Jacky Cheung facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacky Cheung
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| 張學友 | |||||||||||
Cheung in 2012
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| Born |
Cheung Hok-yau
10 July 1961 Quarry Bay, British Hong Kong
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| Years active | 1984–present | ||||||||||
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Works
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| Spouse(s) |
May Lo
(m. 1996) |
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| Children | 2 | ||||||||||
| Musical career | |||||||||||
| Also known as | God of Songs, God of Singing | ||||||||||
| Origin | Hong Kong | ||||||||||
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| Labels | Universal | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 張學友 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张学友 | ||||||||||
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Jacky Cheung Hok-yau (born July 10, 1961) is a famous singer and actor from Hong Kong. He is known as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Cantopop, a popular music genre in Hong Kong. Many people call him the "God of Songs" because of his amazing voice and exciting live shows.
Cheung is one of the most successful artists in Asia. His 1993 album, The Goodbye Kiss, was a massive hit across the continent. He has sold between 25 and 60 million albums all over the world. He even holds a Guinness World Record for the largest audience at a live show in one year. In 2012, over two million people came to see him perform!
Besides singing, Cheung is also a talented actor. He has won awards for his roles in movies like As Tears Go By and The Swordsman. In 1999, he was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young People in the World for his positive impact.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Jacky Cheung was born and raised in Quarry Bay, a neighborhood in Hong Kong. His father was from Tianjin, and his mother was from Shanghai. Growing up, his family shared a small apartment with many relatives. He went to North Point Government Primary School and later graduated from Literary College in 1978.
Many of the men in his father's family were sailors, including his dad and older brother. Cheung's main language is Cantonese, but he also speaks Mandarin and English. He is famous for his deep baritone voice and his ability to sing in many languages, including Japanese and Korean.
Music Career
How It All Started (1985–1992)
Before becoming a star, Cheung worked for Cathay Pacific airline. His life changed in 1984 when he won a big singing contest in Hong Kong. He beat over 10,000 other singers! After winning, he was signed by Polygram Records, which is now part of the Universal Music Group.
His first album, Smile (1985), was a huge success. In the beginning, he competed with other famous singers like Leslie Cheung and Alan Tam. But soon, his own talent began to shine. In 1991, his song "Loving You More Every Day" became a massive hit. His albums True Love Expression (1992) and Love Sparks (1992) each sold over 400,000 copies in Hong Kong.
Becoming a Superstar (1993–1998)
The 1990s were a golden era for Cheung. His 1993 album, The Goodbye Kiss, sold more than 5 million copies. This made him one of the best-selling artists in the world that year. The album was so popular that it helped him win Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards, a major honor for a singer from Hong Kong.
Because of his incredible success, Cheung became known as the leader of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop." In 1995, he started a world tour with 100 shows. He performed in Australia, the United States, Europe, and many countries in Asia.
In 1997, Cheung starred in a popular musical called Snow.Wolf.Lake. He was not only the main actor but also the artistic director. The show was a huge hit, with 42 sold-out performances at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
A Living Legend (1999–2008)
In 2000, Cheung received the Golden Needle Award, which is like a lifetime achievement award for music. He was surprised to get it so early in his career, as it usually goes to older artists.
In 2004, he released the album Life Is Like A Dream. He composed the music for every song and wrote the lyrics for three of them. This showed his talent as a songwriter.
His 2007 world tour was another record-breaker. He performed 105 shows in 58 cities around the globe, with over 2 million fans in attendance. This was the highest number of shows in a single tour by a Chinese artist at the time.
New Music and World Tours (2009–2017)
In 2009, Cheung tried something new by recording a jazz album called Private Corner. One of the songs, "Everyday Is Christmas," became one of the top 10 most downloaded Christmas songs in the world in 2010. He was the only Chinese singer on the list.
From 2010 to 2012, he went on his "Jacky Cheung 1/2 Century World Tour." The tour included an amazing 146 shows and was seen by over 2.8 million people. This tour earned him a Guinness World Record for the largest combined audience for a live act in 12 months.
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Continued Success (2018–present)
Cheung's "A Classic Tour," which ran from 2016 to 2019, was even bigger. It included 233 shows in 97 cities. The tour was so popular that it attracted all kinds of fans.
In 2023, he began his "Jacky Cheung 60+ Concert Tour." The tour features Cheung singing and dancing with a large dance group and amazing stage designs. He has performed in Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and many cities across China.
Acting Career
Jacky Cheung is not just a singer; he is also a respected actor. He started acting in 1986. He won Best Supporting Actor at the 8th Hong Kong Film Awards for the movie As Tears Go By (1988). He also won an award for his role in The Swordsman (1990).
He has worked with famous directors like John Woo and actors like Tony Leung and Andy Lau. In 2002, he won the Best Actor Award at the International Film Festival of India for the movie July Rhapsody.
His song "Perhaps Love" was the theme for the 2005 movie of the same name. The song won Best Song at the Hong Kong Film Award.
Personal Life and Community Work
On February 15, 1996, Jacky Cheung married former actress May Lo. They have two daughters, Zoe and Zia. Cheung is a Buddhist and a vegetarian.
Cheung is also known for his charity work. In 2004, he became the spokesperson for Hong Kong Disneyland. He has helped raise money for many causes, including the Children's Cancer Foundation and ORBIS International. He is also an ambassador for a foundation that works to protect children.
In 2006, he performed at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. In 2010, he sang a version of the song "Wavin' Flag" for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Selected Discography
Cheung has released dozens of albums in both Cantonese and Mandarin. Some of his most famous albums include:
- Smile (1985)
- True Feelings Revealed (1992)
- The Goodbye Kiss (1993)
- Life Is Like A Dream (2004)
- Private Corner (2010)
- Wake Up Dreaming (2014)
See also
In Spanish: Jacky Cheung para niños
- List of best-selling albums in Taiwan
