Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong passed away at the age of 41 after a long period of illness.
The label said that Fong “leaved the world peacefully” on the morning of February 21st after fighting with his illness, resilience and positive attitude for five years.
A week before his death, Fong shared his last Instagram post on February 13th, extending Lunar’s New Year’s greeting to fans, promoting “Oasis,” the latest song from his 10-track album The Dreamer, released last year.
He described the album as a deep, personal project that documented “at various stages of illness.”
Born in Hawaii, USA in 1983, Phong grew up in a multicultural environment, immersed in Chinese culture, and was exposed to a diverse range of musical influences, including soul, funk and jazz. His family moved to Cantonese and Shanghai before settling in Hong Kong in the late 1990s.
Fong became prominent in the Chinese music industry with the release of his debut album Soul Boy in 2005, and his unique blend of hit songs Spring Breeze and R&B and a unique blend of soul music led to comparisons with artists such as David Tao and Jay Chu. Over the years, he has won numerous music awards and has become one of Hong Kong’s most influential singer-songwriters.
His most famous tracks include Love Love Love (2006) and Singalongsong (2008). He also wrote songs in collaboration with renowned artists such as Taiwanese pop stars A-Mei and Cantopop Legend Eason Chan.
Fong’s music, mainly in Mandarin and English, won him a dedicated follower across Asia. In 2006 he was recognized as one of Hong Kong’s “four small forces of singer-songwriters.”
After establishing his own music label, FU Music in 2016 and releasing his ninth album, JTW, Fong gradually retreated from Public Eye, sometimes releasing singles between 2018 and 2022.
Beyond music, Fong was a dedicated vegetarian and a follower of the Bahai faith. Despite his health challenges, he expressed his hopes of reuniting with his audience through music.
His death has led many to remember him as a talented musician and inspiration, expressing the sadness of dol from his fans and fellow artists.
While Fong’s manager described him as “kind, most talented, and most serious dreamer,” fans and critics welcomed his contributions to music and his ability to weave environmental awareness and introspective themes into the lyrics. fellow singer Louis Chang shared an emotional compliment and promised to give Fong a “big hug” when he meets again.