157 - Truc Ho - Asia Entertainment & SBTN

Trúc Hồ là một nhạc sĩ người Mỹ gốc Việt nhà sản xuất, được biết đến với những đóng góp cho các chương trình ca nhạc tạp kỹ Asia (do công ty Asia Entertainment sản xuất), cũng như kênh SBTN Saigon Broadcasting Television Network của anh 24 giờ tiếng Việt.

Truc Ho is an award-winning Vietnamese American composer, musician, and activist, renowned for his hundreds of compositions, most notably, “Đáp Lời Sông Núi,” “Triệu Con Tim,” and “Tinh Yêu, Tình Người,” which seeks social justice through music. His work combines elements of orchestral, choral, acoustic, and electronic genres to create diverse scoundscapes with roots in Vietnamese music and culture to construct provocative and inspiring musical compositions.

Truc Ho’s musical commentaries of society and the Vietnam War are drawn from his life as a political refugee. In 1981, he left his home and communist Vietnam at 16 years old. He traveled for seven (7) days through Cambodia and Thailand by foot, bicycle, train, and cargo bus.

He avoided bombs and being caught by the Khmer Rouge. Fortunate to have been let go by the latter, he was stripped of all clothes and possessions. He walked naked toward the border of Thailand where he was taken in by the International Red Cross. His experience as a political refugee has inspired him to actively raise concerns for human rights and freedom against oppressive regimes and become a beloved activist and leader in the Vietnamese community.

Truc Ho currently serves as the President of Bên Em Đang Có Ta (or “Stand by You”) Foundation, which celebrates its 15th year of service this year. Its core mission is to bring social change through music and charitable activities. The Foundation has successfully mobilized the Vietnamese American community to offer humanitarian support to those in need, both in

Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese communities. The Foundation has had a strong track record in fundraising on multimedia platforms to support those suffering from social and natural disasters, with over $4,405,114.17 donated to over sixteen (16) different causes since its inception. These donations helped not only Americans who suffered from the storms Harvy, Irma, and Maria, over the years, but also victims of the Nepal earthquake in 2015, and Filipino victims of the 2013 Haiyan

Typoon as well as victims of the wars in Afghanistan and Ukraine. The Foundation also lens numerous campaigns to advocate for human rights in Vietnam and Hong Kong, which has created a community of understanding and compassion for different plights.

In addition to his work at Stand by You Foundation, Truc Ho currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Saigon Broadcasting Television Network (“SBTN”), the first and largest television network in North America that provides Vietnamese Americans with news, cultural, and entertainment content in the Vietnamese language. Launched in 2002, SBTN has offices in Washington, D.C., San Jose, Seattle, Boston, Dallas, and Toronto. SBTN is the first 24-hour Vietnamese television network specifically developed to provide programs that maintain the

Vietnamese culture within Vietnamese American homes worldwide. Truc Ho was also known for his work as the executive producer and music director for the music variety show, Asia Entertainment, which is one of the first Vietnamese American music labels established outside of Vietnam. Truc Ho’s work at Asia Entertainment was well recognized worldwide for his continued focus on political commentaries against communist Vietnam’s oppressive and inhumane policies.

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