Veteran musician Liu Chia-chang (劉家昌) passed away on Dec. 3. Upon hearing the news, Minister of Culture Li Yuan expressed his sincere condolences. Regarding Liu as a legendary figure in the entertainment industry, Minister Li commended Liu for his lifelong dedication to pop music and film.
Born in 1943, Liu was hailed as the “godfather of Chinese language pop music” for his contributions as a singer, composer, and songwriter. Liu debuted in 1968 with the song “Full Moon on the West Tower (月滿西樓),” and rose to fame in later years with classics such as “Unforgettable Past (往事只能回味)”; “The Plum Blossom (梅花)”; and “Dreaming in a Romantic Night (一簾幽夢).” In 2001, Liu was awarded the Special Contribution Award at the 12th Golden Melody Awards.
Liu also achieved success in the film industry as a director, with his movies “Love Begins Here (愛的天地)” and “Victory (梅花)” winning several awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Music, at the 11th and 13th Golden Horse Awards respectively.
The Ministry of Culture paid tribute to Liu, noting that his songs and films have brought warmth to the public, and will always be fondly remembered.