Liu Huan, famed Chinese singer who performed at the Beijing Olympics, dies at 63

Veteran Chinese singer Liu Huan died in Shanghai on Friday (25 September), aged 63, passing at 9.52am surrounded by family, according to obituaries issued on Saturday by Beijing’s University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and the Mango V Foundation. (AsiaOne)

Xinhua reported he died of illness; the exact cause was not revealed. Citing the obituaries, China Daily said Liu asked for simple funeral arrangements — no funeral committee, and no farewell ceremony or memorial service. (Economic Times)

Born in Tianjin in August 1963, Liu studied French literature in Beijing before rising to prominence in the 1980s for songs blending Chinese and western music traditions. His “Heroes’ Song” became the theme tune of the hit 1998 TV series The Water Margin, and he sang the theme “You and Me” alongside British soprano Sarah Brightman at the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. (AsiaOne)

Liu taught at UIBE for over three decades until his retirement in 2023. In 2019 he donated 20 million yuan to set up the Liu Huan Original Music Fund with the Mango V Foundation to support young Chinese-language musicians. He mentored on The Voice of China (2012), Sing My Song (2014) and Sing! China (2017). (AsiaOne)