Danny Chan Pak-Keung (simplified Chinese: 陈百强; traditional Chinese: 陳百強; pinyin: Chén Bǎiqiáng; 7 September 1958 – 25 October 1993) was a Hong Kong singer, songwriter and actor. One of the first Cantopop idols in Hong Kong, he gained fame alongside performers Alan Tam, Anita Mui, and Leslie Cheung, who were collectively known as "Three Kings and a Queen" (三王一后) or "Tam Cheung Mui Chan" (譚張梅陳) in the 1980s. He is best remembered for such songs as "Waiting" (等), "Life Expectations" (一生何求), "Ripples" (漣漪), "Loving You Alone" (偏偏喜歡你) and "Cherish Tonight" (今宵多珍重).
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Early life and career
Chan was born on 7 September 1958 at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam (薄扶林). His father, Chan Pang-Fee (Chinese: 陳鵬飛; 1923 – 5 April 2019), a businessman in the watch industry, was fond of Cantonese opera and became one of his son's musical influences.
During his childhood, Chan developed a passion for music and mostly learnt to play organ keyboard and piano by himself. He was an alumnus of St. Paul's Co-educational College and also a classmate of lyricist Andrew Lam Man Chung (林敏驄).
Chan won third prize at the TVB "Hong Kong Pop Song Writing Invitation" in 1977 with his self-written English song "The Rocky Road". In 1978, he won first prize at the Hong Kong Yamaha Electone Festival by playing the theme music of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This earned him his singing contract with Hong Kong Television Broadcasts (TVB) and officially launched his entertainment career. In that same year, he made his acting debut with HK TVB through a TV drama called Sweet Babe (甜姐兒).
Chan's musical talent attracted the attention of artist manager Tam Kwok-Gei (譚國基). Tam signed Chan under his artist management agency, Hollywood Casting Agency (HCA), and subsequently had Chan sign a recording contract with EMI. Chan's first music album, First Love, was released in 1979. His self-composed song on the album, "Tears for You" (眼淚為你流), was an instant hit.
Chan subsequently signed music contracts with Hong Kong EMI (1979), WEA (1980), DMI (1986), and finally moved back to WEA (1989). His Cantopop romance ballads achieved high levels of public success and critical acclaim, some of which are still popular such as "Waiting" (等), "Life Expectations" (一生何求), "Ripples" (漣漪), "Loving You Alone" (偏偏喜歡你), "Cherish Tonight" (今宵多珍重), "Deeply in Love with You" (深愛著你), "Having You" (有了你), "Misty Rain" (煙雨悽迷), "Applause" (喝采), and "Minutes' Date" (幾分鐘的約會). The song "Remembrance on Parents' Love" (念親恩) is often played on radio stations and frequently chosen for karaoke.
Chan's first five albums were produced by Tam Kwok-Gei, and the song concepts were mostly targeted towards youth. Chan composed a large quantity of songs during this period. From the sixth album, Pouring Out My Heart (傾訴), onward, Chan started to produce albums himself. He reached his first peak in his musical career with this album and the next one, Loving You Alone (偏偏喜歡你), where the album sales achieved five platinum certifications (250,000 copies) in Hong Kong.
Death
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. Chan had suffered from advanced brain damage. It was speculated that this was due to drug use. He went into a coma for almost a year and a half and died on 25 October 1993 at the age of 35. He was buried at Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery.
Legacy
On 26 October 1993, the day after Chan's passing, Commercial Radio organized a 90-minute memorial concert at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. Those who attended the video concert included Kenny Bee, Elisa Chan, Liu Fong, Sam Tsang, Yu Sin-man, and members of the pop music group City Beat. Sounds of weeping were heard throughout the performance, with the venue at some moments falling completely silent. During the concert, Kenny Bee stated: "We have lost one of our best musicians. It is a show for Danny; but, he could not turn up tonight... I hope he could still feel our love."
On 22 October 1995, Chan's father, Chan Pang-Fee, sponsored and built the Danny Commemoration Pavilion (陳百強紀念館) in his ancestoral hometown Sijiu Town, Taishan City, Guangdong Province, China (中國廣東省台山市四九鎮).
On 8 November 2005, the Hong Kong Post issued a set of special stamps featuring "Hong Kong Pop Singers". This stamp set honoured five Hong Kong pop stars who have left their mark on Cantopop music history, with Chan being featured on the HK$1.80 stamp.
Discography
Other compositions
1978, "The Sunrise" (English), unreleased
1980, "Tears in Tears" (淚中淚), a song by Wong Hoi Yan (黃愷欣)
1981, "Cherish Me" (為我珍重), a song by Blanche Tang Oi Lam (鄧藹霖)
1984, "Love Prediction" (戀愛預告), a song by Sandy Lamb (林姍姍)
1987, "Love Without Reasons" (愛不問為何), a song by Roman Tam (罗文)
1988, "12 Hours" (十二小時), a song by Samantha Lam (林志美)
Filmography
Films
1980, Encore (喝采)
1981, On Trial / Job Hunter (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. Chau tin tik tung wa (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)
Concerts
Awards
Music awards
▲ In 1999, the song "Ripples" (漣漪) was used by the Hong Kong Government in a commercial clip for Tracker Fund of Hong Kong IPO.
Other awards
1981, "Model Youth" in Wong Tai Sin District, Hong Kong
1986, "Hong Kong's Top 10 Most Popular Celebrities" by Radio Television Hong Kong
1987, "Hong Kong's Top 10 Best Dressed Personnel" by Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association
1989, "Hong Kong's Top 10 Good-Looking Personnel" by Commercial Radio Hong Kong
1990, "Hong Kong's Top 10 Best Dressed Personnel" by Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association