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| Danny Chan | |
|---|---|
 Danny Chan from his album, LPCD45. |
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| Chinese name | 陳百強 (Traditional) |
| Chinese name | 陈百强 (Simplified) |
| Pinyin | Chen2 bai3 qiang2 (Mandarin) |
| Jyutping | Chan4 baak3 koeng4 (Cantonese) |
| Ancestry | Taishan, Guangdong |
| Origin | Hong Kong |
| Born | 7 September 1958 Hong Kong |
| Died | Hong Kong 25 October 1993 (aged 35) |
| Other name(s) | Danny Chan |
| Occupation | Singer, Composer, Actor |
| Genre(s) | Cantopop |
| Instrument(s) | Singing, Electronic organ |
| Years active | 1979-1992 |
Danny Chan Bak-keung Chinese: 陈百强 (7 September 1958- 25 October 1993) was a popular 1980s cantopop singer, composer and actor in Hong Kong with origins in Taishan, Guangdong. Chan was of the first generation of pop idols in Hong Kong. He was already an electronic organ player, a songwriter, an actor and a promising singer at the beginning of his career. He made a name for himself with his debut release, "Tears For You", which established him as a teen idol. Ripple, Just Loving You and What One Wants in Life are just some of the golden hits written and sung by Chan. He is mostly remembered for his Cantonese romance ballads and high quality compositions. Chan died in 1993 after being in a coma for 17 months[1].
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Career
Chan won third prize at the "HK Pop Song Composition Competition" in 1977. In that same year, he made his acting debut with Hong Kong Television Broadcasts (TVB) through a TV drama called "Sweet Babe". In 1978, he won first prize at the "Hong Kong Yamaha Electone Festival". He held his first music concert in Hong Kong that same year. His first music album, entitled "First Love," was released in 1979.
Chan subsequently signed a music contract with HK EMI[2]. After spending several years with HK EMI, he signed with HK Warner Brothers where he reached superstar status. In 1985, he signed with DMI, which was a joint venture between EMI and Dickson Poon. Through EMI, Chan was able to launch several successful albums. He returned to HK Warner Brothers in the late 1980s.
Chan's career peaked in the early 1980s when he joined a music group called Warners and sang a number of hit songs such as Will Always Be Loving You (偏偏喜歡你), Take Care of Yourself Tonight (今宵多珍重) and No (不). Danny Chan was considered a contemporary to Hong Kong cantopop peers like Leslie Cheung and Alan Tam.
During the span of his music career, Chan held many music concerts in Hong Kong, China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Canada and the United States. Chan also participated and represented Hong Kong in song festivals such as the Nagasaki Asia Music Festival in Japan (1988), Peace Music Concert (1988), Tokyo Music Festival (1989) and the Shanghai Music Festival in China (1991). He was also invited to perform at the Seoul Korea 1988 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. In 1988, he performed in the presence of the royal Thai Princess in a Thai Charity Show. In 1991, Chan announced of his decision to leave the Hong Kong music industry. He held a farewell concert in Shanghai in 1992 and subsequently retired from the Cantopop music industry.
Death and speculation
There was speculation in the late 1980s that Chan suffered from alcoholism as it was unfairly perceived in the press that his career lagged behind that of then Hong Kong cantopop superstars, Alan Tam and Leslie Cheung. On 18 May 1992, Chan was found unconscious and he was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong[2]. He never regained consciousness from his coma and died 17 months later at age 35. Immediately after he fell unconscious through his death, there was much public and media speculation over the cause of Chan's condition. There were rumors that he had consumed a mixture of alcohol and drugs which led to his coma. Others speculated that he had overdosed on pills, suffered depression and had attempted suicide.
Commemoration
On 8 November 2005, the Hong Kong Post issued a set of special stamps featuring "Hong Kong Pop Singers"[3]. This stamp set focused on Hong Kong's popular singers, saluting five pop stars who have left their marks on Cantopop music history. Chan was featured on the HK$1.80 stamp.
Discography
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Albums
- 1979, "First Love"
- 1980, "No More Tears"
- 1980, "Encore"
- 1981, "Sunflower"
- 1982, "Telling"
- 1983, "I Just Love You"
- 1984, "Picking Out Star"
- 1985, "Deeply In Love With You"
- 1986, "When I Think Of You"
- 1986, "Hoping"
- 1987, "Kittens Are Better Than Dogs"
- 1987, "Dream Person"
- 1988, "Hiding My Love In My Eyes"
- 1988, "Winter Love"
- 1988, "The Wizard Has Migrated"
- 1989, "What You Desire In"
- 1990, "Waiting For You"
- 1991, "Love In L.A"
- 1991, Purple Concert"
- 1992, "Because Love You"
- 1992, "Dear You"
Songs
In 1999, the song Ripples (漣漪) became popular once again when the Hong Kong Government used it in commercials for the Tracker Fund IPO.
A partial list of songs composed and sung by Chan:
- Waiting
- One in My Dreams
- I Just Love You
- Ripples
- Listening to Music with Wine
- My Story
- Shedding Tears For You
- Applause
- Hoping for Destiny
- Warm (English song)
- Tell Me What Can I Do (Duet with Crystal Gayle)
- What You Desire In Life
- Break Out
Filmography
Cinematic films
- 1980, Encore (喝采)
- 1981, On Trial (失業生)
- 1984, Merry Christmas (聖誕快樂)
- 1986, My Family (八喜臨門)
- 1987, An Autumn's Tale (秋天的童話) aka Chou tin dik tong wah (Hong Kong: Cantonese title); aka Liumang daheng (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
TV dramas
- 1977, Sweet Babe (produced by HK TVB)
- 1980, Take Turn (produced by HK TVB)
- 1980, Breakthrough (突破) (produced by HK TVB)
Awards
Music
- 1977, Third Prize, "HK Pop Song Compose Competition"
- 1978, First Prize, "Hong Kong Yamaha Organ Competition"
- 1978, Third Prize, "HK Pop Song Compose Competition"
- 1983, Most Popular Singer Award, "AGB Listener's Choice"
- 1988, Third Prize, "Most Popular Male Singer Competition", Hong Kong Commercial Station
- 1989, Third Prize, "Most Popular Male Singer Competition", Hong Kong Commercial Station
- 1989, Third Prize, "Pop Music Most Popular Male Singer", Tokyo Music Festival
- 1991, "Top 10 Most Popular Singer" in Guangzhou, China
Others
- 1981, "Model Youth" from Wong Tai Sin District, Hong Kong
- 1984, "Most Charming Singer" from International Folk Song
- 1987, "Hong Kong Best Dressed Person", Hong Kong Commercial Station
- 1989, "Hong Kong Top 10 Friendly Person", Hong Kong Commercial Station
References
External links
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