Chế Linh
Chế Linh in 2019
Born
Lưu Văn Liên

(1942-04-03) 3 April 1942
Other namesTú Nhi
Lưu Trần Lê
Years active1960–present
Spouse
Nga Vuong
(m. 1975)
Musical career
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • businessman
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Labels
Websitechelinh.com

Chế Linh (Eastern Cham: Jamlen; b. 1942) is a Vietnamese popular singer, songwriter. An ethnic Cham, his stage name Chế Linh is a Vietnamese transcription of his Cham name, but, like many Cham people, he also has an official Vietnamese legal name, Lưu Văn Liên.[1]

Early life

In 1958, when Che Linh was 16 years old, an event changed his life when President Ngo Dinh Diem had forbidden teaching of the Cham language in the Cham villages, a prestige language considered as a second language since the Bảo Đại’s era.

This discrimination toward the minority group created conflicts between the Chams and the Kinh inhabitants. When the Chams came to town, they were stopped and being prosecuted heavily. Che Linh has been injured on several incidents, however. The government ignored these incidences and was not a bit concerned about it.

Che Linh moving to Saigon was considered his first escape. Traveling to an unknown and unfamiliar place, with no relatives and no friends to turn to. He was disgusted with the presidential ruling of President Diem, and a lot of patriotism for his people.

Fortunately, Che Linh found a small job with a respected employer. After nine months, Che Linh decided to go back to school. He attended Bo De and later to Nguyen Cong Tru.

Career

Young Chelinh
Young Che Linh

1960-1961

First time entering the musical industry.

Biet Chinh Biên Hòa Musical Group was selecting new singers to entertain the far-away village in the Biên Hòa Provincce.

Che Linh participated and won first prize. Not considering singing as a career at the time, but only because the pay is considerably high.  Two years later, the group faded and dissolved and Che Linh became a driver for heavy construction organization in Bien Hoa.  The love for music and as a hobby, Che Linh continues to learn the music, train his voice and composed several songs. Che Linh's musical career strongly excelled, and his first two songs were born: "Dem buon tinh le” and “Dem buoc co don”

Recognizing that music is the shortest way to bring understanding between the Kinh and the Chams and all the other ethnic groups, Che Linh promised to continue and excel in the musical industry. With his effort and talents, Che Linh became a famous star and had sung together with many artists such as Anh Ngọc, Duy Khánh, Thái Thanh, Thanh Thúy, Minh Hiếu, Tùng Lâm. Continental Productions produced his first record, "Vùng Biển Trời Và Màu Áo Em”. Che Linh then signed with several Viet Nam Record Companies.

1964-1965

Chelinh with Guitar
Che Linh with a guitar

He produced and wrote many songs.

1972

Awarded by Kim Khánh for Best Male Artist/Vocal which was organized by the Daily Newspaper Trang Den. The Government of South Vietnam then forbade Che Linh's voice and songs during the summer war period.

1975

Che Linh was hoping to have his music released from the forbidden list, however he was jailed as a revolutionary at Song Mao, then My Duc.

1978

He was released from prison 28 months later.

1980

Escaped to Malaysia and later settled in Canada where he now resides in Toronto.

He is presently performing, singing, writing and producing music.

21st century

His songs stay popular both domestically and among Viet diasporas. In 2007 he performed in Vietnam again after decades abroad, during an event hosted by UNESCO. From 2011 onward he returned to Vietnam for several tours.

Compositions

All of Che Linh's songs which he wrote goes under the name of Tu Nhi.

Title Year Composer
Đêm buồn tỉnh lẻ 1962 Tú Nhi & Bằng Giang
Bài ca kỷ niệm 1962 Tú Nhi & Bằng Giang
Đếm bước cô đơn 1963 Tú Nhi & Bằng Giang
Thương Hận 1966 Tú Nhi & Hồ Đình Phương
Lời thương chưa ngỏ 1966 Tú Nhi
Ngày đó xa rồi 1967 Tú Nhi
Xin làm người xa lạ 1967 Tú Nhi
Nỗi buốn sa mạc 1968 Tú Nhi & Tuấn Lê
Lời kẽ đăng trình 1968 Tú Nhi
Trong tầm mắt đời 1968 Tú Nhi
Đoạn cuối tình yêu 1968 Tú Nhi
Đoạn khúc đọan trường 1969 Tú Nhi
Mai lỡ mình xa nhau 1969 Tú Nhi
Khu Phố ngày xưa 1969 Tú Nhi
Nụ Cười Chua Cay 1970 Tú Nhi & Song An
Mưa bên song cửa 1972 Tú Nhi
Người về trong chiêm bao 1973 Tú Nhi
Xin yêu tôi bằng tình người 1974 Tú Nhi
Mưa buồn tỉnh lẻ 1972 Tú Nhi & Bằng Giang
Tình khúc đoạn trường 2 1976 Tú Nhi
Tâm tư kẻ tù 1976 Tú Nhi
Lời lữ khách 1980 Tú Nhi
Sao đổi ngôi 1976 Tú Nhi
Xuân quê hương xuân lạc xứ 1980 Tú Nhi
Như giọt sương mai 1980 Tú Nhi
Ngày đó quê hương tôi 1980 Tú Nhi
Tôi đã hát,sẽ hát,và phải hát 1980 Tú Nhi
Vùng trời đó tôi thương 1980 Tú Nhi
Đêm trên đường phố lạ 1984 Tú Nhi
Em trên đời ngẫn ngơ 1995 Tú Nhi
Hết rồi 1996 Tú Nhi & Anh Hoàng
1997 Tú Nhi
Cứ tưởng còn trong tay 1998 Tú Nhi
Một trời thương nhớ 2000 Tú Nhi
Một góc phố buuồn 2002 Tú Nhi
Thành phố buồn 2 (Thành phố buồn hơn) 2002 Tú Nhi
Nỗi buồn của tôi 2002 Tú Nhi
Bài ca không tựa 2002 Tú Nhi

References

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