Several of Vietnam’s top singers will gather to perform at a special concert to pay tribute to the famous composer and songwriter Thanh Tung, who many consider as the father of Vietnamese pop music. He died last month after eight years of illness.

Singer Hong Nhung

Scheduled to be held on May 7 at the Friendship Palace in Hanoi, the show has been named after a famous song by Tung, Ngôi Sao Cô Đơn (The Lonely Star). The event will feature a line-up of artists such as diva Hong Nhung, and in-vogue singers Dam Vinh Hung and My Tam.

Alongside his performance at the concert, Hanoian singer Tan Minh is also acting as the music editor of the show.

Speaking to the media in Hanoi at a press conference, Tung’s youngest daughter Nguyen Bach Duong, who flew from HCM City to attend the event, said the concert would be a meaningful event for all her family’s members.

“The tribute concert will be held on the occasion of my mother’s birthday, who passed away 26 years ago. Everyone knows that my mother was the endless inspiration for my father to compose many songs,” she said.

Duong also said that the concert was to repay the love of her father’s fans.

“After my father’s funeral, we received a lot of questions from both acquaintances and fans of my father on whether we would hold a tribute concert for him, so they would have a chance to listen again to their favourite songs. Now the concert is soon to happen, we feel like we can repay the love of my father’s fans.”

During the The Lonely Star, singers will perform a number of Tung’s hit songs, including The Lonely Star, Lời Tỏ Tình Của Mùa Xuân (Spring’s Love Declaration), Chuyện Tình Của Biển (Love Story of the Sea), Hoa Tím Ngoài Sân (Purple Flower in the Yard), Phố Biển (Sea Street), Mưa Ngâu (July Rain) and Trái Tim Không Ngủ Yên (Sleepless Heart).

Born in 1948 in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, Tung moved to Hanoi with his family when he was only six years old.

After his graduation from the Pyongyang Conservatory in 1971, he worked for the Voice of Vietnam in Hanoi until 1975. He then moved to HCM City where he contributed significantly to the establishment of the HCM City Television’s orchestra, and also worked as conductor and art manager for the HCM City-based Bông Sen (Lotus) Art Troupe.

In 1975, Tung composed his first pop song, Cây Sầu Riêng Trổ Bông (The Durian Tree Blossoms). Since then, he composed more than 200 songs, many of which became very popular among young Vietnamese people.

In 1990, Tung experienced an “emotional shock” when his beloved wife died. However, this pain helped him to create several hit songs. Many of the songs express his love for his wife, or the loneliness of life without her.

Vietnamese divas Thanh Lam and Hong Nhung have built up their fame with many songs written by Tung, including Em và Tôi (You and Me), Giọt Nắng Bên Thềm (Drops of Sunlight on the Terrace), Lối Cũ Ta Về (Back to the Old Path), Giọt Sương Trên Mi Mắt (Dew Drops on an Eyelash), and Một Mình (Alone).

In 2008, the composer suffered a stroke that led to hemiplegia (partial paralysis) after which he was confined to a wheelchair as he could no longer walk or speak.

The Lonely Star will start at 8pm on May 7.

VNS