3 films as a lead role character. He released folk albums with Kittikhun "Kung" Chiansong ("กุ้ง" กิตติคุณ เชียรสงค์) and Paijit "Jung" Ugsornnarong ("จุ๋ง" ไพจิตร อักษรณรงค์). He later went on to study business administration at American Business Institute, New York City, United States.

In 1983, he had his first chance to play music with Carabao as a guest musician. He was persuaded to join Carabao along with two fellow musicians, Thanit Siiklindii and Amnaat Luukjan. They became members of the band ever since.

His famous singles with Carabao are Naang Ngaam Tuu Kracok (นางงามตู้กระจก) in the fifth album Made in Thailand in December 1984 and Mae Sai (แม่สาย) in the ninth album Thap Lang in November 1988, both of them have content about the issue of prostitution in Thailand.

In 1990, he released his solo album Jor Wela Ha Pujjuban (เจาะเวลาหาปัจจุบัน), the single is popular on this album is Papaya PokPok (ปาปาย่าป๊อกป๊อก) which the content is about a popular Thai food Som Tam (ส้มตำ) or Green papaya salad.[2]

In the film Young Bao The Movie released in 2013 with a story about Carabao in the beginning. His character is represented by Chulachak "Hugo" Chakrabongse and his own childhood, acted by his son Mek "Jessie" Mekwattana. [3]

Personal life

Thierry married an actress Uthumphon "Jum" Silapan ("จุ๋ม" อุทุมพร ศิลาพันธุ์) the couple had two children, Mekhala "Jane" Mekwattana ("เจน" เมขลา เมฆวัฒนา) and Mek "Jessie" Mekwattana ("เจสซี่" เมฆ เมฆวัฒนา), but in early 2002 they divorced.[4]

In February 2010, he was reportedly hospitalized from attempting suicide by gun. But the truth he is a severe gastritis.[5]

References