Danny Chan

Danny Chan Pak-keung (7 September 1958 – 25 October 1993) was a Hong Kong singer. He was among the first generation of pop idols in Hong Kong. In addition to singing, he showed his talent for writing music in some of his songs, such as "Tears Dropping for You" (眼淚為你流) (1979), "Ripples" (漣漪) (1982), "Just Loving You" (偏偏喜歡你) (1983) and "Wait" (等) (1985). He is mostly remembered for his Cantopop romance ballads and high quality compositions. Chan died on October 25, 1993 after being in a coma for 17 months.[2]

For other uses, see Danny Chan (disambiguation).

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chan.
Danny Chan
Chan performing in 1991
Born(1958-09-07)7 September 1958
Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
Died25 October 1993(1993-10-25) (aged 35)
Queen Mary Hospital, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
Burial placeTseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery, Hong Kong
EducationSan Francisco Conservatory of Music (dropped out in secondary five)
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1975–1992
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese陳百強
Simplified Chinese陈百强
Musical career
Also known as
GenresCantopop
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • keyboards
Labels
  • EMI[1] (1979–1980)
  • Warner (1980–1986, 1989–1992)
  • DMI (1986–1988)

Career

Chan was born on 7 September 1958 at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam. His father was Chan Pengfei (1923 – April 5, 2019), a businessman in the watch industry.[3] He 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. A song from the album, "Tears Dropping for You" (眼淚為你流), became his best-known song.

Chan subsequently signed a music contract with HK EMI,[1] WEA, DMI, and finally moved back to Warner Music. He started singing Cantopop songs, some of which are still popular such as "Ripples" (漣漪), "Just Loving You" (偏偏喜歡你) and "Life Expectations" (一生何求). The song, "Tell Me What I Can Do", was sung with Crystal Gayle in 1984. The song, "Remembrance on Parents' Love" (1981) (念親恩), is often played on radio stations and frequently chosen for karaoke.

In the early 1980s, Chan was a host in the TV show Bang Bang. His co-operation with Leslie Cheung and Paul Chung in the films Encore (1980) (喝采) and On Trial (1981) (失業生), received positive reception from the public and media. He was also a main character in the film An Autumn's Tale (秋天的童話) in 1987, as Vincent (Jennifer's ex-boyfriend), with Chow Yun-fat (as Samuel Pang) and Cherie Chung (as Jennifer).

Death and speculation

Chan suffered from mild depression, which worsened during the late 1980s. On 18 May 1992, Chan was found unconscious and he was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong. It was speculated that this was due to an accidental mixing of alcohol with medicine.

Chan had suffered from advanced brain damage.[4] He went into a coma for 17 months and died on 25 October 1993 at the age of 35.

Commemoration
An exhibition held in September 2009 in memory of Danny Chan.

On 8 November 2005, the Hong Kong Post issued a set of special stamps featuring "Hong Kong Pop Singers".[5] 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

Albums
  • 1979, First Love (Side A)/Tears for You (眼淚為你流) (Side B)
  • 1980, No More Tears (不再流淚)
  • 1980, Dating with Danny (陳百強與你幾分鐘的約會)
  • 1981, So Have You (有了你)/Sunflower (太陽花)
  • 1982, Danny Chan-Breakthrough Collections (陳百強突破精選)
  • 1982, Talk (傾訴)
  • 1983, Just Loving You (偏偏喜歡你)
  • 1984, Danny '84 (百強84)
  • 1985, Danny Chan-The Greatest Hits (陳百強精選)
  • 1985, Deeply in Love with You (深愛著你)
  • 1986, When I Think of You (當我想起你)
  • 1986, Gaze (凝望)
  • 1987, Chi Sam Ngaan Noi Tsong (痴心眼內藏)
  • 1987, One in My Dream (夢裡人)
  • 1988, San Sin Ya Yee Man (神仙也移民)
  • 1988, Mo Sing Sing Yau Sing (無聲勝有聲)
  • 1988, Winter Warmth (冬暖)
  • 1989, Life Expectations (一生何求)
  • 1990, Wait for You (等待您)
  • 1991, Love in L.A.
  • 1991, Just Because I Love You (只因愛你)
  • 1992, Dearest You (親愛的您)

Singles
YearTitleRemark
1979"First Love" (in English)
1979"Rocky Road" (in English)
1988"The Sunrise" (in English)
1979"Tears Dropping for You" (眼淚為你流)
1980"No More Tears" (不再流淚)
1980"Dreamt of You Last Night" (昨夜夢見你)
1980"Puppy Love" (初戀)Cantonese version of "First Love"
1980"Applause" (喝采)Also called "Stimulate" (鼓舞)
1980"Flying Out" (飛出去)
1980"I Love White Clouds" (我愛白雲)
1980"Souvenir" (紀念冊)
1980"An Ugly Duck But Cheerful" (快樂的醜小鴨)
1980"Tears into Tears" (淚中淚)A song by Wong Hoi-yan (黃愷欣)
1981"Footprints at the Beach" (沙灘中的腳印)
1981"Outside the Door at School" (校門外)
1981"Sunflower" (太陽花)
1981"A Happy Embrace" (快樂的擁抱)
1981"An Excerpt" (片段)
1981"Treasure for Me" (為我珍重)A song by Blanche Tang Oi-lam (鄧藹霖)
1982"Ripples" (漣漪)
1982"Talk" (傾訴)
1983"Just Love You" (偏偏喜歡你)
1983"Wave" (浪潮)
1984"Trailer of Love" (戀愛預告)A song by Sandy Lamb (林姍姍)
Released in Chan's 1985 album Deep in Love with You (深愛著你)
1985"Wait" (等)
1985"Expected Fate" (盼望的緣份)
1986"Dreamland" (夢境)
1986"Gaze" (凝望)
1987"Balderdash" (夢囈)
1987"My Story" (我的故事)
1987"A Person in the Dream" (夢裡人)Derived from "I Love White Clouds" with new lyrics
1987"Love Without Reasons" (愛不問為何)A song by Roman Tam
1988"Endless Expectancy" (漫長盼望)
1988"Light Up True Love" (燃點真愛)Co-written by Dominic Chow (周啟生) and Chan
1988"12 Hours" (十二小時)A song by Samantha Lam
1990"Treat Wine as a Song" (對酒當歌)Derived from "12 Hours"
1990"A Lonely Feeling" (寂寞的感覺)
1991"And Love Is Close" (而情是近)Co-written with Alan Tsui Yat-kan (徐日勤) and Chan
1991"A Love Song of Singing" (歌者戀歌)

Notes
Songs written by Chan include "First Love" and "Rocky Road" in English and "Craziness of Love" (兩心痴), derived by Chan as well. In 1999, the song "Ripples" (漣漪) was used by the Hong Kong Government in commercials for the Tracker Fund IPO.

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) a.k.a. Chou tin dik tong wah (Hong Kong: Cantonese title); a.k.a. Liumang daheng (流氓大亨) (Taiwan Mandarin title)

TV dramas
  • 1977, Sweet Babe (甜姐兒) (produced by HK TVB)
  • 1980, Take Turn (輪流轉) (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
  • 2009,"Golden Needle Award", Radio Television Hong Kong

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
  1. Hkgeocities Danny
  2. "Ettoday.com". Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
  3. "陈百强父亲去世享年96岁 父子天堂再相遇 曾说儿子是自己的骄傲_手机搜狐网".
  4. http://www.timeout.com.hk/stage/features/12159/death-song.html
  5. HK post stamps Archived 7 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
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