Jonny Olsen

Who is Jonny Olsen?

Jonny Olsen is an American who loves to play the Lao khaen and sing Lao music. He is the first American or "Farang" to ever make an album of Lao Folk music in Laos. His first album is entitled "Jonny Yak Pen Khon Lao" 2008, which literally means that Jonny wants to be like a Laotian. Jonny knows he can't actually really be Laotian but in his heart he has a deep respect for Lao people and culture.

He used to play in a band called L.A.O. which was an acronym for "Life's All Over."

Jonny also has other albums- "10 in 1", and "Morlum Hip Hop Lao America 2010." He teamed up with Mr. Yot Sengathit from Savannakhet, Laos for the Lum Hip Hop.

Jonny Olsen is the only known "Falang" who has won a khaen contest in Khon Khaen, Thailand 2005.

Jonny learned how to play khaen and sing Lao Folk Songs in Thailand and Laos. He is very proud to promote the Lao culture through playing music. Jonny used to work at a Thai restaurant, which is how he found out about Thai and Lao culture.

He started studying the khaen in Buriram, Thailand at his friend's village in 2003, then in 2005 he decided he wanted to sing Morlum Lao Folk music. Before he could sing, he couldn't even speak the language that well, but there was something about the music that he loved so much he just wanted to sing it! Through the music he learned more of the language and kind of picked it up along the way. He found a teacher in Khon Kaen, Thailand by the name of Mae Ratree Sivilai, who is a famous Morlum Folk singer in Isan/Esarn Thailand. She taught him how to sing Morlum, but not how to speak the language! Kind of strange you suppose.