Teresa Teng Asian pop singer Date of Birth: 29.01.1953 Country: Thailand

Biography of Teresa Teng

Teresa Teng, whose real name is Teng Li-chun, was born in 1953 in the village of Tianyan in Baozhong, Yunlin County, Taiwan. She came from a family of Chinese immigrants. Her father named her Teresa based on the advice of close friends, which means "Beautiful Lady" in translation.

From a young age, Teresa displayed phenomenal singing abilities. At the age of 10, she won her first significant prize for her rendition of the song "Visiting Yingtai." Even as a child, she supported her family by winning various competitions. At the age of 12, with her father's approval, she left middle school to attend a private girls' music school, while continuing to participate in various music competitions.

In 1963, Teresa became one of the winners of an inter-district reading competition. A few years later, in 1967, shortly after graduating from school, she recorded her first album. At the age of 15, she received an invitation to participate in a popular television show, and within a year, she was simultaneously appearing in the film "Thank You, Director" and the hit series "Brilliance."

In 1970, Teresa moved to Hong Kong, where she began her active music career. Soon after, she embarked on a lengthy tour of Southeast Asia, during which she recorded many of her famous songs. In 1973, Teresa became the most popular singer in Hong Kong. She even received offers from Japanese radio stations, which had never previously shown interest in Chinese performers or musicians. That same year, Teresa began studying English intensively and appeared more frequently in TV series and films.

In 1974, Teresa made the decision to move to Japan. However, she faced many challenges, including learning the Japanese language, culture, and traditions. Despite initial setbacks, her album "Airport" gained immense popularity, especially the song of the same name. The song quickly reached the top of the charts and earned Teresa the award for "Best New Singer of 1974." Over the next two years, she toured Asia, recorded classical works, and began hosting her own television show called "Teresa Teng TV Series." She also released a series of successful songs for Japanese radio stations.

In 1980, Teresa celebrated her 15-year anniversary in the music industry with a grand concert called the "Billion Applause Concert," which she described as one of the highlights of her life. In 1984, she made the decision to continue her career in Japan, where her album immediately achieved platinum status, and many of her songs topped the charts. She became the first recognized foreign star in Japan and was named one of the "Ten Best Young Performers in Taiwan."

During the late 1980s, Teresa moved to France, where she purchased a house and an apartment. In the 1990s, she gradually withdrew from the public eye and focused on living a normal life. In 1991, it was reported that Teresa was in a relationship with a French photographer.

After 1991, Teresa retired from performing concerts and dedicated more time to charity work. She battled asthma and other chronic illnesses throughout her life. In 1995, she traveled to Chiang Mai, known for its favorable climate and environment for recovery, with her French friend.

On May 8, 1995, Teresa Teng passed away from an acute asthma attack. News of her death quickly spread throughout Asia. Her body was transported to Taiwan on May 11 and buried with great ceremony. Her funeral attracted at least 200,000 people, including high-profile figures such as the Governor of Taiwan, the Minister of Defense, and the Mayor of Taipei. A small garden with a life-size statue of Teresa was created near her grave.

Teresa Teng recorded over 1,000 songs in various languages and dialects, including Chinese, Japanese, English, Vietnamese, French, Indonesian, and Malay. Even more than 10 years after her death, songs such as "Plum Flowers," "Sweet-heart," and "The Water Side" continue to enjoy immense popularity. There is even a saying that "wherever the Chinese people are, Teresa Teng's songs will be heard."