Renowned Taiwanese musician Liu Jiachang, known as the “Father of Chinese Pop Music,” passed away on December 2 at the age of 83 after battling cancer. His assistant confirmed the sad news in a statement on Weibo on the evening of December 3, saying, “During his final days, Mr. Liu was accompanied by his closest family members and remained calm and peaceful.” The assistant also emphasized that funeral arrangements will be kept low-key.
On the evening of December 3, veteran Hong Kong media personality Wang Man-ling posted a tribute to Liu Jiachang on Facebook. She revealed that earlier this year, Liu Jiachang had discovered lumps in his neck, tumors in the brain and lungs. She mentioned that a friend had confirmed the news of his passing to his eldest son but requested not to make it public. Following this, Liu Jiachang’s assistant issued a statement on Weibo confirming that he had passed away on December 2 due to cancer, surrounded by his closest family members.
Liu Jiachang’s last Facebook post was dated April 5 of this year, where he revealed that he had been living in Yuan Mountain Township in Yilan, Taiwan for three years and expressed satisfaction with his living arrangements. On July 1, he posted his final photo on Weibo, showing him significantly weakened and emaciated. Known for his staunch pro-China stance, his last Weibo post mentioned his desire for a rendition of his song “I Am Chinese” to be sung boldly at the time of his passing.
Having been married twice, Liu Jiachang had a son with his first wife, Jiang Qing. After their divorce, he married actress Zhen Zhen (Zhang Jiazhen) and had a singer-songwriter son, Zhang Liheng (formerly known as Liu Ziqian). However, in recent years, he had been embroiled in property disputes and feuds with Zhen Zhen and their son.
In fact, in October 2023, Liu Jiachang revealed on Weibo his first public mention of personal matters, detailing his hospitalization at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital on October 18 for a 3-hour prostate surgery. He reflected on his solitary recovery room experience as an 80-year-old, indicating psychological traumas despite the physical pain relief, hinting at the property disputes with Zhen Zhen and their son over the years.
Liu Jiachang had a profound impact on the Taiwanese music scene, with artists like Yeh Jia-hsiu considering him a mentor. Singer Chen Sheng, who once worked as his assistant, praised Liu Jiachang as an otherworldly figure and a deity in his heart. Many popular songs by various artists were penned by him, including hits like You Ya’s “Reminiscing the Past,” Teresa Teng’s “Ascending the West Tower,” Zhen Ni’s “Oath,” Feng Fei Fei’s “With True Feelings and Vitality,” Ouyang Fei Fei’s “Yearning,” and more.
In addition to his music contributions, Liu Jiachang also directed films such as “Plum Blossom” and “Dreams of the Red Mansion.” The theme songs he composed for these films, including “Plum Blossom,” “Dreams of the Red Mansion,” “Rivers and Clouds,” and “Deep Courtyard,” became widely acclaimed. He was honored with the Special Contribution Award at the 12th Golden Melody Awards in 2001 and won the Best Feature Film Award at the Golden Horse Awards in 1976 for “Plum Blossom,” solidifying his status in both the music and film industries.
Fei Yuqing, known as “Little Brother,” who had numerous hit songs composed by Liu Jiachang, expressed his gratitude and fond memories upon hearing of his mentor’s passing. Having retired from the music scene for five years, Fei Yuqing mourned through his agent, thanking Liu for creating many timeless songs that brought brightness into his life and ensuring that the melodies left behind by his mentor would remain in people’s hearts forever.
Liu Jiachang’s assistant also stated in a declaration that out of respect for the family’s privacy, the subsequent funeral proceedings would be carried out in a modest and understated manner. The assistant expressed gratitude for understanding and requested that media friends grant them space to quietly mourn and remember Mr. Liu.