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My grandma passed 3 months ago in Feb, age 93, of natural causes. I spent a lot of time scanning photos she left behind for her funeral and scanned more over quarantine.

My grandma, 梁萍 (Leung Ping / Teresa Leung; sometimes "Liang" instead) was a prominent "shidaiqu" pop singer under EMI/Pathé in Shanghai, who grew up in and witnessed hardships during the Chinese Civil War, Sino-Japanese War/WW2 and Communist Revolution. Upon the latter, shidaiqu was banned, deemed "Yellow Music" (in Chinese, "yellow", 黄, is a pun for "pornographic"). She fled to and continued singing in Hong Kong, then Singapore, before mostly retiring in San Francisco.

She was very private of these photos—I'd never seen them before she passed. My aunt reflected how she once asked her if she could look at them, and she smirked, "You can look at them when I go."

Here's a playlist of her music.

This is a condensed version, so you can visit my original Facebook album to see more.

More info: Facebook

Photos are mostly focused on the 1940s, 50s (most prominent) and 60s, with a bit into modern times; and focused on her career, with a little bit of her personal life.

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    #2

    With Elizabeth Taylor, Mike Todd, And Run Run Shaw

    With Elizabeth Taylor, Mike Todd, And Run Run Shaw

    w/ Run Run Shaw (Shaw Bros.), Elizabeth Taylor and her husband Mike Todd (who'd pass away only 4 months later in a plane accident). Singapore, November 1957.
    She was asked by Shaw to be a representative of the Singaporean entertainment industry to greet Taylor.

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    I originally shared these on Facebook to an overwhelmingly positive response and figured the Bored Panda community might appreciate a look too, into the past of times gone by.

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    This is a condensed version, so you can visit my original Facebook album to see more.

    #8

    Beautiful Black Dress

    Beautiful Black Dress

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    #9

    With Marian Anderson

    With Marian Anderson

    w/ Marian Anderson, one of the most important African-American singers who helped break many racial barriers. 1957.

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    #12

    She Still Looks Beautiful

    She Still Looks Beautiful

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    #13

    Posing With A Bike

    Posing With A Bike

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    #15

    Looks Like A Shot From A Movie

    Looks Like A Shot From A Movie

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    POST
    Kenny Kulbiski
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep! I'm thinking elegant undercover agents, midnight rendezvous, narrow escapes, and high adventures. To much noir on TMC probably.

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    #16

    A Watercolor Painting Of My Grandma In '89, Which Hanged In The Hallway Of Her House

    A Watercolor Painting Of My Grandma In '89, Which Hanged In The Hallway Of Her House

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    #17

    I'm Guessing This Was A Broadcasted Live Performance On Radio Malaya

    I'm Guessing This Was A Broadcasted Live Performance On Radio Malaya

    Malaya is a former name of Malaysia, that Singapore was part of until 1965... well, basically. The 50s and 60s were a crazy time between the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore).

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    #18

    In Malaya, In Kedazaan-Dusun Tribe Clothing

    In Malaya, In Kedazaan-Dusun Tribe Clothing

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    Melania
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kadazan-Dusun is a Native Tribe of North Borneo, specifically Sabah, Malaysia (formerly, Malaya).This is a very unique combination of a different district traditional costume namely Penampang (the sleveless and long skirt) and Papar ( the white inner shirt and hat/siung). I am proud to see our traditional costume on Bored Panda!

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    #20

    Beer Ad

    Beer Ad

    Advertisement for German beer, Beck's. Was told that "Kunchi" is Malaysian for "key".

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    Steffi Lowin
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is my hometown beer. The key is Our city's symbol, thats the connection

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    #21

    Another Newspaper Clipping, Competing For Miss Hong Kong

    Another Newspaper Clipping, Competing For Miss Hong Kong

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    #22

    With Yao Lee (I Believe That Is)

    With Yao Lee (I Believe That Is)

    I speculate that may be Yao Lee by my grandma. Yao Lee was an important singer of shidaiqu, one of the "Seven Great Singing Stars" of Shanghai, and helped my grandma's singing career. The two of them would sing together over the radio.
    You may have heard her music recently in the film, "Crazy Rich Asians."

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    Richard Tay
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The lady on the left is not Yao Li. I know the were great friends, and had the honour of having dinner with both ladies in Hong Kong in 1992.

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    #24

    40s-50s

    40s-50s

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    Vicenç Feliú
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a fantastic life your grandmother must have lived. Great post.

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    #27

    Concert

    Concert

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    Richard Tay
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think this clam backdrop is the Cathay hotel nightclub restaurant in Singapore. It was very grand and they only had the top performers work there and you had to sing in English too.

    #29

    Broadcasting Ad

    Broadcasting Ad

    Broadcasting ad, sponsored by a multivitamins company and some good ol' Danish beer.

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    Ang.stl
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’m guessing this is a photo or paper ad, and I have to say it has aged well. It and, more importantly, your grandma look beautiful!! She is so regal in every outfit I’ve seen; SHE has made the outfit look good, not the other way around.

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    #33

    Another Take From The Celebrity Party

    Another Take From The Celebrity Party

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    logical fallacy
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Elizabeth Taylor did have a thing for bling, didn't she. Just look at those earrings.

    #34

    In Her Youth

    In Her Youth

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    #35

    With Carrie Koo Mei

    With Carrie Koo Mei

    I am not sure who that is to picture-left, but at the right is 顧媚 (Gu Mei / Carrie Koo Mei), another prominent shidaiqu singer, who also starred in a few Shaw Bros. films, before retiring to Vancouver to become a painter.

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    #36

    Not Sure If She's At Recording Studio Or On Radio

    Not Sure If She's At Recording Studio Or On Radio

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    #37

    Singing Or Talking To An Auditorium

    Singing Or Talking To An Auditorium

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    POST
    Donna Lucille
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your grandmother was way ahead of her time! You must be so proud of her!

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    #39

    Singing On Radio Rediffusion In Hong Kong

    Singing On Radio Rediffusion In Hong Kong

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    Vicki Napoleon
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You must be so proud of her! Did you have any idea that she was so talented and popular? She is so beautiful in all of these photo's ~ thank you so much for sharing all of them with us!! She was a remarkable woman!

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    #40

    Playing With The Band

    Playing With The Band

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    #41

    Writing... A Letter, Or A Song?

    Writing... A Letter, Or A Song?

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    Amelia Ratfire
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She was a beautiful woman! Thank you, I enjoyed your post. You will see her again in the next world. Young and beautiful again!

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