Clarence Hui, the eminent music producer from Hong Kong, seems to possess a ‘magic touch’. Over the years, and particularly during the 1980s and 90s, Hui’s involvement has become synonymous with hit songs and successful albums. He jestingly credits his accomplishments to his ‘magic finger’, suggesting that he has a knack or destiny for creating mega-hits.
Hui’s repertoire is impressive, boasting successful collaborations with Cantopop giants like Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing, for whom he wrote the hit “In My Lifetime”. He produced the critically acclaimed concept album Wildflower (1991) for Sandy Lam Yik-lin, and coached Sam Hui Koon-kit on his musical comeback. His collaborations extend to other Cantopop luminaries, including Anita Mui Yim-fong, Priscilla Chan Wai-han, George Lam Chi-cheung, and Jacky Cheung Hok-yau.
Reflecting on his illustrious career spanning several decades, Hui shares insider insights about Hong Kong’s Cantopop scene in his new book. The Chinese-language publication, titled ‘Walking on Air’, delves into the golden era of Cantopop, focusing primarily on the 1970s and 80s. The title itself captures the transcendent nature of music, encapsulating its ability to elevate our spirit.
Hui was compelled to write the book due to the perceived lack of information about the local pop music scene. He believes fans born after the 1980s lack context about the era’s hits. Through his book, Hui aims to paint a comprehensive picture of Cantopop’s genesis and development.
Hui’s journey into the music industry began at Simon Fraser University in Canada, where he was a performing arts student. He met a TVB producer who had moved to Vancouver, and eventually signed a talent contract with the broadcaster, aiming to become a superstar. Although he didn’t get acting roles as he had envisioned, his career took a turn when he started assisting in music and dance production for various TVB shows. This eventually led to his successful career as a music producer.
Hui attributes his success to his performing arts background, which he says, allowed him to coax singers to discover the character and ‘soul’ in their songs. His unique approach involved infusing musical theatre elements into Cantopop, which added depth to the singers’ performances.
In his book, Hui highlights the immense contributions of lyricists, songwriters, and producers in shaping Hong Kong’s music landscape. The book is dedicated to the late Richard Lam Chun-keung, a prolific Cantopop lyricist, and Hui’s ‘brother in music’.
While Hui acknowledges that the golden age of Cantopop may be over, he remains optimistic about its future. He believes that the market for Cantopop is larger than ever and sees potential for a new golden era. His optimism is underscored by the popularity of the Cantopop show ‘Infinity and Beyond’ on TVB, which he is part of. In Hui’s words, “Anything that goes up must come down. But anything that goes down must go up”.
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