Maria Cordero Grieves for Ailing Wayne Cheung, Mourns Lyricist Jimmy Lo
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago4 MIN
Summary
Veteran Hong Kong singer Maria Cordero (肥媽) spoke to RTHK on July 9 about multiple matters close to her heart, including the plight of fellow singer Wayne Cheung Wai-man (張偉文), the recent death of renowned lyricist Jimmy Lo (黎彼得), and public safety during the summer heatwave .
Key Points
- Cordero revealed she had passed manager Fong Chun's contact details to the Social Welfare Bureau deputy director and the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild after Sing Tao's exclusive report on Cheung's alleged neglect at an elderly care home .
- She recalled leaving midway through a performance where Cheung sang from a wheelchair, saying she "couldn't take it" and burst into tears because he resembled her deceased elder brother so closely .
- Cordero praised 76-year-old lyricist Jimmy Lo's ability to capture ordinary people's voices in songs like "The Mahjong Heroes," noting his lyrics created vivid imagery, and reminisced about bawdy, hilarious conversations with Lo and the late James Wong (黃霑) .
- She also mourned the recent passing of her only idol, Grace Chang (葛蘭), calling her a true diva, and encouraged younger performers to be confident and bold in stepping forward .
- Cordero, who keeps six dogs (five weighing over 50kg) and four turtles, now walks her pets only at sunrise and sunset due to extreme heat, and has switched from hiking to dancing at home to avoid burdening rescue workers .
Why It Matters
Cordero's intervention in Cheung's case highlights how Hong Kong's entertainment community relies on informal networks to address gaps in elderly care for aging performers. Her public safety message carries weight given the city's recent heat warnings and the strain on emergency services from heat-related mountain rescues.
Cordero's intervention in Cheung's case highlights how Hong Kong's entertainment community relies on informal networks to address gaps in elderly care for aging performers. Her public safety message carries weight given the city's recent heat warnings and the strain on emergency services from heat-related mountain rescues.