Alan Tam Wing-lun[5]MH(traditional Chinese:Đàm vịnh lân;simplified Chinese:Đàm vịnh lân;pinyin:Tán Yǒnglín;Cantonese Yale:Taam4 Wing6 leon4;born 23 August 1950) is aHong Kongsinger and actor. He played a major role in developing theCantopopscene in the 1980s as he was known for singing romantic ballads with modern arrangements. From 1983 to 1987, Alan Tam received numerous music awards and won Most Popular Male Artist and IFPI Award for successive four years, which made him the most famous superstar singer of Hong Kong in 1980s. In early 1988, he publicly quit all pop music award ceremonies and put most efforts in searching new direction for Cantopop music.

Alan Tam
Đàm vịnh lân
Tam in 2006
Born
Tam Wing-lun

(1950-08-23)23 August 1950(age 74)[1][2]
EducationNgee Ann Polytechnic
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
  • songwriter
  • businessman
Years active1969–present
Spouse
Sally Yeung Kit-mei ( dương khiết vi )
(m.1981)
Partner
Wendy Chu Wing-ting ( chu dĩnh đình )
(m.1991)
Children1
Tam Hiu-fung ( đàm hiểu phong )(1996-07-01)1 July 1996(age 28)
ParentTam Kong-pak( đàm giang bách )[3]
AwardsGolden Horse AwardsBest Actor
1981If I Were for Real

RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs AwardsGolden Needle Award
1996 Lifetime Achievement

Musical career
Also known asUncle Lun ( luân bá )
Lucky Lun ( may mắn luân )
Principal ( hiệu trưởng )[4]
Principal Tam ( đàm hiệu trưởng )[4]
Ah Lun ( Aaron )
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels
Chinese name
Traditional ChineseĐàmVịnhLân
Simplified ChineseĐàmVịnhLân
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTán Yǒnglín
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationTàahm Winglèuhn
JyutpingTaam4 Wing6leon4
IPA[tʰam˩ wɪŋ˨lɵn˩]

Today, he is still active in the music and film industry, releasing new albums on a regular basis. Since the late 1980s, he has served as a mentor for the cantopop music industry, earning thenicknamethe "Principal" or "Principal Tam".[4]Today he is regularly seen across the media in Hong Kong,mainland China,Taiwan,and various parts of East Asia participating in all types of entertainment-related events and charity activities. As of 2013, Alan Tam has launched a total of 115 solo albums and has sold over 35 million records worldwide; he also holds the record for having held the most concerts in Hong Kong as a solo artist. 20 of his albums have been certified platinum by theIFPIHong Kong.[6]

Biography

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Early life

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Tam was born on 23 August 1950 atHealthy VillageinNorth Point.He is son of football playerTam Kong-pak( đàm giang bách ), who represented theRepublic of Chinanational team during the1936 Summer Olympics.[3][7][8]He attendedShau Kei Wan Government Secondary SchoolandChi Lin Buddhist Secondary School.Then, he majored in Economics while attendingNgee Ann Technical Collegein Singapore.[9]

Personal life

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Tam married Sally Yeung Kit-mei in 1981. They have no children. Tam met his partner Wendy Chu in 1991; a son was born to them in 1995.[10][11]

Career

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Early years

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Tam developed a passion for music in his secondary school years in Hong Kong. He formed a band called "The Wynners" ( ôn lấy dàn nhạc ) with his friends.[1]They subsequently entered an amateur singing contest and took the first prize to begin a career in the entertainment industry, appearing in a number ofTVBvariety shows.[1]The group disbanded, and he later reformed into the bandThe WynnerswithKenny Beein 1973.[1][12]The Wynners performed mostly in English. Tam was one of the two lead singers in the band until it split in 1978.[2]

His first album as a solo artist was 'Naughty Boy' ( phản đấu tinh ) in 1979. An early success was the song 'Love in Autumn' ( ái ở cuối mùa thu ), first performed in 1984.

As a solo singer

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Tam's first album as a solo artist was "Naughty Boy" ( phản đấu tinh ) in 1979.[2]He later releases such as"Love in Autumn"( ái ở cuối mùa thu ) in 1984 or"Embrace"( ôm ),"Flower in Water"( trong nước hoa ) or"Half Dazed, Half Awoken"( nửa mộng nửa tỉnh ) achieved commercial success. In the1981 RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards,he also won his first major individual song award.[13]His 1984 albums of ( ái căn nguyên ), ( sương mù chi luyến ) and 1985 ( tình yêu bẫy rập ) formed a successful trilogy of albums.[2]In 1988, he made an announcement that he would not accept any more awards with competition involved.[2]He continued to release albums for the next 30+ years.[14]From 1981 to 1988, he won a top 10 song award every year.[15]This was in addition to his winning a top 10 song award every year from 1983 to 1987 for theJade solid gold awards.[16][17]In 1993, he released the English album "My Love", in collaboration with Korean singerKim Wan-Sun.

TheHong Kong pressfrequently reported a fierce rivalry between Tam and fellow singerLeslie Cheung.[18]Although both artists were at peace with each other, it was the fans who created the spectacle of a musical feud. In the late 90s, the singers brushed aside any doubts about their friendship, and even appeared together in galas and other special programmes. In 1999, Leslie Cheung, together with other 17 singers, participated in the Album "Paying Tribute to Alan Tam" ( ai nhưng thay đổi 15 đầy năm kỷ niệm tập ) and collaborated to produce the single remix of Tam's popular songs "Illusion" ( ảo ảnh ) and "Foggy Love" ( sương mù chi luyến ).[18][19]

In 2003, he teamed up with fellow artistHacken Leefor a major world tour entitledAlan & Hacken(Chinese:Tả lân hữu Lý,also translated as "" Left Alan Right Hacken "). The name is a play on a Chinese idiom which means" neighbours "( bà con chòm xóm ). Up to 2013, they have performed around the world in countries like China, United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Taiwan, Macau, Malaysia, and Japan with over 100 concerts. Since 2006, he has been helping his godsonKelvin Kwanestablish a career in the Hong Kong pop industry.[20]

One of his signature fast songs "Love Trap" ( tình yêu bẫy rập ) earned him the25th Anniversary Jade Solid Gold song honour award in 2006.[21]By 1995, he had already sold more than 20 million albums. By 2005, he had launched more than 104 albums, and 800 songs. He has taken part in 264 concerts, of which 189 were individual concerts.[2]

In 2007, he was the recipient of the 30th Hall of Fame Award from theComposers and Authors Society of Hong Kong (CASH)for his 30+ years of contributions to the Hong Kong and Chinese music industry ( lấy khen ngợi hắn hơn ba mươi năm qua đối Hong Kong âm nhạc sáng tác cập người Hoa giới âm nhạc cống hiến ).[4]

Actor

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In the 1970s, Tam hosted the variety showTheWynnersShowand took part in the television dramaOver the Rainbow.[1]He decided to pursue opportunities inTaiwanin 1980, and starred in renowned director Pai Ching-jui'sA Girl Without Sorrow.[2]He subsequently starred in more than ten films in Taiwan includingThe Funny CoupleandPart Time Job.He later starred in a number of films likeArmour of GodwithJackie ChanandMaster Wong v. Master Wongwhich is a parody of legendaryCantonkung fufighterWong Fei Hung.In 1981, Tam won the Best Actor award at theGolden Horse Awardsfor his role inIf I Were for Real.[2]He has virtually retired from acting sinceAge of Miracles(1996) andAces Going Places(1997). However, he makes a comeback forHere Comes Fortunein 2010.[1]

President of Artistes Guild

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On 11 January 2008, Tam was elected as president of theHong Kong Performing Artistes Guild.[22]Just a month after he was elected, theEdison Chen photo scandalcaused a media storm. The Guild condemned the increasing circulation and uploading of obscene photos on the Internet. Tam was interviewed daily by different media on the handling of the case. He stated, "The circulation of such obscene photos has created a bad atmosphere in society."[23]

After the2008 Sichuan earthquake,Tam helped set up a relief committee to look after the livelihood and schooling of orphaned children. He was on a HK committee along withEric Tsang,Jackie Chan,andEason Chan.[24]

Entrepreneur

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In 1997, an announcement was made inAdmiralty,Hong Kong to launch aStar East Entertainment restaurantconcept boasting 40 celebrity investors. It was one of the most publicised investments made by Tam in collaboration with his best friendsNatalis ChanandEric Tsang.[25]In 2000, a merger was made between Star East andPlanet Hollywood.[26]

Politics

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During the2019–20 Hong Kong protests,and after "worldwide coverage for Hong Kong’s police force utilizing heavy-handed tactics against student demonstrators",[27]Tam sided with the police and attended a pro-police rally, saying "No one in the world has ever seen law enforcement officers attacked like that".[28]A backlash from fans followed quickly,[29]with some fans smashing his records in public.[30]

YouTuber

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On 11 April, 2024, Tam put a verification video on his official YouTube account after posting old video of his live performances in the past 13 years.[31]

References

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  1. ^abcdefChina.org.cn. "The HanbanArchived16 August 2016 at theWayback Machine."Alan Tam Wing-lun.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  2. ^abcdefghHong Kong performance artistes guild. "HKPAGArchived19 October 2008 at theWayback Machine."Alan Tam profile.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  3. ^abSina. "Sina."Đàm vịnh lân: Phụ thân ta đàm giang bách một - phụ thân vì ta mua bóng đá.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  4. ^abcdCash.org.hk. "Cash.org.hkArchived6 October 2008 at theWayback Machine."Article from Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Ltd.Retrieved on 4 August 2008.
  5. ^"EAC: 2006 Election Committee Subsector Elections - Performing Arts".[dead link]
  6. ^"Hong Kong bản địa bạch kim đĩa nhạc tổng doanh số bảng xếp hạng, mỗi người đều là thực lực ca sĩ"[Hong Kong local platinum record sales ranking, all of them are powerful singers].Sohu(in Chinese). 12 January 2023.Retrieved14 August2024.
  7. ^Fifa. "FifaArchived27 October 2008 at theWayback Machine."Olympic Football Tournament Berlin 1936 results. Alan Tam's father listed as pinyin TAI Jiang Bai.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  8. ^Wenweipo ( Hong Kong văn hội báo ). "Paper.wenweipo."Đàm vịnh lân cùng phụ thân đàm giang bách.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  9. ^Soh, Joanne (27 September 2023)."DJ Dennis Chew, now studying at Ngee Ann Poly, discovers Hong Kong icon Alan Tam is an alumnus".The Straits Times.ISSN0585-3923.Retrieved3 October2023.
  10. ^"Alan Tam's son ventures into showbiz despite objections".Xin MSN Entertainment.17 October 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2012.Retrieved21 October2012.
  11. ^Alan's son got 12 A's, can't become a singer.
  12. ^Cnwnews. "CnwnewsArchived4 December 2008 at theWayback Machine."Ôn lấy dàn nhạc hồ sơ.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  13. ^RTHK. "RTHKArchived4 March 2016 at theWayback Machine."RTHK top 10 gold song awards 1981.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  14. ^RickyTong database. "RTDB."Alan Tam music db.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  15. ^RTHK. "RTHK."RTHK top 10 gold song awards 1988.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  16. ^TVB. "TVBArchived8 December 2017 at theWayback Machine."1983 Jade solid gold award.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  17. ^TVB. "TVBArchived5 March 2012 at theWayback Machine."1987 Jade solid gold award.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  18. ^abTamwinglun. "Tamwinglun."1999 news.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  19. ^Universal music hk. "Umg.hkArchived5 August 2008 at theWayback Machine."Alan Tam.Retrieved on 3 August 2008.
  20. ^"Hong Kong nam tân nhân vương quan sở diệu hiện thân Phật Sơn (New Hong Kong star Kelvin Kwan coming to Foshan)".Huanqiao Yulewang. 7 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 2 January 2007.Retrieved28 March2007.
  21. ^TVB. "TVBArchived20 February 2008 at theWayback Machine."Additional awards 2006.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  22. ^Asianbite. "Asianbite."Eason Chan Elected Vice President of the Hong Kong PAG.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  23. ^Sina. "Sina."Hong Kong stars slam nude photos.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  24. ^HKStandard. "The StandardArchived4 December 2008 at theWayback Machine."Run Run leads way as hearts and wallets open to disaster victims.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  25. ^HKStandard. "The StandardArchived4 December 2008 at theWayback Machine."HK stars to challenge Planet hollywood.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  26. ^SEC. "Secinfo."Planet Hollywood and Star East Holdings Complete Strategic Merger in Asia.Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
  27. ^Chu, Karen (2 July 2019)."As Protests Continue, Hong Kong's Entertainment Industry Begins to Polarize".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved10 August2019.
  28. ^Zhao, Shirley; Zhang, Karen (30 June 2019)."Hong Kong police supporters turn out in force to counter extradition bill protests, but clash with rivals and assault journalists".South China Morning Post.Retrieved10 August2019.
  29. ^"HK stars Alan Tam, Kenny Bee and Tony Leung's appearance at rally upsets fans".Today.2 July 2019.Retrieved10 August2019.
  30. ^Hsia, Heidi (4 July 2019)."Fans smash Alan Tam's and Kenny Bee's albums over police support".Yahoo News.Retrieved10 August2019.
  31. ^【 hiệu trưởng sinh hoạt Vlog】 bổn kênh tuyên bố chân tướng! Đàm vịnh lân bản nhân chứng thực này tin tức! # đàm vịnh lân #officialchannel.Retrieved11 April2024– via youtube.
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Awards
Preceded by Golden Needle Award ofRTHKTop Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award
1996
Succeeded by