At the age of 98, Ray Cordeiro passed away on Friday. He had been a mainstay of the Hong Kong music industry for over seven decades.
According to his burial committee, Cordeiro, whose real name was Raimundo Maria Cordeiro but who was better known by his alias “Uncle Ray,” passed away on Friday at the CUHK Medical Centre in Hong Kong. This information was released on Saturday local time. According to the committee, a rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was played for him by friends and relatives, even though the cause of death was not made public.
Cordeiro, born on December 12th, 1924, worked as a bank teller and a jail warder before starting his career in television in 1949. At Radio Hong Kong, which subsequently evolved into RTHK, he was named chief of light music in 1960.
What happened to Uncle Ray?
On Saturday, his funeral committee issued a statement saying, “Uncle Ray has passed away.” We announce the demise of Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro, better known as Uncle Ray, at the CUHK Medical Centre on January 13, 2023, at 98. With a version of You’ll Never Walk Alone, his closest loved ones said farewell.
The committee promised to release information on the memorial service soon. It stated, “We would like to express our gratitude to the medical staff of CUHK Medical Centre for their professionalism and good assistance.”
Uncle Ray’s Cause of Death
The musician Joe Junior led the singing of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” when he passed away on January 13 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, according to the committee organising his burial. He passed away surrounded by his closest friends.
In Hong Kong, the “Godfather of Music” At 98, Ray Cordeiro, passed away on Friday. At 98, Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro, also known as Uncle Ray to his crowds of listeners, passed away quietly in a Hong Kong hospital.
Who was Uncle Ray?
Ray Cordeiro, sometimes known as “Uncle Ray,” was a local music pioneer for over seven decades. Cordeiro, a Portuguese-born Hong Kong native, In a recent interview, proclaimed to be “the luckiest man in the world.”
He told RTHK, “I don’t think I have any regrets. To do what I want to do, to love what I want to love.” He met many famous musicians throughout his spectacular 72-year career, including the Beatles, Cliff Richard, and Tony Bennett.
Cordeiro Radio Career Journey
When Cordeiro joined the British broadcaster Rediffusion in 1949, the same year Fong arrived in Hong Kong, he started his radio career. In 1957, she would be the station’s host of the variety show Mona Fong Show.
She already had a large following from her English song career; therefore, that event was very well attended. But when I first heard her, she was a cabaret singer, and I was particularly taken with her bassy voice, said Cordeiro, who holds the title of “most resilient DJ” in the Guinness World Records.
Due to her reputation, she accepted Cordeiro’s invitation to share the stage with Matt Monro at Operation Santa Claus, a 1962 charity event hosted at the new City Hall. She was the only female vocalist to do so. Top British vocalist Monro later had singles, including “From Russia with Love” and “Born Free.”
A UNIQUE way to say GOODBYE to the Show
After his show With Ray on Saturday night, he acknowledged his listeners.
That’s it. The DJ, also known as Uncle Ray, thanked everyone for tuning in, said farewell, and thanked them for attending in English and Cantonese.
Rewards and Recognition
He was a well-known figure in Hong Kong popular culture and our benevolent elder. Ray strongly inspired the music scene of the city. We shall miss him and are very sorry for his loss.
Uncle Ray first joined RTHK in 1960 as the head of light music. His famous “With Ray” programme, before he retired in 2021, which was broadcast on RTHK Radio 3 for 51 years, is highly known. Including the Beatles, many of the finest musicians in the world were interviewed by Uncle Ray.
The Guinness Book of World Records recognised him as the “World’s Most Resilient DJ” in 2000; he was presented with a Silver Bauhinia Star the previous year. An MBE was awarded in 1987, an honorary fellowship was given by the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts in 2012, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong will confer an honorary doctorate in social science in 2022.
Tributes Posted
Eddie Posted Cheung, the director of broadcasting, conveyed his sympathies to Uncle Ray’s friends and family on behalf of himself and his family. The media and music sectors were also thanked for their priceless lifetime contributions.
The secretary of trade and economic development, Algernon Yau, expressed his sorrow over the news and added: “I would like to convey my sincere thanks to Dr Cordeiro for his lifetime contributions to the broadcasting sector and extend my profound condolences to his family. We’ll remember him with appreciation.