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| The cover of the book Thuyền Không Bến Đỗ (A Ship without a Destination), containing the lyrics of 110 songs composed by Vietnamese-American Lam Phương. — Photo courtesy of Bến Thành Audio Video |
Viet Nam News
HCM CITY — The newly released book Thuyền Không Bến Đỗ (A Ship without a Destination) features Vietnamese-American musician Lam Phương’s 110 works, mostly romantic songs written in the 1960s and 70s.
The book, released by Bến Thành Audio Video, includes songs Thành Phố Buồn (Sad City), Em Đi Rồi (You’re Gone), Duyên Kiếp (Fate) and Biển Tình (Sea of Love), performed by talented singers of different generations at home and abroad.
“Composer Phương helped us collect and edit his book,” said Phạm Quốc Thành, director of Bến Thành Audio Video, one of HCM City’s leading music producers and distributors.
Thành’s company is the sole distributor of Phương’s music in Việt Nam.
Phương was born in 1937 in the Cửu Long (Mekong Delta) province of Kiên Giang. He moved to Sài Gòn (now HCM City) in 1947 and studied music with veteran artist Lê Thương.
He began composing when he was only 15 years old, later becoming known for songs such as Khúc Ca Ngày Mùa (Song of the Harvest), Kiếp Nghèo (The Poor) and Thành Phố Buồn.
Phương composed music for leading drama troupes from the region, such as Kim Cương Troupe and Sống Troupe, owned by his wife, actress Túy Hồng.
After 1975, he lived in the US and then later moved to France. He now lives in California.
Many singers, including stars Bạch Yến, Ý Lan and Hương Lan, have performed some of his 200 songs.
Last year, the Voice of Việt Nam’s VOV3 hosted a special music show featuring Phương’s music to mark his 64-year career.
A series of shows featuring Phương’s music will be organised by Bến Thành Audio Video in the city in late September. — VNS
