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My Grandma Didn’t Let Me See Her Photo Album Before She Passed, And Only Now Did I Find Out About Her Illustrious Life
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
This post may include affiliate links.
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.
#2
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.
Final score:
204points
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.
This is a condensed version, so you can visit my original Facebook album to see more.
#6
Obligatory Selfie, Nye 2013. We Miss You!
Final score:
191points
#9
With Marian Anderson
w/ Marian Anderson, one of the most important African-American singers who helped break many racial barriers. 1957.
Final score:
183points
#16
A Watercolor Painting Of My Grandma In '89, Which Hanged In The Hallway Of Her House
Final score:
157points
#17
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).
Final score:
156points
#18
In Malaya, In Kedazaan-Dusun Tribe Clothing
Final score:
151points
#20
Beer Ad
Advertisement for German beer, Beck's. Was told that "Kunchi" is Malaysian for "key".
Final score:
144points
#21
Another Newspaper Clipping, Competing For Miss Hong Kong
Final score:
141points
#22
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."
Final score:
132points
#29
Broadcasting Ad
Broadcasting ad, sponsored by a multivitamins company and some good ol' Danish beer.
Final score:
111points
#35
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.
Final score:
99points
#36
Not Sure If She's At Recording Studio Or On Radio
Final score:
93points
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What do you think ?
satan hears a scream 4 years ago (edited)
She looked so much like my late grandma it made me cry because they both exuded the same confidence and happiness. We had strong women to look up to :')
satan hears a scream 4 years ago (edited)
She looked so much like my late grandma it made me cry because they both exuded the same confidence and happiness. We had strong women to look up to :')
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