Wai Pang Kwan (; born 20 March 1945 in
Guilin
Guilin (Standard Zhuang: ''Gveilinz''; alternatively romanized as Kweilin) is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is situated on the west bank of the Li River and borders Hunan to the n ...
, Guangxi), known professionally as Teddy Robin (), is a
Hong Kong English pop
Hong Kong English pop () is a genre of music consisting of English-language songs that are made, performed and popularised in Hong Kong. It is known as simply English pop by Hong Kongers. The height of the English pop era in Hong Kong was from t ...
singer-songwriter, actor, and director and producer. He began his music career in mid
1960s
File:1960s montage.png, Clockwise from top left: U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War; the Beatles led the British Invasion of the U.S. music market; a half-a-million people participate in the 1969 Woodstock Festival; Neil Armstrong and Bu ...
when
Hong Kong English pop
Hong Kong English pop () is a genre of music consisting of English-language songs that are made, performed and popularised in Hong Kong. It is known as simply English pop by Hong Kongers. The height of the English pop era in Hong Kong was from t ...
was at its peak. He formed a rock and roll band with his friends called
Teddy Robin and the Playboys
Teddy Robin and the Playboys was a 1960s Hong Kong English pop band. The most notable members were Teddy Robin (vocals/guitar), who has a successful career as a singer/songwriter, actor, and filmmaker; and Norman Cheng (lead guitar), who later b ...
while Teddy was the vocal and guitarist. The band was the first Chinese-led rock band in Hong Kong. The band became a massive hit in Hong Kong.
From the 70s, Teddy started to get involved in the movie industry. in 1979, he was the producer of his first movie 《Cops and Robbers
點指兵兵》. He then played a pivotal role at the Pearl City Production Company and
Cinema City Company Limited. Despite his heavy involvement in movie productions, he was still passionate about music and continued his involvement in record productions and film song creation during the time.
He has produced over 20 movies and directed 5 and 1/3 films throughout his career. He won various awards across film and music festivals, such as the CASH Hall of Fame Award from the
Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong, The Best Original Film Song and the Best Supporting Actor from the
Hong Kong Film Award
The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA; ), founded in 1982, is an annual film awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The ceremonies are typically in April. The awards recognise achievement in various aspects of filmmaking, such as directing, screenwriting, ...
, The Best Actor from
Hong Kong Film Critics Society and The Best Actor from
International Chinese Film Festival. He is also one of the five founders of
Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild and the Honorary Director of
Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild.
Early life
Teddy Robin was born in
Guilin
Guilin (Standard Zhuang: ''Gveilinz''; alternatively romanized as Kweilin) is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is situated on the west bank of the Li River and borders Hunan to the n ...
, Guangxi, alongside five brothers and sisters. He came to Hong Kong with his father in 1949, settling in
Wan Chai
Wan Chai is situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area nort ...
.
As a rebellious child, Teddy was average at school. He always hung out at street court with his gangs. He called himself "Teddy Robin" because he admired the heroic image of
Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is de ...
.
At the early age of 11, Teddy started his career as a child broadcaster at
Rediffusion
Rediffusion was a business that distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, the first ITV (commerci ...
(ATV).
Teddy developed his enthusiasm for rock and roll music when he first heard the sound of an electric guitar. Then he started to explore and learn to play electric guitar . He then formed a rock band called "
Teddy Robin and the Playboys
Teddy Robin and the Playboys was a 1960s Hong Kong English pop band. The most notable members were Teddy Robin (vocals/guitar), who has a successful career as a singer/songwriter, actor, and filmmaker; and Norman Cheng (lead guitar), who later b ...
" with his friends and his two younger brothers.
Apart from music, Teddy Robin is also a skilled painter and sketcher. He designed the cover for his singles, including " I can’t be hurt any more", "Not All Lies", "Breakthrough", "365 Days", "Memories".
Music career
After graduating from high school, Teddy Robin worked as a Trainee Producer at
Rediffusion
Rediffusion was a business that distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, the first ITV (commerci ...
English TV Station . He formed rock band "
Teddy Robin and the Playboys
Teddy Robin and the Playboys was a 1960s Hong Kong English pop band. The most notable members were Teddy Robin (vocals/guitar), who has a successful career as a singer/songwriter, actor, and filmmaker; and Norman Cheng (lead guitar), who later b ...
" with Norman Chang, Fedrick Chan and his two younger brothers in 1966.
In the 1960s, the band was signed by Diamond Records and released its first album.
In 1966, "
Teddy Robin and the Playboys
Teddy Robin and the Playboys was a 1960s Hong Kong English pop band. The most notable members were Teddy Robin (vocals/guitar), who has a successful career as a singer/songwriter, actor, and filmmaker; and Norman Cheng (lead guitar), who later b ...
" was the home band of
Rediffusion
Rediffusion was a business that distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, the first ITV (commerci ...
TV's most popular music program "Soundbite 66".
In 1968, Mr
Chung King-fai
Chung King-fai, SBS, is a Hong Kong actor and pioneer of contemporary performing art. He is also a director, TV producer, programme host and performing arts educator. He is the founder and president of the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies ...
invited Teddy to move from
Rediffusion
Rediffusion was a business that distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, the first ITV (commerci ...
TV to
TVB under the terms set by Teddy – to not only perform on the stage but also work behind the scene. He acted in his first movie "The Cost of Love" for
Shaw Brothers Studio
Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. () was the largest film production company in Hong Kong, and operated from 1925 to 2011.
In 1925, three Shaw brothers— Runje, Runme, and Runde—founded Tianyi Film Company (also called "Unique") in Shangh ...
in 1969. Teddy Robin returned to
Rediffusion
Rediffusion was a business that distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, the first ITV (commerci ...
TV in 1973 to host a youth show called "Melody Chain".
While in 1974, Teddy Robin realized rock and roll music started to diminish in Hong Kong, so he wandered to the United States and Canada until 1978.
Award and recognition
* 2011 – Gallants – The Best Supporting Actor, the
Hong Kong Film Award
The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA; ), founded in 1982, is an annual film awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The ceremonies are typically in April. The awards recognise achievement in various aspects of filmmaking, such as directing, screenwriting, ...
* 2011 – Gallants – The Best Original Film Song, the
Hong Kong Film Award
The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA; ), founded in 1982, is an annual film awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The ceremonies are typically in April. The awards recognise achievement in various aspects of filmmaking, such as directing, screenwriting, ...
* 2011 – Gallants – The Best Actor,
Hong Kong Film Critics Society
*2011 – CASH Hall of Fame Award,
Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong
*2012 – Merry Go Round –
The Best Actor,
International Chinese Film Festival
*2017 – Lifetime Achievement Award,
Asian Popup Cinema Festival
Personal life
Teddy Robin is married and has one son and one daughter. His son works at Morgan Stanley in London as an Executive Director and his daughter is a sugar artist in Canada.
Filmography
As actor
As film director
As composer
Teddy Robin at chinesemov.com
/ref>
See also
* Hong Kong English pop
Hong Kong English pop () is a genre of music consisting of English-language songs that are made, performed and popularised in Hong Kong. It is known as simply English pop by Hong Kongers. The height of the English pop era in Hong Kong was from t ...
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robin, Teddy
Chinese film directors
Living people
Hong Kong male film actors
Hong Kong film directors
Hong Kong male singers
People from Guilin
English-language singers from Hong Kong
Hong Kong male composers
Hong Kong composers
Male actors from Guangxi
Film directors from Guangxi
Chinese male singers
Singers from Guangxi
21st-century Hong Kong male actors
20th-century Hong Kong male actors
Hong Kong film score composers
1945 births
Male film score composers