Wu Yingyin
Encyclopedia
Wu Yingyin was a Chinese singer. By the 1940s, she became one of the seven great singing stars
.
and mother a doctor. She grew up in Shanghai and enjoyed singing to radio tunes at an early age. She originally wanted to go to the Shanghai Academy of Music, but her parents opposed the idea and claimed that the music industry was for individuals with no real ambition. In 1940, in order to work around her parents' disapproval, she began singing under a stage name (Qian Yin 錢茵) for radio stations at night, particularly for children's programs.
In 1945 she became a nightclub singer and garnered acclaim for her performances. Most of her vocal techniques were self-taught. At the age of 24, she participated in a nightclub competition. Winning the crown, she was discovered and immediately signed to a contract with Pathé Records (China)
record company. Her first record (我想忘了你 "I Want to Forget You") became a hit. In total, Pathé Records produced 30 albums for her. She was affectionately nicknamed 鼻音歌后 ("Queen of the Nasal Voice").
In 1955 she joined a Shanghai broadcasting station (上海人民广播电台). She relocated to Hong Kong in 1957 where she continued her singing career. She returned to China for recordings in 1983 in Guangzhou
. In July 1984, she moved from Hong Kong to Pasadena, California
. At the age of 80, she was still singing in overseas Chinese neighborhood community events for charitable causes. At the time, she was regarded as one of the world's oldest active singers.
She would also sing in Singapore
, and on January 3, 2003 she was invited to perform at the Shanghai Grand Theatre
.
Wu died in Los Angeles on 17 December 2009.
Seven great singing stars
The Seven Great Singing Stars refers to the seven most renowned singers of China in the early 20th century.-Background:Shanghai was occupied by the Japanese in the 1930s. World War II also had an effect on the economy at the time. Several of the stars acted in films, and their music played a...
.
Biography
Wu was born in Ningbo to an intellectual family with her father as a chemical engineerChemical engineer
In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is the profession in which one works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work...
and mother a doctor. She grew up in Shanghai and enjoyed singing to radio tunes at an early age. She originally wanted to go to the Shanghai Academy of Music, but her parents opposed the idea and claimed that the music industry was for individuals with no real ambition. In 1940, in order to work around her parents' disapproval, she began singing under a stage name (Qian Yin 錢茵) for radio stations at night, particularly for children's programs.
Career
Wu had a soft singing voice that made her a success. She continued to sing without her family knowing so and ultimately used the stage name "Wu Yingyin." The buzz later got around about a new singer. It has been said that Wu's father at first didn't realize it was his own daughter's voice that he heard on the radio.In 1945 she became a nightclub singer and garnered acclaim for her performances. Most of her vocal techniques were self-taught. At the age of 24, she participated in a nightclub competition. Winning the crown, she was discovered and immediately signed to a contract with Pathé Records (China)
Pathé Records (Hong Kong)
Pathé Records is the first major record company in Shanghai, China and later Hong Kong. The company was a subsidiary of the original Pathé Records conglomerate.-History:...
record company. Her first record (我想忘了你 "I Want to Forget You") became a hit. In total, Pathé Records produced 30 albums for her. She was affectionately nicknamed 鼻音歌后 ("Queen of the Nasal Voice").
In 1955 she joined a Shanghai broadcasting station (上海人民广播电台). She relocated to Hong Kong in 1957 where she continued her singing career. She returned to China for recordings in 1983 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...
. In July 1984, she moved from Hong Kong to Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. At the age of 80, she was still singing in overseas Chinese neighborhood community events for charitable causes. At the time, she was regarded as one of the world's oldest active singers.
She would also sing in 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 on January 3, 2003 she was invited to perform at the Shanghai Grand Theatre
Shanghai Grand Theatre
The Shanghai Grand Theatre is located at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Huangpi Road South in northern part of the People's Square in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China....
.
Wu died in Los Angeles on 17 December 2009.