A legend has passed: Singapore mourns the loss of Ling Xiao, a voice that defined a generation. The music world in Singapore is in mourning following the death of beloved singer Ling Xiao, who passed away on December 13th at the age of 75, as reported by Lianhe Zaobao. He was a prominent figure in the local music scene during the vibrant 1970s.
Ling Xiao, whose given name was Tan Choon Huat, experienced a life that, while filled with musical success, also held significant health challenges. In 2022, he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed, leading to his eventual retreat from the public eye. Prior to this, he had battled several health issues, including hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes, according to Zaobao's reporting.
His funeral is scheduled for December 17th, as stated in his obituary.
Ling Xiao's journey in the music industry began when he was just 17 years old, in 1967. He launched his career with the song Ku Qing Hua (Melancholic Flower), which quickly became a local favourite and one of his signature hits.
Beyond his singing career, Ling Xiao also made a significant impact as a mentor on Mediacorp’s Golden Age Talentime program for several years, guiding and inspiring new talent.
In 2017, Ling Xiao celebrated his 50th year in the entertainment industry with a special concert at Resorts World Theatre, where he performed 38 songs from his extensive catalog of over 100 Mandarin albums. A year later, he was part of the cast of the Mandarin musical Taru, alongside other stars like Huang Jinglun and Freya Lim.
This is a significant loss for Singapore's cultural heritage. What are your favourite memories of Ling Xiao's music? Do you think his contributions to the music industry are adequately recognized? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
