Roman Tam
Encyclopedia
Roman Tam, known by the stage name Lo Man (羅文), nickname Law Kee (蘿記), (16 February 1950 - 18 October 2002) was a renowned Hong Kong
Cantopop
singer. He is regarded as the "Godfather
of Cantopop".
, Hong Kong
, Singapore
and, later Mainland China
). He had a string of hits in a career spanning 30 years. He was well respected for his singing skills, his positive outlooks, and his insistence on correct pronunciations. He was also groundbreaking for being the first major Hong Kong singer to pose in drag and to pose in nude.
Born in Guangzhou
, China
with family roots in Guiping, Guangxi
, he later immigrated to Hong Kong in 1962 at the age of 12. After forming a short-lived band known as Roman and the Four Steps
, he became a contract singer under studios term at Television Broadcasts Limited
. He briefly switched to Asia Television Ltd in the early 1990s.
During the 1990s he accepted many budding singers as his students. Some of which who became famous included Joey Yung
and Ekin Cheng
. He had sang many well known songs for various TV series including Below the Lion Rock
and the 1982 TVB
TV series The Legend of the Condor Heroes
.
Tam was unmarried. He died in Hong Kong
at Queen Mary Hospital
from liver cancer
. The title of "Godfather of Cantopop" was confirmed in his obituary
.
as his dearest friend and best partner. He recorded a series of duets with Jenny Tseng
for the television drama hit "Legend of Condor Heroes." Jenny Tseng still pays tribute to Roman Tam during her concerts.
Hong Kong people
Hong Kong people refer to people who originate from Hong Kong. The term has no legal definition in Hong Kong. Rather, terms such as Hong Kong permanent resident and Hong Kong resident are used...
Cantopop
Cantopop
Cantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
singer. He is regarded as the "Godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
of Cantopop".
Career
Tam was seen as a cultural icon to Chinese communities around the world (including TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and, later Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
). He had a string of hits in a career spanning 30 years. He was well respected for his singing skills, his positive outlooks, and his insistence on correct pronunciations. He was also groundbreaking for being the first major Hong Kong singer to pose in drag and to pose in nude.
Born in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
with family roots in Guiping, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
, he later immigrated to Hong Kong in 1962 at the age of 12. After forming a short-lived band known as Roman and the Four Steps
Roman and the Four Steps
Roman and the Four Steps was a popular band in Hong Kong in the 1960s.-Career:The band was noteworthy for singing in English and often singing British and American songs. Roman Tam would eventually leave the band and enter the cantopop genre solo where he would eventually be labeled the "Godfather...
, he became a contract singer under studios term at Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
. He briefly switched to Asia Television Ltd in the early 1990s.
During the 1990s he accepted many budding singers as his students. Some of which who became famous included Joey Yung
Joey Yung
Joey Yung is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress from Emperor Entertainment Group. She won the prestigious JSG "Most Popular Female Singer" and "Ultimate Best Female Singer - Gold" awards a record breaking six times, thus emerging as one of the premier Cantonese singers in Hong Kong...
and Ekin Cheng
Ekin Cheng
Ekin Cheng is a Hong Kong actor and Cantopop singer. Early in his career he used the name Dior as a first name. He has also been referred to as Noodle Cheng, after a popular noodle product with a similar name...
. He had sang many well known songs for various TV series including Below the Lion Rock
Below the Lion Rock
Below the Lion Rock is a TV show about the lives of Hong Kong citizens. It is broadcast five times, each forming its own series, from 1974 to 1979, 1984 to 1988, 1990, 1992 to 1995, and 2006...
and the 1982 TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
TV series The Legend of the Condor Heroes
The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1982 TV Series)
-Track list:-Production:According to the behind-the-scenes featurette on the DVD, the Mongolian scenes were filmed in Lantau Island, Hong Kong....
.
Tam was unmarried. He died in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
at Queen Mary Hospital
Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
Queen Mary Hospital , located in Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island of Hong Kong, is the flagship teaching hospital of the Faculty of Dentistry and Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong...
from liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
. The title of "Godfather of Cantopop" was confirmed in his obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
.
Collaborations
Roman Tam counts Jenny TsengJenny Tseng
Jenny Tseng mostly known in Cantonese speaking regions as Yan Nei, is a Macau-born singer, based in Hong Kong for much of her career. Her father is Austrian while her mother is Chinese....
as his dearest friend and best partner. He recorded a series of duets with Jenny Tseng
Jenny Tseng
Jenny Tseng mostly known in Cantonese speaking regions as Yan Nei, is a Macau-born singer, based in Hong Kong for much of her career. Her father is Austrian while her mother is Chinese....
for the television drama hit "Legend of Condor Heroes." Jenny Tseng still pays tribute to Roman Tam during her concerts.