Leslie Cheung 张国荣

Name: 张国荣（ Leslie Cheung ）Original Name: 张发宗Nickname: “ 哥哥”（“ elder brother” ） Born and Death:September 12, 1956 – April 1, 2003 （ 46 years old ）Occupation: Musician; Actor; DirectorFrom: Hongkong, China Leslie was considered as "One of the founding fathers of Cantopop," and "combining a hugely successful film and music career". In 2000, Leslie was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central TV, and ranked the 1st as The Most Favourite Actor in 100 Years of Chinese Cinema in 2005. In 2010, Hong Kong Radio initiated a survey named “Why you love Hong Kong”,at last, he was elected as the reason number one of “loving Hong Kong”. He was voted the third of the CNN's "top five most iconic musician of all time", placing behind Michael Jackson and The Beatles.

Early career

In 1977, Leslie won second prize by singing Don McLean's "American Pie" at the Asian Music Contest held by Rediffusion Television (RTV). He signed a contract with RTV, began his career in the entertainment industry.

The early days of his career were not easy. He was once booed off the stage during a public performance, and his first two albums were not welcomed by the public. Leslie's first film, The Erotic Dream of the Red Chamber ( 红楼春上春） in 1978 was a soft porn film. Leslie later stated that he was unaware of the sexual nature of the film when he signed the contract.

Ascension to fame ： his songs

In 1982, Leslie joined Capital Artists upon the end of his contract with RTV. In 1983, Leslie released his first hit song, "The Wind Blows On" （风继续吹）” . In 1984, he released his first top ten hit song "Monica", which became the first so-called“fast” song that won the RTHK Top ten Chinese Gold Songs Award. Other Top Ten GOLD Song released by him included "Wild Wind" （不羁的风）， and "Love in Those Years" （当年情），“ When Love has become the past” （当爱已成往事） and “Ghost Story” （倩女幽魂） .

In 1988 ， he composed one of his most songs"Silence is Golden" （沉默是金） . Those songs are all very classic in those years.

“ 连张国荣也要熬八年。”

Some of his songs

《风继续吹》《 Monica 》《默默向上游》《我要逆风去》《沉默是金》《当年情》《倩女幽魂》《侬本多情》《 H2O 》《少女心事》《大热》《侧面》《不羁的风》《为你钟情》《只怕不再遇上》《红》《左右手》《全世界我只想你来爱我》《爱慕》《拒绝再玩》《无心睡眠》《共同渡过》《奔向未来日子》《胭脂扣》《 American Pie 》《我》《千千阙歌》《蝶变》

《明星》《 I Honestly Love You 》《 Miss You Much 》《玻璃之情》《红蝴蝶》《春夏秋冬》《心跳呼吸正常》《这么近，那么远》《风再起时》《最冷一天》《浮生若梦》《芳华绝代》《当爱已成往事》《月亮代表我的心》《这些年来》《路过蜻蜓》《偷情》 《我》《春光乍泄》《梦到内河》《陪你倒数》《没有烟总有花》《我知你好》《今生今世》《谁令你心痴》《诺亚方舟》《怪你过分美丽》Too many ...................

Some pictures of his concerts

Another step: his movies

Leslie's movie career was a little slower to take off. He appeared in supporting roles in his second Encore（喝彩） (1980).

However, his acting talent was soon recognized .

From 1986 to 1989, Leslie acted in a number of movies that are considered as Hong Kong classics by film critics and Asian movie fans.

A Better Tomorrow ( 英雄本色） (1986)

A Chinese Ghost Story （倩女幽魂）（ 1987 ）

The mid-80s to mid-90s was a golden age in Hong Kong's film industry.

Days of Being Wild （阿飞正传）（ 1990 ）

Ashes of Time （东邪西毒）（ 1994 ）

Happy Together

（春光乍泄）（1997

）

Farewell My Concubine （霸王别姬）（ 1993 ）

Love StoryLeslie was bisexual and once said in an interview in Time magazine:"It's more appropriate to say I'm bisexual. I've had girlfriends. When I was 22 or so, I asked my girlfriend Teresa Mo ( 毛舜筠） to marry me."

In 1995 a Hong Kong tabloid published a photo of Leslie with another man, Daffy Tong Hok-Tak. （唐鹤德）

In a 1997 concert, Leslie openly revealed that Tong was his "most beloved" after his mother. The Hong Kong media eventually accepted the two men's relationship and the tabloid gave Tong the nickname Tong Tong.

True Love

Others• Charity Work

• Friends&Family

• Character

• Cause of Death ： Depression

The night that he left, countless people remembered him. With in a few days, the world's major news media such as Reuters, Agene France-Presser, reported the news.Even CCTV's "News 30' " reported the news of the death of a Hongkong artistist unprecedentedly.

Miss you much, Leslie!

Thanks for your patience ！

By Dong Yuqing

“ 谭张争霸” Time ： 1986~1989 Place ： HongKong

Leslie Cheung & Alan Tam

It ended when Alan announced that he would no longer receive competitive awards in 1988 and Leslie quited the music circle in 1989.(He came back in 1995.)

Leslie held 33 world-tour concerts(Final Encounter of the Legend)on end to farewell. (1989.12.21-1990.1.22)

The last concert was held at the Hongkong Coliseum.