Ray Cordeiro
Ray Cordeiro was born in Hong Kong to Portuguese parents on 12 December 1924 and has devoted his life to the development of local radio broadcasting and the music scene.
His education at St. Joseph’s College was interrupted by the war, part of which he spent as a refugee in Macau. In 1945, he found work as a warder at Hong Kong’s Stanley Prison, and a year later he joined HSBC. In 1949, pursuing a passion for music, he started as a scriptwriter at Rediffusion. His first radio show, Progressive Jazz, began his career as a disc jockey and ran from 1949 to 1960. In the 1950s, he added programmes including The Beginners Please, where he discovered the late Matt Monro, Rumpus Time and Talent Time (Hong Kong’s first TV singing contest).
In 1960, he joined Radio Hong Kong as Head of Light Music, and from the mid-1960s presented a pot-pourri of popular daily music programmes. His live show Lucky Dip, which gave a platform to new talent, was a massive hit. From 1970, he concentrated on his acclaimed late-night live show, All The Way with Ray.
Ray Cordeiro is known affectionately in Hong Kong as ‘Uncle Ray’ for his mentoring of local young pop musicians in the 1960s, many of whom achieved stardom. In his own career, he has interviewed a portfolio of famous international artists, including The Beatles, Cliff Richard and Tony Bennett, and most of Hong Kong’s top performers.
Ray Cordeiro was honoured with an MBE in 1987 and a Bronze Bauhinia Star in 2008. Paul Anka presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of RTHK in 1997. In 2000, he was recognised by Guinness World Records as ‘The World’s Most Durable Radio DJ’. And in 2012, Hong Kong’s Academy for Performing Arts made him an Honorary Fellow.
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"This is the story of my life: my autobiography. It is also the story of the music scene for almost a century in Hong Kong. In the past, I have mainly communicated with fans and listeners through music. This time, however, is different. After years of hard work, I have finally achieved my wish. I am sharing my life story in words and pictures." All The Way With Ray tells the story of a man from humble beginnings who through hard work and dedication rose to become a giant in the music industry. His passion for popular music, especially that of the 1930s through the 1960s, has brought enormous pleasure to millions over the airwaves for more than 50 years. His daily late-night show built almost a cult following among Hong Kong people, here and overseas, especially those of an older generation. More than just a story of one man, All The Way With Ray documents the history of the music scene in Hong Kong from the inception of radio broadcasting in 1929 to the present day. Against the backdrop of the territory's development and vicissitudes of that time, it charts the success of many local celebrities who credit their stardom in Band Sound, cover songs, Cantopop and folk music in no small part to help from 'Uncle Ray'. LOOK INSIDE THIS BOOK Click the following link to read excerpts from the book! Chapter One: The Early Years