 He also worked as a columnist and politician and briefly served in the Royal Thai Air Force, reaching the rank of pilot officer.Born in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Suthep trained as an artist but was soon introduced to the music industry; the hit song "Rak Khun Khao Laeo" brought him fame at the age of nineteen.Widely recognized for his smooth serenading voice, he has been described as "the Frank Sinatra of Thailand".