Samuel Hui

Infobox Chinese-language singer and actor
name = Samuel Hui Koon-kit


caption =
chinesename =
tradchinesename = 許冠傑
simpchinesename = 许冠杰
pinyinchinesename = Xǔ Guàn jié
jyutpingchinesename = heoi2 gun3 git6
birthname = Samuel (Sam) Hui
ancestry = Panyu, Guangdong
origin = Hong Kong
birthdate = birth date and age|1948|9|6
birthplace = Hong Kong
deathdate =
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restingplace =
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othername = God of Song (歌神), Sam哥
occupation = Singer, Actor
genre = Cantopop, English Pop
instrument = Guitar, Electric Bass Guitar, Piano, Violin, Harmonica, drums
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yearsactive = 1967 – 1992 2003 - present
currentmembers =
pastmembers =
associatedact = The Lotus
spouse = Rebecca Fleming (Rebu Hui)
partner =
children = Ryan Hui and Scott Hui
parents = Lee See Wun (Mother), Hui Sai Cheung (Father)
influences =
influenced =
website =
hongkongfilmwards =
goldenbauhiniaawards =
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Samuel Hui Koon-kit, usually known as Sam Hui, is best known for being a star in the Cantopop and movie industry in Hong Kong's from the 1960s to 1990s. He graduated from the Arts Faculty of University of Hong Kong, Ying Wa College and St Francis Xavier's College in the late 1960s to early 1970s. He and his brothers Michael and Ricky made several comedy blockbusters in the 1970s. He is also acknowledged for popularising Cantopop, by incorporating the then unknown idiosyncrasies of Western popular music into the Cantopop genre.

Film and singing career

He started his career as a host to a youth music TV show on TVB. At the time, he was the lead musician of his band named The Lotus. In the early years of his career, he sang Western songs from Britain and the U.S. However, he began singing Cantonese songs when he wrote the theme songs for the comedies produced by his brother Michael Hui.

His music appealed to the Hong Kong masses particularly the working class with its simple lyrics and light-hearted nature which was popular in Hong Kong music in the late 1970s. He penned most of the compositions and personally wrote most of the humorous lyrics that generally encompassed current issues in Hong Kong such as the song "Could Not Care Less About 1997" ( _zh. 話知你 97), which literally encourages the Hong Kong public to throw caution to the wind and enjoy their life instead of worrying about the imminent Handover to China in 1997.

On a personal note, he was closer to his middle brother Ricky Hui than to their eldest brother Michael Hui, and he and Michael reportedly fell out with each other after their pre-1985 successes. However, in Michael's "Chicken and Duck Talk" (1988) Sam appeared in a short 3-minute cameo, playing himself as master of ceremonies at the grand opening of David's Chicken. Then in 1990, the three brothers reunited in 'Front Page', a lampoon on Hong Kong's sometimes over-zealous entertainment news industry.

Sam also collaborated with several popular singers such as Leslie Cheung both musically and on-screen culminating in the hit single co-written by both Hui and Chung entitled "Silence is Golden" ( _zh. 沉默是金) which Hui also sung as a solo track on his 1987 album Hot Summer, as well as the catchy tune "I've Never Been Afraid". Sam also starred in the "Aces Go Places", a series of Hong Kong action–comedies in the 1980s, with Karl Maka.

He held a farewell concert in 1991-92, in which he invited many music celebrities and officially declared that he would not be active in the movie industry nor in Cantopop in the future. He was once seriously injured while filming The Legend of Wisely in Tibet due to lack of oxygen, thereafter falling very ill and many of his fans pointed out that this near fatal accident may have been pivotal on his decision to retire as they superstitiously believed that he was haunted by a spirit.

Despite reiterating his plans for retirement, Hui came back for a short stint in the movie "Winner Takes All" co-starring Nicholas Tse and Ruby Lin. This he maintained, was a result of being unable to ignore his heart's desire.

In 2007, Hui signed with EC Music and released his first album in 17 years, named "Life is Good" ( _zh. 人生多麼好).

Retirement

During the later 90's, Hui's father had advised him to retire to avoid the stresses he endured from hosting concerts. His mother purportedly also had some reservations against his performing, mainly that he could injure himself on stage. A Hong Kong concert in 1990 supposedly marked his early retirement, however Hui then agreed to host a 42 show concert. Around the time of the 30th show, Hui's father passed away but despite his grief, he continued to host. During 1991-1992, Hui hosted a total of 14 shows in Hong Kong preempting his actual retirement. He also hosted a show in Vancouver, Canada, in the Radisson Hotel, and also in Toronto, Canada, in which he dedicated this concert to his late-father. Widely acclaimed as the "God of Song" in Hong Kong, he decided to come out of retirement in 2004 and held multiple come-back concerts in which he was welcomed by a Hong Kong public and sell-out shows. In these concerts, he paid tribute to the recent passing of close colleagues, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui in 2003 and claimed that their deaths had influenced his decision to come out of retirement.

Performance

He performed in a concert in Kuala Lumpur on February 19 and February 202005 with his sons and his brother Ricky Hui but has not made active plans for any follow-ups. He also performed in Vancouver on 15 December 2005.

He is currently performing in concert at Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort

He had a sold-out concert in Hong Kong on December 16, 2007 with more than 30,000 fans.

Personal life

Sam Hui is married to Rebecca "Rebu" (nee Fleming) and has two sons, Ryan and Scott. Ryan Hui is also a singer/songwriter and has released several albums, while Scott Hui has pursued a career in film, directing a few videos for his brother.

Discography

Cantonese Albums:
* 鬼馬雙星 (1974)
* 天才與白痴 (1975)
* 半斤八兩 (1976)
* 財神到 (1978)
* 賣身契 (1978
* 念奴嬌 (1980)
* 摩登保鑣 (1981)
* 最佳拍檔 (1982)
* 最佳拍檔大顯神通 (1983)
* 新的開始 (1983.12)
* 最喜歡你 (1984.08)
* 最緊要好玩 (1985.08.30)
* 熱力之冠 (1986.08)
* 宇宙無限 (1986.12, EP)
* 潮流興夾Band (1987)
* 許冠傑新曲與精選 (1987)
* Sam and Friends (1988)
* 許冠傑89歌集 (1989)
* 香港情懷90 (1990)
* 90電影金曲精選 (1990)
* 歌神與您繼續微笑(04) (2004.06.01)
* 人生多麼好 (2007)

English Albums:
*"Time of The Season" (1971)
*"Morning After" (1974)
*"Interlude" (1975)
*"Came Travelling" (1977)

Filmography

* "Back Alley Princess" (馬路小英雄,1973)
* "The Tattooed Dragon" (龍虎金剛, 1973)
* "Chinatown Capers" (小英雄大鬧唐人街, 1974)
* "Naughty! Naughty!" (綽頭狀元, 1974)
* "Games Gamblers Play" (鬼馬雙星, 1974)
* "The Last Message" (天才與白痴, 1975)
* "The Private Eyes" (半斤八兩, 1976)
* "Money Crazy" (發錢寒, 1977)
* "The Contract" (賣身契, 1978)
* "Security Unlimited" (摩登保鑣, 1981)
* "Aces Go Places" (最佳拍檔, 1982)
* "Aces Go Places II" (最佳拍檔大顯神通, 1983)
* "" (最佳拍檔之女皇密令, 1984)
* "A Family Affair" (全家福, 1984)
* "Working Class" (打工皇帝, 1985)
* "Aces Go Places IV" (最佳拍檔千里救差婆, 1986)
* "The Legend of Wisely" (衛斯理傳奇, 1987)
* "Chicken and Duck Talk" (雞同鴨講, 1988; Cameo)
* "Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit" (新最佳拍檔, 1989)
* "The Dragon from Russia" (紅場飛龍, 1990)
* "The Swordsman" (笑傲江湖, 1990)
* "Front Page" (新半斤八兩, 1990)
* "All's Well, Ends Well Too" (花田囍事, 1992)
* "Laughter of the Water Margins" (水滸笑傳, 1993)
* "Winner Takes All" (大贏家, 2000)

External links

*imdb name|id=0401207|name=Samuel Hui
* [http://www.ecm.com.hk/music/music_content.php?mid=7 Sam's latest album's offical site]

###@@@KEY@@@### s-ach|awsuccession box
title=Golden Needle Award of RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award
years=1985
before=Lau Dong
after=Tang Ti-sheng