Joseph Koo

MBE GBS
顧嘉煇
Koo in 2014
Born
Koo Kar-fai (顧嘉煇)

(1931-02-25)25 February 1931
Canton, China
Died3 January 2023(2023-01-03) (aged 91)
Richmond Hospital, Richmond, Canada
NationalityCanadian[when?]
Occupation(s)Composer, arranger, Musical Director, Conductor, lyricist
Years active1961–2016
AwardsHong Kong Film Awards – Best Original Film Score
1990 A Terra-Cotta Warrior

Golden Horse Awards – Best Music
1964 The Dancing Millionairess
1966 Till the End of Time

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese顧嘉煇
Simplified Chinese顾嘉辉
Musical career
Also known asMoran (莫然)
OriginHong Kong
Genres
Instrument(s)
LabelsNone

Joseph Koo Kar-Fai MBE GBS (Chinese: 顧嘉煇; 25 February 1931[1] – 3 January 2023) was a Hong Kong composer. He used the pen name Moran (莫然) for Mandarin songs early in his career.[2] According to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Koo was one of the most respected composers in Hong Kong.[3]

Early life

Koo was born in Canton, China and migrated with his family to Hong Kong in 1948.[1]

Koo had two siblings: an older sister, Hong Kong singer and painter Koo Mei (顧媚) and a younger brother, Koo Kar-Tseung (顧嘉鏘).[4]

Koo began learning music at age 17 by taking piano lessons from a Filipino music teacher, who was already giving singing lessons to Koo's sister.[5]

Career

Koo was sponsored by Sir Run Run Shaw[6] to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston in the early 1960s.[citation needed] Upon graduation he returned to Hong Kong and worked for both the Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest movie studios, scoring, among others, the Bruce Lee films Fist of Fury and The Way of the Dragon in 1972.[citation needed]

Koo joined TVB as their director of music in 1973,[7] where from the late 1970s until immigrating to Canada in the 1990s, he collaborated with the lyricist Wong Jim on many memorable TV theme songs. Koo has composed over 1,200 songs in his career,[8] many of which are now considered as classic Cantopop[citation needed]. He only has 2 notable works as a lyricist, both very short in length and total number of words. One was a children's song about the ten numbers, the other was the ending 'Goodnight' jingle for Enjoy Yourself Tonight. These two little-known facts were revealed by James Wong in 1998 during a concert dedicated to both Koo and him.

In 1961, he composed his first published song "Dream" (夢), which was sung by his sister Koo Mei.[3] He later had another hit song "Suburban Road" 郊道. In 1974, he wrote the first Cantonese TV theme song The Fatal Irony [zh] which was one of the first popular Cantopop songs.[9]

Koo was appointed Member of Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1982. In 1998, he received the Bronze Bauhinia Star from the Hong Kong Government.[3] He also received other awards including Music Accomplishment Award (from Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Ltd.), Highest Honour Award (from RTHK Ten Best Chinese Music Program), Best Music Award and Best Lyric Award (from Asia Film Festival), Hong Kong Film Awards, Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards.[3]

Koo immigrated to Canada in the 1990s but continued his work in Hong Kong music.[3] In 2007, he wrote the theme song for The Drive of Life, a drama produced by TVB to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong handover.[3]

In 2012 from 30 November to 3 December, he held a concert titled "Joseph Koo Concert 2012" at the Hong Kong Coliseum, which featured many singers including Adam Cheng, George Lam, Teresa Cheung, and Anthony Wong.[10] In 2015, he announced his retirement as a conductor, and that he would significantly reduce his musical works and become an oil painter like his sister.[citation needed]

Koo died in Richmond, Canada on 3 January 2023, at age 91.[11][12][13][14][15] Joseph's son, Koo Chi Ho, revealed that he had suffered symptoms and complications of COVID-19 and decreased appetite and energy weeks before his passing. He was otherwise fit and healthy beforehand.[16]

Selected compositions

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References

  1. ^ a b Frater, Patrick (4 January 2023). "Joseph Koo, Hong Kong Musician and 'A Better Tomorrow' Composer, Dies at 91". Variety. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Joseph Koo". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Joseph Koo Ka-fai - 2011 Honorary Doctorate". Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  4. ^ "顧嘉煇姐弟畫展望籌百萬 (Joseph Koo and his siblings exhibit paintings for profits) at the Wayback Machine (archived 6 December 2008)." WenWeiPo.com 31 October 2006. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original.
  5. ^ Man 1998, p. 83.
  6. ^ "Tributes paid to Cantopop songwriter and composer Joseph Koo, who dies at 92". South China Morning Post. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  7. ^ Man 1998, p. 84.
  8. ^ Mackie, John (4 January 2023). "'Godfather of Canto-pop' Joseph Koo passes away in Vancouver". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Riding a Melodic Tide: The Development of Cantopop in Hong Kong" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Oriental Watch Company Exclusively Presents《Joseph Koo Concert 2012》Press Concerence". Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Popular Cantopop composer passes away in B.C." 5 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Music legend Joseph Koo dies in Richmond - BC News". 5 January 2023.
  13. ^ "'Godfather of Canto-pop' Joseph Koo passes away in Vancouver".
  14. ^ "香港殿堂級音樂家顧嘉煇離世 享年92歲". Sing Tao Daily Canada (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 3 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  15. ^ 洪怡霖 (4 January 2023). "著名作曲家顧嘉煇加拿大逝世 享年92歲". HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  16. ^ 娛樂新聞台 殿堂級音樂大師 顧嘉煇離世享年92歲

Sources

External links

Awards and achievements Preceded bynil Golden Needle Award of RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award 1981 Succeeded byNonoy Ocampo 奧金寶
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