Singer Setha Sirachaya of The Impossibles has died of lung cancer. He was 77.
Puttida Sirachaya posted an Instagram image of a dim sky accompanied by a message explaining that his father had died and the number "4.42", believed to be the time that one of the country's greatest-ever singers passed away.
Setha's cancer was first detected in 2019. His last post on his Setha Sirachaya Facebook account was on Jan 15 when he received a bouquet of flowers and a gift basket from a representative of Their Majesties the King and Queen.
A religious ceremony will be held at Wat Thep Sirin from Feb 21-27. His body will be kept for 100 days before cremation.
Setha's friends and fans were posting condolences to his family after the loss.
"Goodbye Phi Toy, my beloved brother, with love and high respect. Rest in peace in heaven," said actress Duangta Tungkamanee on her Instagram account. Duangta was one of his closest friends and Toy is Setha's nickname.
"I would like to send my deepest condolences to the Sirachaya family," said actress Mayura Savetsila.
Setha was best known as the frontman of the now-defunct The Impossibles, a legendary pop band.
After it disbanded in 1976, he continued to take the stage, either solo or with remaining members of The Impossibles. The full band occasionally reunited for concerts, and played their final concert in 2018.
He was also an actor and a show host for numerous programmes, as well as running his own production company.
He became chairman of the Foundation for the Welfare of Senior Actors set up in 2002 to support actors and actresses after their careers ended.
The multi-talented Setha was born in 1944 in Bangkok. He was awarded the title of National Artist in 2001.
