# George Lam

George Lam Tsz Cheung (born 12 October 1947), also known professionally by his surname Lam, is a Hong Kong-based veteran Cantopop singer, singer-songwriter, music producer and actor, with a career that spanning more than four decades. Self-producing, Lam creates most of his own albums and songs, as well as being especially involved with creative direction of his work outside its musical aspects. Lam has a wide vocal range and has interpreted and performed in many different genres of music.
His works are best known for pioneering a variety of genres in the Hong Kong music scene, such as creating the known first Cantorap, "Ah Lam's Diary", and the medley "10 Minutes 12 Inches" from multiple Cantopop hits, with the latter composition's interwoven intricacies creating a derivative for Lam's eponymous concert Lamusical with his own hits.
In addition to his singing career, Lam has also acted in various TV dramas and films, making his film debut in Luckies Trio in 1978. Possibly his most memorable role was as Shiomi Akutagawa, a Japanese journalist in Boat People (1982), directed by Ann Hui, in which he was nominated for Best Actor in the Hong Kong Film Awards.

## Early life

Lam was born in British Hong Kong to a family of physicians, with both his father, a Yuen Long obstetrician, and paternal grandfather (the former hospital chief executive of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital) being doctors. He attended Tak Sun Primary School, then Diocesan Boys' School, a predominantly English-language boys school, where he was a boarder. At the latter school, he chose to study French.
Lam started to pick up music at a young age, when his grandfather often took him to watch Chinese and Western movies, which exposed him to film music. His parents often played music around the house, and a sparked interest with listening to music on the radio led to him teaching himself to play the guitar. In 1965, Lam moved abroad to further his studies in the United Kingdom, attending Dover College and transferring to the Barcote School of Coaching, and United States. During this time at the latter school, he formed a folk song group, the Midnighters, with two friends of his. During his subsequent stay in the U.S., he began to experience a more diverse range of musical genres, which would greatly influence his work.

## Career

After his studies in the United Kingdom, Lam remained for a few years for work before moving to California, where he coached tennis and worked in a stock brokerage firm. It was during this time that Lam started writing his own songs. Not long thereafter, he returned to Hong Kong to launch his music career.
Lam started as one of the lead singers in the band "Jade". In 1976, he went solo with the release of his first eponymous English album, "Lam". His first Cantonese album came out in 1978. In 1980, two of his compositions ("In The Middle of The Water"《在水中央》and "Need You Every Minute"《分分鐘需要你》) won Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards. Throughout the 1980s, 23 of Lam's songs topped the RTHK Chinese Pop Chart, making him second only to Alan Tam, who had 28.

## Personal life

Lam married Ng Ching Yuen in 1980. Together, they have a son, Alex Lam Tak Shun, who is also a singer and actor, and a daughter April. Lam and Ng divorced in 1994. On 17 July 1996, he married singer and actress Sally Yeh.
Aside from his musical activities, Lam is a lover of sports and visual arts. Some of his particular ventures in sports is tennis and golf. In terms of visual arts, he as an especial fondness for drawing mazes; one of his artworks was engraved onto a Lalique-produced crystal Buddha, with his collaboration lending itself as the French company's first collaboration with a Chinese artist. Lam also likes tailoring, often modifying clothes to his own taste.
During a May 2003 guest performance for Liza Wang at the Hong Kong Coliseum, Lam accidentally fell 2.5 metres through a stage floor opening. The accident injured his right ear, resulting in partial hearing loss, particularly in high frequencies, and tinnitus, leaving him hearing sounds in mono. A few months after his injury, he gave a series of concerts across southern China for the purpose of acclimating himself to performing with his altered hearing.

## Artistry
### Musical style

Lam's experiences abroad is the strongest influence within his work, where he has introduced a wide variety of song styles to the Hong Kong pop music scene, with many originals and covers becoming Cantopop classics. His work encompasses a wide stylistic range, from country rock, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk, jazz, rap, traditional Chinese songs, to tango and bossa nova.
When producing covers, he taps into a wide variety of countries and regions, spanning from western Europe to particular Asian countries like Japan and South Korea. The pieces he selects to cover range in genres from folk songs, classical music, and jazz musicals, to funk and rock and roll.

### Voice and timbre

Lam has been regarded to have a very wide tenor range, with his highest notes reaching F5, D#6 in full voice and volume, and his lowest notes is the G2.

## Awards and achievements

Lam's four decade-long career has shaped a significant part of the Hong Kong music scene. Many of today's top Cantopop singers such as Eason Chan, Hacken Lee, and Andy Lau have been influenced by his music. In an interview, George Lam confirmed he encouraged Andy Lau to be a singer when the two of them met during a movie filming.
In recognition of his contribution to music, Lam has received numerous accolades, including the Golden Needle Award in 1994, the CASH Hall of Fame Award in 2003, the J.S.G. Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and the RTHK Hall of Fame Award in 2016.
Name of the award ceremony, year presented, type of award, category of the award, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee(s) / Work(s) | Result |
| Hong Kong Film Awards | 1982 | Best Actor | Boat People 《投奔怒海》 | Nominated |
| Hong Kong Film Awards | 1983 | Best Original Film Song | All the Wrong Spies《我愛夜來香》 | Nominated |
| Hong Kong Film Awards | 1984 | Best Original Film Song | The Owl vs Bombo 《貓頭鷹與小飛象》 | Nominated |
| Hong Kong Film Awards | 1985 | Best Original Film Song | Lost Romance | Nominated |
| Hong Kong Film Awards | 1986 | Best Original Film Song | Passion《最愛》 | Won |
| Hong Kong Film Awards | 1988 | Best Original Film Song | Starry is the Night 《今夜星光燦爛》 | Nominated |
| Hong Kong Film Awards | 2007 | Best Original Film Song | The Pye-Dog | Nominated |
| Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award | 1994 | Golden Needle Award | Himself | Won |
| CASH Hall of Fame Award | 2003 | — | Himself | Won |
| J.S.G. Lifetime Achievement Award | 2015 | — | Himself | Won |
| RTHK Hall of Fame Award | 2016 | — | Himself | Won |

## Discography

List of albums including release year and language :
| Year | Title | Language |
| 1976 | Lam | English |
| 1977 | Lam II | English |
| 1978 | Teresa Carpio & Lam | English |
| 1978 | 各師各法 | Cantonese |
| 1979 | 抉擇 | Cantonese |
| 1980 | 摩登土佬 | Cantonese |
| 1980 | 一個人 | Cantonese |
| 1981 | 活色生香 | Cantonese |
| 1982 | 海市蜃樓 | Cantonese |
| 1983 | 愛情故事 | Cantonese |
| 1984 | 愛到發燒 | Cantonese |
| 1984 | 林子祥創作歌集 | Cantonese |
| 1985 | 林子祥85特輯 (LAM '85) | Cantonese |
| 1985 | 十分十二吋 (12" Single) | Cantonese |
| 1985 | 誘惑 | Cantonese |
| 1986 | 最愛 | Cantonese |
| 1986 | 千億個夜晚 | Cantonese |
| 1987 | 花街70號 | Cantonese |
| 1988 | 林子祥創作+流行歌集 | Cantonese |
| 1988 | 生命之曲 | Cantonese |
| 1989 | 林子祥長青歌集 | Cantonese |
| 1990 | 十三子祥 | Cantonese |
| 1990 | 日落日出 | Cantonese |
| 1990 | Lessons | English |
| 1991 | 小說歌集 | Cantonese |
| 1991 | 這是你是真的傷了我的心 | Mandarin |
| 1992 | 這樣愛過你 | Mandarin |
| 1992 | 最難忘的你 | Cantonese |
| 1992 | 祈望 | Cantonese |
| 1993 | '93創作歌集 | Cantonese |
| 1993 | When a Man Loves a Woman | English |
| 1993 | 決定 | Mandarin |
| 1994 | 單手拍掌 | Cantonese |
| 1995 | 感謝 | Mandarin |
| 1996 | 緣是這樣 | Cantonese |
| 1997 | 好氣連祥 | Cantonese |
| 1998 | 現代人新曲+精選 | Cantonese |
| 1998 | 尋祥歌 | Mandarin |
| 2001 | 只有林子祥 | Cantonese |
| 2004 | Until We Meet Again | Cantonese |
| 2007 | 佐治地球轉 | Cantonese |
| 2010 | Lamusique | Cantonese |
| 2011 | Lamusique Vintage | Cantonese |
| 2014 | LAMUSIC Original Classics | Cantonese |
| 2015 | 佐治地球40年 | Cantonese |

## Filmography

Adapted from his IMDB profile.
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 1978 | Luckies Trio | 各師各法 | | | |
| 1979 | Money Trip | 懵女，大賊，傻偵探 | | | |
| 1979 | The Secret | 瘋劫 | | | |
| 1980 | Disco Bumpkins | 摩登土佬 | | | |
| 1980 | Confused Hero | 糊塗英雄 | | | |
| 1981 | All the Wrong Clues for the Right Solution | 鬼馬智多星 | Yoho | | |
| 1981 | Life After Life | 再生人 | | | |
| 1982 | Aces Go Places | 最佳拍檔 | Ambulance Driver | Cameo | |
| 1982 | It Takes Two | 難兄難弟 | Olive Peddler | | |
| 1982 | Boat People | 投奔怒海 | Shiomi Akutagawa | | |
| 1983 | All the Wrong Spies | 我愛夜來香 | | | |
| 1984 | Banana Cops | 英倫琵琶 | | | |
| 1984 | The Owl vs Bombo | 貓頭鷹與小飛象 | Wong "Owl Wong" Yan-Fu | | |
| 1985 | Kung Hei Fat Choy | 恭喜發財 | "Mo" | | |
| 1985 | Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars | 夏日福星 | | | |
| 1985 | It's a Drink, It's a Bomb | 聖誕奇遇結良緣 | | | |
| 1985 | Lost Romance | | | | |
| 1986 | Passion | 最愛 | | | |
| 1987 | Easy Money | 通天大盜 | | | |
| 1988 | Heart to Hearts | 三人世界 | | | |
| 1988 | Starry is the Night | 今夜星光燦爛 | | | |
| 1989 | Perfect Match | 最佳男朋友 | | | |
| 1989 | Heart into Hearts | 三人新世界 | | | |
| 1990 | A Bite of Love | 一咬OK | | | |
| 1990 | Shanghai Shanghai | 亂世兒女 | | | |
| 1991 | The Banquet | 豪門夜宴 | Prince Alibaba of Kuwait | | |
| 1991 | The Perfect Match | 富貴吉祥 | Koo | | |
| 1992 | Heart Against Hearts | 三人做世界 | | | |
| 1993 | Perfect Couples | 皆大歡喜 | | | |
| 1997 | A Queer Story | 基佬四十 | | | |
| 1997 | Up for the Rising Sun | 擁抱朝陽 | | | |
| 2003 | Love Under the Sun | 愛在陽光下 | | | |
| 2004 | Six Strong Guys | 六壯士 | | | |
| 2006 | Love at First Note | 戀愛初歌 | | | |
| 2007 | The Pye-Dog | | | | |
| 2007 | Wonder Women | | | | |
| 2009 | Look for a Star | 游龍戲鳳 | "Sharky" | | |
| 2011 | Hi, Fidelity | 出軌的女人 | | | |
| 2018 | Europe Raiders | | "Mercury" | | |
| 2021 | Singing With Legends | 我们的歌3 | Senior Singer | Variety Show | |

## Concerts

Concert by year, title, venue, and city :
| Year | Title | Title | Venue | City | Ref. |
| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Venue | City | Ref. |
| 1976 | Teresa Carpio & George Lam Concert | | | Hong Kong | |
| 1981 | | 林子祥Show | | Hong Kong | |
| 1983 | | 林子祥演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 1985 | | 林子祥85演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 1987 | | 林子祥演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 1988-1989 | LAM 88-89 LIVE | | | Hong Kong | |
| 1990-1991 | | 特醇星徽林子祥90演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 1992-1993 | | 白花油林子祥有情演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 1995 | 95 Lam in Live | 林子祥寄廿載情演唱會95 | | Hong Kong | |
| 1998 | | 林子祥葉蒨文好氣連場98 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2001 | Live Contact Lam 2001 | 最愛接觸林子祥演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2001 | | 01年拉闊壓軸 林子祥&陳奕迅音樂會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2002 | | 港樂·林子祥HKPO & Lam Live | | Hong Kong | |
| 2005 | "Always" Lam in Concert | 子有祥情林子祥演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2007 | Teresa & Lam Live at the HK Coliseum 2007 | 仍然最愛林子祥杜麗莎演唱會 | Hong Kong Coliseum | Hong Kong | |
| 2009 | Lam@Coliseum | 十分十二子祥演唱會 | Hong Kong Coliseum | Hong Kong | |
| 2010 | | Lam Made in Love 音樂會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2011 | Music is Love George Lam X Hacken Lee | 林子祥x李克勤 拉闊音樂會2011 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2011-2012 | Vintage Lamusic Concert | | | Hong Kong | |
| 2013 | | 絕對熹祥- A Mix & Match Concert with 林子祥 & 趙增熹 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2016 | George Lam 40th Anniversary Concert | 林子祥佐治地球四十年演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2016 | | 越唱越響40年演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2018 | | 越唱越響40年演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2019 | Lamusical2019 | 林子祥 Lamusical 2019 演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2019 | | 林子祥開心演唱會 The Smiling Concert | | Hong Kong | |
| 2020 | | 林子祥開心演唱會 The Smiling Concert | | Hong Kong | |
| 2022 | | 林子祥開心演唱會 香港站 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2023 | | 林子祥開心賀歲演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |
| 2023-2024 | | 林子祥50堅演唱會 | | Hong Kong | |