Ray Cordeiro
Ray Cordeiro | |||||||||
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Born | Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro 12 December 1924 Wan Chai, Hong Kong | ||||||||
Died | 13 January 2023 Ma Liu Shui, Hong Kong | (aged 98)||||||||
Other names | Uncle Ray | ||||||||
Occupations |
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Chinese name | |||||||||
Chinese | 郭利民 | ||||||||
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Website | www |
Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro
Early life and career
Born Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro in
Cordeiro attended St Joseph's College shortly before World War II. During the war, his mother and sisters moved to Macau while Cordeiro stayed with his father, who worked with HSBC in Hong Kong. In 1943, Cordeiro joined the rest of the family living at a refugee camp in Macau.[5] A big band performed at the camp on New Year's Eve in 1944, which developed Cordeiro's interest in the drums.[5]
After the war, Cordeiro worked as a warden in Stanley Prison. He befriended a young prisoner, but left the job after he refused to help the prisoner escape.[5] On the advice of his father, Cordeiro got a job at HSBC, while also moonlighting as a drummer.[5] He described two jobs as a "pretty good life", though he was "bored to death working at the bank."[5]
Radio career
In 1949, at the age of 25, he started his broadcasting career as a scriptwriter with
Through the years, Cordeiro had interviewed many prominent musicians, including the Beatles. He was recognised by Elvis Presley Enterprises for his lifelong contribution to Presley. He was voted top DJ in Hong Kong for four consecutive years. He was awarded an MBE in 1987 by Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace.[2]
Cordeiro received an honorary fellowship from the
On 15 May 2021, Cordeiro retired at the age of 96 after hosting his final radio show, which had been running on public broadcaster RTHK since 1970.[6][10]
All the Way with Ray: My Autobiography, a career-focused memoir by Cordeiro, was published in 2021 by Hong Kong-based Blacksmith Books.[11]
Death
Cordeiro died at the CUHK Medical Centre in Hong Kong on 13 January 2023, aged 98.[9][12][13] Government officials expressed their condolences with the news of his death.[14][7]
Programmes hosted
Radio Rediffusion
- Progressive Jazz (1949–1960)[5]
- Talent Time[12]
- The Beginners Please[12]
- The Diamond Music Show[12]
- Shriro Hit Parade[12]
- Rumpus Time (1950s)[12]
- Swing and Sway with Ray (–1960)[5]
RHTK
- From Me To You[12]
- Hit Parade[12]
- Lucky Dip[12]
- All the Way with Ray (1970 – 15 May 2021)[5]
- Just Jazz with Uncle Ray[15]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Games Gamblers Play | [8] | |
1975 | Let's Rock | [8] | |
1975 | The Last Message | Assassin, policeman | [2][8] |
1976 | The Private Eyes | [8] | |
1981 | Security Unlimited | Horse race trickster | [8] |
1981 | Job Hunter | [16] | |
1983 | All the Wrong Spies | The Jew | [8] |
References
- ^ "Executive日記——長壽DJ停播疑雲 Uncle Ray動人舊歌". 頭條日報 Headline Daily (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ a b c "For the record". South China Morning Post. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Bittersweet 93rd birthday for DJ 'Uncle Ray' as he mourns Mona Fong". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ "Uncle Ray Cordeiro, 1924–2023". RTHK News.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "'Uncle Ray' Cordeiro, 96, on a lifetime of DJing and how he got started". South China Morning Post. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Hong Kong's Ray Cordeiro, 'world's most durable DJ', retires at 96". BBC News. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ a b "SCED expresses sorrow over passing of Dr Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro". Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ray Cordeiro". hkmdb.com. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ a b "RTHK's 'Uncle Ray' Cordeiro dies aged 98". RTHK News. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Uncle Ray brings curtain down on 70-year career – RTHK". RTHK News. RTHK. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "All The Way With Ray: My Autobiography". Blacksmith Books. 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "'World's most durable DJ', Hong Kong's 'Uncle' Ray Cordeiro, dies at 98". South China Morning Post. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (14 January 2023). "Ray Cordeiro, 'Uncle Ray,' World's Most Durable DJ, Dies at 98". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "SCST expresses deep sorrow over passing of Dr Reinaldo Maria Cordeiro". Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "RTHK Radio 4 Just Jazz with Uncle Ray". RTHK. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ 著名唱片騎師Uncle Ray 離世 享年98歲 [Famous DJ Uncle Ray has passed away at the age of 98]. inmediahk.net. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.