Jacky Cheung, also known as God of Songs, is one of Hong Kong’s most popular Cantopop singers. He has been active in the Hong Kong music industry since 1984 and has released over 50 studio albums. Cheung is admired by fans worldwide for his powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence.
Jacky Cheung’s Background
Jacky Cheung was born as Cheung Hok Yau on July 10, 1961 in Hong Kong. He grew up in a modest family as the youngest of ten children. Cheung displayed an interest in music from a young age and started performing in amateur singing contests as a teenager. In 1982, at the age of 21, he signed a record deal with Capital Artists after winning a talent competition. This marked the start of his successful career as a Cantopop singer.
Jacky Cheung’s Singing Career
Cheung released his first studio album, Love Has Many Faces, in 1984. While his initial albums met modest success, his big break came with the release of his 7th album A Tale of Whispered Love in 1989, which sold over 400,000 copies. It featured his signature song “Goodbye Kiss” which is considered one of his most iconic hits even today.
Throughout the 1990s, Cheung cemented his status as one of Hong Kong’s ‘Four Heavenly Kings’ along with Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, and Leon Lai. His 1991 album Salute included “Loving You More Every Day” which became one of his signature classics. The same year, he held his first major concert titled ‘The Final Encounter of the Century’ which elevated him to stardom across Asia.
Cheung’s popularity continued to soar both in Hong Kong and other Chinese-speaking regions. His 1995 album Beloved showcased his versatility through jazz, rock, and techno-influenced tunes. In the same year, he achieved the rare feat of holding a record-breaking 100 concerts in Hong Kong between April to August.
In 1997, Cheung released what many consider his magnum opus – the album Flame of Love. It contained mega-hits like “Good Luck”, “Part Time Lover”, and “Together” which are regarded as some of his best works till today. The album sold over 2 million copies, making Cheung the first singer in Hong Kong to achieve this milestone.
Major Achievements
Here are some of Jacky Cheung’s major career achievements over the past four decades:
- Has released 58 studio albums since 1984
- Holds the record for the best-selling Cantopop album (Flame of Love, over 2 million copies sold)
- First singer to hold 100 concerts in Hong Kong in a single year (1995)
- Won the ‘Asia Pacific Most Popular Male Artist’ award at the 1992 Billboard Music Awards
- Named ‘Asia’s Biggest Superstar’ by China Central Television in 1999
- Won the ‘Most Popular Male Singer’ award at the Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards 25 times
- Received over 280 awards in his career spanning across film, television, and music
In 2000, Cheung’s Passion Tour set the record for the largest solo concert tour in China, with over 150,000 attendees. He was also rated as the 3rd ‘Most Popular Musician’ in the world by Time magazine in 2001.
Beyond Asia, Cheung has performed sold-out concerts across Europe, America and Oceania. He sang the Mandarin theme song for the 1998 blockbuster Chinese film Mulan. Cheung’s duet with Anita Mui “Loving You More and More” was sung in seven languages for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Recent Years
Even today, Cheung continues to be active in music and entertainment. His 2016-2019 A Classic Tour was attended by over 2 million fans across four years. In 2021, he released his latest album Voyage, which included a virtual duet with the late Anita Mui.
Cheung was awarded the Golden Needle award at the 2022 RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards ceremony, in honor of his tremendous contribution to the Hong Kong music industry. He also performed at the global live streaming event METAVERSE x MTV REST IN SPACE in August 2022.
As he enters his 60s, Jacky Cheung remains one of the most respected veteran artistes keeping Cantopop alive. He has inspired generations of Mandopop and C-Pop singers in China and beyond. With his unmatched vocals and charisma, Cheung is surely a name that will be remembered for decades to come.
Jacky Cheung’s Age
So exactly how old is Jacky Cheung in 2023? Let’s do the math:
- Jacky Cheung was born on July 10, 1961
- The current year is 2023
- So Jacky Cheung’s age is: 2023 – 1961 = 62 years
In summary, Hong Kong heavenly king Jacky Cheung is currently 62 years old as of 2023. He continues to entertain audiences with his electrifying live performances and engage fans through new album releases into his 60s.
Jacky Cheung’s Age Milestones
Here is an overview of Jacky Cheung’s age milestones from his birth year to the present:
Year | Jacky Cheung’s Age | Milestone |
---|---|---|
1961 | 0 years old | Born in Hong Kong on July 10, 1961 |
1984 | 23 years old | Released 1st studio album Love Has Many Faces |
1989 | 28 years old | Released 7th album A Tale of Whispered Love with hit “Goodbye Kiss” |
1991 | 30 years old | Held 1st major concert The Final Encounter of the Century |
1995 | 34 years old | Released Beloved and held record 100 concerts in HK |
1997 | 36 years old | Released best-selling album Flame of Love |
2000 | 39 years old | Broke record with Passion Tour in China |
2016 | 55 years old | Began his A Classic Tour from 2016-2019 |
2021 | 60 years old | Released latest album Voyage |
2023 | 62 years old | Present age |
Interesting Facts About Jacky Cheung’s Age
- Cheung was the youngest of 10 siblings in his family
- He started participating in amateur singing contests at 15 years old
- Cheung released his debut album at the age of 23 after winning a talent show
- His rise to superstardom came in his late 20s during the late 1980s
- Cheung became the 1st singer to achieve 100 concerts in a year in HK at 34 years old
- He recorded the best-selling album ever in HK at the age of 36 with Flame of Love
- Cheung remains active in his music career into his 60s over 4 decades since his debut
- He is the only artist to hold a record-breaking 150,000 people concert tour in China
- Cheung is named the ‘God of Songs’ and ‘Asia’s Biggest Superstar’ in his 50s
In summary, Jacky Cheung’s long and illustrious career has spanned over 4 decades since making his mark in the 1980s. He achieved unprecedented success and broken records, many during his 30s and 40s. Cheung has certainly come a long way from participating in amateur singing contests as a teenager!
How Jacky Cheung Has Remained Relevant Over Time
Very few artistes in any musical genre or industry manage to stay relevant over decades the way Jacky Cheung has done. Here are some factors that have contributed to his enduring career over time:
- Musical versatility – Cheung has experimented with different musical styles over the years, from Cantopop to Mandarin pop to jazz, rock, techno and beyond.
- Reinventing image – Unlike many veteran artistes, Cheung frequently reinvents his performance style and image with changing trends.
- Longevity of voice – Cheung is blessed with a powerful voice which has hardly aged over decades of performing.
- Former boy band member – Cheung’s early success with the band Big Four has sustained his fanbase over the years.
- Acting and hosting – Cheung has maintained visibility by acting in movies and hosting variety/travel shows.
- Launching new artists – His record label has launched careers of popular singers like Nicholas Tse.
- World tours – He performs globally to reach out to worldwide Mandarin and Cantonese audiences.
- Digital adaptation – Cheung keeps up with digital music trends and engages with younger fans on social media.
- Philanthropy – His generosity through charitable foundations has earned immense public respect.
By adapting seamlessly across decades, Jacky Cheung has earned the title of a ‘legend’ in Chinese pop music at the age of 62 today.
Jacky Cheung’s Upcoming Shows and Events
As he steps into his golden 60s, Jacky Cheung continues to enthrall audiences with his live performances. Here are some of Cheung’s upcoming shows and events in 2023 and beyond:
- January 2023 – Performing at CCTV’s Chinese New Year Gala which will air to over 1 billion viewers.
- February 2023 – Valentines Day performance in Shanghai.
- May 2023 – Series of concerts across major cities in China.
- July 2023 – Special birthday bash concert in Hong Kong to celebrate turning 62.
- September 2023 – Rumored show in Singapore as part of his Asian tour.
- December 2023 – Year-end shows in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
- 2024 – Potential world tour reportedly being planned for North America and Europe.
With his passion for performing undiminished in his 60s, Jacky Cheung clearly has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. His upcoming shows promise to be as spectacular and crowd-pleasing as ever.
Conclusion
Jacky Cheung’s longevity and phenomenal success in Asian pop music is unparalleled. At 62 years old today, he is still going strong as an energetic and talented performer producing best-selling albums. With his array of classic hits, powerful vocals, and electric stage presence, Cheung will undoubtedly continue headlining major concerts worldwide into his golden years ahead. He has certainly proven that age is but a number when it comes to connecting with fans through the universal language of music.