Joseph Koo Ka-fai, the Hong Kong composer synonymous with the golden age of Cantopop, has died in Vancouver, Canada, at the age of 92.
Koo, who died on January 3, was known for his soundtracks to Bruce Lee films, hit songs for a galaxy of pop stars including the late Anita Mui Yim-fong and Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing, advertising jingles and compositions for television shows.
“Hong Kong today has a huge wealth of musical talents. But what made Koo’s era so special was how his career coincided with the rise of local television, which meant that his music was listened to far and wide and well beyond the shores of Hong Kong,” said long-time friend and collaborator Mui Kwong-chiu, chairman of the Hong Kong Composers’ Guild and director of the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong.
“While his music background was in the Western music tradition, he pioneered a skilful fusion with Chinese rhythms that came to be known as a uniquely Hong Kong sound,” said Mui.
As talented as Koo was, it was when he paired up with the gregarious lyricist and talk- show host James Wong Jim that his music truly sang. Koo and Wong were the Simon & Garfunkel and the John Lennon and Paul McCartney of Cantopop songwriting.
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