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George Lam

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In this Hong Kong name, the surname is Lam. In accordance with Hong Kong custom, the Western-style name is George Lam and the Chinese-style name is Lam Tsz Cheung.
George Lam
林子祥
Lam in 2016
Born (1947-10-12) 12 October 1947 (age 77)
British Hong Kong
Occupation(s)Singer, composer, music producer, actor
Years active1976–present
Spouses
Ng Ching Yuen
​
​
(m. 1980; div. 1994)​
​
(m. 1996)​
Children2
AwardsGolden Needle Award in 1994, the CASH Hall of Fame Award in 2003, the J.S.G. Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and the RTHK Hall of Fame Award in 2016.
Hong Kong Film Awards – Best Original Film Song
1987 Passion

Musical career
Also known asAh Lam (Chinese)
Lam (English)
GenresCantopop, English pop
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, guitar
LabelsWarner Music Group, EMI
Chinese name
Chinese林子祥
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLín Zǐxiáng
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinglam4 zi2 coeng4

George Lam Tsz Cheung (born 12 October 1947), also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer, singer-songwriter, music producer and actor, with a career that spanning more than four decades. Self-producing, Lam creates most of his own albums and songs, as well as being especially involved with creative direction of his work outside its musical aspects. Lam has a wide vocal range and has interpreted and performed in many different genres of music.

His works are best known for pioneering a variety of genres in the Hong Kong music scene, such as creating the known first Cantorap, "Ah Lam's Diary", and the medley "10 Minutes 12 Inches" from multiple Cantopop hits, with the latter composition's interwoven intricacies creating a derivative for Lam's eponymous concert Lamusical with his own hits.

In addition to his singing career, Lam has also acted in various TV dramas and films, making his film debut in Luckies Trio in 1978. Possibly his most memorable role was as Shiomi Akutagawa, a Japanese journalist in Boat People (1982), directed by Ann Hui, in which he was nominated for Best Actor in the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Early life

[edit]

Lam was born in British Hong Kong to a family of physicians, with both his father, a Yuen Long obstetrician, and paternal grandfather (the former hospital chief executive of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital) being doctors.[1] He attended Tak Sun Primary School, then Diocesan Boys' School, a predominantly English-language boys school, where he was a boarder.[2] At the latter school, he chose to study French.

Lam started to pick up music at a young age, where his grandfather often took him to watch Chinese and Western movies, which exposed him to film music. His parents often played music around the house, and a sparked interest into listening to music on the radio led to him teaching himself to play the guitar. In 1965, Lam moved abroad to further his studies in the United Kingdom, attending Dover College and transferring to the Barcote School of Coaching, and United States.[3] During this time at the latter school, he formed a folk song group, the Midnighters, with two friends of his. At his subsequent stay in the U.S., he began to experience a more diverse range of musical genres, which would greatly influence his work.

Career

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After his studies in the United Kingdom, Lam remained for a few years for work before moving to California, where he coached tennis and worked in a stock brokerage firm. It was during this time that Lam started writing his own songs. Not long thereafter, he returned to Hong Kong to launch his music career.

Lam started as one of the lead singers in the band "Jade".[4] In 1976, he went solo with the release of his first eponymous English album, "Lam". His first Cantonese album came out in 1978. In 1980, two of his compositions ("In The Middle of The Water"《在水中央》and "Need You Every Minute"《分分鐘需要你》) won Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards. Throughout the 1980s, 23 of Lam's songs topped the RTHK Chinese Pop Chart, making him second only to Alan Tam, who had 28.[5][6]

Lam performing in 2009

Personal life

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Lam married Ng Ching Yuen in 1980. Together, they have a son, Alex Lam Tak Shun, who is also a singer and actor,[7] and a daughter April. Lam and Ng divorced in 1994. On 17 July 1996, he married singer and actress Sally Yeh.

Aside from his musical activities, Lam is a lover of sports and visual arts. Some of his particular ventures in sports is tennis and golf. In terms of visual arts, he as an especial fondness for drawing mazes; one of his artworks was engraved onto a Lalique-produced crystal Buddha, with his collaboration lending itself as the French company's first collaboration with a Chinese artist. Lam also likes tailoring, often modifying clothes to his own taste.[8]

During a May 2003 guest performance for Liza Wang at the Hong Kong Coliseum, Lam accidentally fell 2.5 metres through a stage floor opening. The accident injured his right ear, resulting in partial hearing loss, particularly in high frequencies, and tinnitus, leaving him hearing sounds in mono.[9][10] A few months after his injury, he gave a series of concerts across southern China for the purpose of acclimating himself to performing with his altered hearing.[citation needed]

Artistry

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Musical style

[edit]

Lam's experiences abroad is the strongest influence within his work, where he has introduced a wide variety of song styles to the Hong Kong pop music scene, with many originals and covers becoming Cantopop classics. His work encompasses a wide stylistic range, from country rock, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk, jazz, rap, traditional Chinese songs, to tango and bossa nova.

When producing covers, he taps into a wide variety of countries and regions, spanning from western Europe to particular Asian countries like Japan and South Korea. The pieces he selects to cover range in genres from folk songs, classical music, and jazz musicals, to funk and rock and roll.[11]

Voice and timbre

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Lam has been regarded to have a very wide tenor range, with his highest notes reaching F5, D#6 in full voice and volume, and his lowest notes is the G2.[citation needed]

Awards and achievements

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Lam's four decade-long career has shaped a significant part of the Hong Kong music scene. Many of today's top Cantopop singers such as Eason Chan, Hacken Lee, and Andy Lau have been influenced by his music. In an interview, George Lam confirmed he encouraged Andy Lau to be a signer when the two of them met during a movie filming.[12]

In recognition of his contribution to music, Lam has received numerous accolades, including the Golden Needle Award in 1994, the CASH Hall of Fame Award in 2003, the J.S.G. Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and the RTHK Hall of Fame Award in 2016.

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, type of award, category of the award, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee(s) / Work(s) Result Ref.
Hong Kong Film Awards 1982 Best Actor Boat People 《投奔怒海》 Nominated
1983 Best Original Film Song All the Wrong Spies《我愛夜來香》 Nominated
1984 The Owl vs Bombo 《貓頭鷹與小飛象》 Nominated
1985 Lost Romance Nominated
1986 Passion《最愛》 Won
1988 Starry is the Night 《今夜星光燦爛》 Nominated
2007 The Pye-Dog Nominated
Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award 1994 Golden Needle Award Himself Won
CASH Hall of Fame Award 2003 — Won
J.S.G. Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 — Won [13]
RTHK Hall of Fame Award 2016 — Won [14]

Discography

[edit]
List of albums including release year and language
Year Title Language Ref.
1976 Lam English
1977 Lam II
1978 Teresa Carpio & Lam [15]
各師各法 Cantonese
1979 抉擇
1980 摩登土佬 [16]
一個人 [17]
1981 活色生香
1982 海市蜃樓 [18]
1983 愛情故事
1984 愛到發燒
林子祥創作歌集
1985 林子祥85特輯 (LAM '85)
十分十二吋 (12" Single)
誘惑
1986 最愛
千億個夜晚 [19]
1987 花街70號
1988 林子祥創作+流行歌集
生命之曲
1989 林子祥長青歌集
1990 十三子祥 [20]
日落日出 [21]
Lessons English
1991 小說歌集 Cantonese
這是你是真的傷了我的心 Mandarin
1992 這樣愛過你
最難忘的你 Cantonese
祈望
1993 '93創作歌集 [22]
When a Man Loves a Woman English [23]
決定 Mandarin [24]
1994 單手拍掌 Cantonese [25]
1995 感謝 Mandarin
1996 緣是這樣 Cantonese
1997 好氣連祥
1998 現代人新曲+精選
尋祥歌 Mandarin
2001 只有林子祥 Cantonese [26]
2004 Until We Meet Again
2007 佐治地球轉 [27]
2010 Lamusique [28]
2011 Lamusique Vintage [29]
2014 LAMUSIC Original Classics
2015 佐治地球40年

Filmography

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Adapted from his IMDB profile.[30][31]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
English Title Chinese Title
1978 Luckies Trio 各師各法
1979 Money Trip 懵女，大賊，傻偵探
The Secret 瘋劫
1980 Disco Bumpkins 摩登土佬
Confused Hero 糊塗英雄
1981 All the Wrong Clues for the Right Solution 鬼馬智多星 Yoho
Life After Life 再生人
1982 Aces Go Places 最佳拍檔 Ambulance Driver Cameo
It Takes Two 難兄難弟 Olive Peddler
Boat People 投奔怒海 Shiomi Akutagawa
1983 All the Wrong Spies 我愛夜來香
1984 Banana Cops 英倫琵琶
The Owl vs Bombo 貓頭鷹與小飛象 Wong "Owl Wong" Yan-Fu
1985 Kung Hei Fat Choy 恭喜發財 "Mo"
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars 夏日福星
It's a Drink, It's a Bomb 聖誕奇遇結良緣
Lost Romance
1986 Passion 最愛
1987 Easy Money 通天大盜
1988 Heart to Hearts 三人世界
Starry is the Night 今夜星光燦爛
1989 Perfect Match 最佳男朋友
Heart into Hearts 三人新世界
1990 A Bite of Love 一咬OK
Shanghai Shanghai 亂世兒女
1991 The Banquet 豪門夜宴 Prince Alibaba of Kuwait
The Perfect Match 富貴吉祥 Koo
1992 Heart Against Hearts 三人做世界
1993 Perfect Couples 皆大歡喜
1997 A Queer Story 基佬四十
Up for the Rising Sun 擁抱朝陽
2003 Love Under the Sun 愛在陽光下
2004 Six Strong Guys 六壯士
2006 Love at First Note 戀愛初歌
2007 The Pye-Dog
Wonder Women
2009 Look for a Star 游龍戲鳳 "Sharky"
2011 Hi, Fidelity 出軌的女人
2018 Europe Raiders "Mercury"
2021 Singing With Legends 我们的歌3 Senior Singer Variety Show

Concerts

[edit]
Concert by year, title, venue, and city
Year Title Venue City Ref.
English Title Chinese Title
1976 Teresa Carpio & George Lam Concert Hong Kong
1981 林子祥Show
1983 林子祥演唱會
1985 林子祥85演唱會
1987 林子祥演唱會
1988-1989 LAM 88-89 LIVE
1990-1991 特醇星徽林子祥90演唱會
1992-1993 白花油林子祥有情演唱會
1995 95 Lam in Live 林子祥寄廿載情演唱會95
1998 林子祥葉蒨文好氣連場98
2001 Live Contact Lam 2001 最愛接觸林子祥演唱會
01年拉闊壓軸 林子祥&陳奕迅音樂會
2002 港樂·林子祥HKPO & Lam Live
2005 "Always" Lam in Concert 子有祥情林子祥演唱會
2007 Teresa & Lam Live at the HK Coliseum 2007 仍然最愛林子祥杜麗莎演唱會 Hong Kong Coliseum
2009 Lam@Coliseum 十分十二子祥演唱會
2010 Lam Made in Love 音樂會
2011 Music is Love George Lam X Hacken Lee 林子祥x李克勤 拉闊音樂會2011
2011-2012 Vintage Lamusic Concert
2013 絕對熹祥- A Mix & Match Concert with 林子祥 & 趙增熹
2016 George Lam 40th Anniversary Concert 林子祥佐治地球四十年演唱會
越唱越響40年演唱會
2018
2019 Lamusical2019 林子祥 Lamusical 2019 演唱會
林子祥開心演唱會 The Smiling Concert
2020
2022 林子祥開心演唱會 香港站
2023 林子祥開心賀歲演唱會
2023-2024 林子祥50堅演唱會

References

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  1. ^ 東方日報 (11 October 2016), 東方日報: 生於杏林世家 林子祥呻冇人教急救）
  2. ^ 星島日報 (26 February 2019), 星島日報: 林子祥重返母校 父子檔演唱會葉蒨文唔做嘉賓）
  3. ^ 明周 [Ming Zhou] (16 February 2019), 林子祥專訪】林子祥重遊英國母校） [[Interview with Lin Zixiang] Lin Zixiang revisits his alma mater in the UK]
  4. ^ 香港音樂人協會 (1 January 2019), 香港音樂人協會: Introducing The Band 本地樂隊歷史簡介）
  5. ^ "各大流行榜歷年走勢重溫 - 檸音樂歌詞網 (LEMON MUSIC)". 檸音樂歌詞網. Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  6. ^ "香港電台網站 : 第二台｜中文歌曲龍虎榜". 香港電台. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ 東周 (26 December 2012), 東周: Lam仔拉心肝 林子祥）
  8. ^ 搜狐 (18 October 2021), 林子祥西装穿了几十年，其实他穿的是情怀，昨晚包括主持人都哭了 (in Chinese)
  9. ^ Fairchild Radio (17 December 2016), Fairchild Radio: Lam 林子祥的前世今生）
  10. ^ 蘋果新聞 (25 February 2019), 蘋果新聞: 蘋人誌：人的左耳 神的右耳 林子祥）
  11. ^ "How Cantopop's George Lam has stayed popular since the 70s by being genuine". South China Morning Post. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  12. ^ "刘德华、林子祥"师徒"首次正式合作！". Sohu News. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  13. ^ TVB (20 December 2015), TVB: 2015勁歌金曲頒獎典禮得獎名單）
  14. ^ 明報 (24 November 2015), 明報: 【十大中文金曲】林子祥奪「名人堂」 鍾鎮濤獲頒金針獎）
  15. ^ "Teresa Carpio & Lam". Spotify.
  16. ^ "摩登土佬". Spotify.
  17. ^ "一個人". Spotify.
  18. ^ "海市蜃樓". Spotify.
  19. ^ "千億個夜晚". Spotify.
  20. ^ "十三子祥". Spotify.
  21. ^ "日落日出". Spotify.
  22. ^ "'93創作歌集". Spotify.
  23. ^ "When a Man Loves a Woman". Spotify.
  24. ^ "決定". Spotify.
  25. ^ "單手拍掌". Spotify.
  26. ^ "只有林子祥". Spotify.
  27. ^ "佐治地球轉". Spotify.
  28. ^ "Lamusique". Spotify.
  29. ^ "Lamusique Vintage". Spotify.
  30. ^ "George Lam". imdb.com. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  31. ^ "George Lam". chinesemov.com. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
[edit]
Awards
Preceded by
Cheng Kwok-kong
 Golden Needle Award of RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award
1994 		Succeeded by
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