Kou Voravong
Kou Voravong grew up in Savannakhet and pursued a primary education there. He obtained the « certificat d'études primaires complémentaire indochinois » - Certificate of Indochinese Additional Primary Studies - (CEPCI) in 1930, went afterward to Vientiane and began his first-secondary-school year at the Collège Auguste Pavie. But because of a conflict which opposed him to French Colonial administration, his adopted father was sentenced to prison that same year. As reaction to this situation, Kou Voravong left school and returned to Savannakhet. As an out-of-school teenager, he practiced sports, especially soccer.
Mao Ning
Mao Ning was born into a musical family in Shenyang, Liaoning, on 23 May 1969. When he was young, he decided to be an athlete, so he used become a soccer play with his strong body. He graduated from Liaoning Sports Institute. While he was injured with his leg, he had to give up the sport, and made the transition as a singer. In 1987 he entered Liaoning Opera House. Mao Ning began his singing career in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, in 1990. That same year, he signed a contract with New Era of Audio-Visual Company of Guangzhou. His debut album, "Please Let My Emotions Stay With You", was released in 1992, and in the same year, he won Favorite Male Singer of Guangdong Province. Mao Ning first rose to prominence in 1993 for singing "The Waves Remain" in CCTV New Year's Gala. In 1994, Mao and his partner Yang Yuying made a cross-country tour. In 1995 he went to Beijing to develop his career. Two years later, he signed with Sony Music Entertainment and Shanghai Audio-Visual Press. In 1998 he was listed as one of "Four Top Stars". In November 2000, Mao got hurt accidentally and fell into the lowest point in life and career. In 2003, Mao made his acting debut in "Stories of the Wandering Hero", based on the novel by the same name by Liang Yusheng. In 2004, Mao signed with 21 East Record Company. In 2007 he became a member of the Hong Kong Buddhist Cultural Estate (HKBCE). His second solo album, titled "Shi Er Zhong Mao Ning", was released in May 2012. In 2013, he worked as a judge at "Your Face Sounds Familiar" in Hunan Television. In August 2014, he hosted "Dream Music Festival" in Liaoning Television. On 27 December 2015, he was arrested in Beijing by Beijing Public Security Bureau, accused of using illegal substance. He was released due to not meet to the detention conditions in December 2015.