// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Dawn Gan a morning person? Gan she rise?
Dawn Gan Lay Beng[a][1] (15 April 1963 – 22 September 2018), also known as Yan Liming, was a Singaporean xinyao singer. She was one of the pioneer xinyao singers in Singapore.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Gan was born on 15 April 1963[3] and studied at River Valley High School[4] and National Junior College.[5]
Career
[edit]In 1984, Gan signed a five-year contract with the Tony Wong Company as a singer,[5] one of the first two solo xinyao recording singers.[6]
Gan sang the theme song, Youth 1 2 3, for the 1986 Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Channel 8 drama The Happy Trio.[4] In September 1986, the Tony Wong Company ceased operations, and agreed to release Gan from her contract ahead of a clause which abrogated the contract if the company did not release a new album for her within a year from her last release.[7] In March 1987, Gan signed with Ocean Butterflies Music.[8]
In 1988, Gan made her acting debut in the Channel 8 drama, Song of Youth, about aspiring singers.[9][b] She received critical acclaim for her role as an undergraduate student whose personality matches her real self and who writes lyrics for other singers.[10] To promote the drama, SBC held a concert in which Gan was a featured performer, along with other cast members.[3]
The same year, Gan left Ocean Butterflies Music[11] and signed with WEA Records (now known as Warner Music Group).[9] Production of her albums, however, continued to be done through Ocean Butterflies Music.[11]
From 2008, Gan performed yearly at the annual Xinyao Reunion Concert series organised by TCR Music Station, until 2018. In July 2014, she performed at a xinyao concert held at the Bras Basah Complex as part of the xinyao documentary film, The Songs We Sang.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Gan was married to businessman Lawrence Chia Song Huat.[13][14] They had two sons and a daughter, and lived in Hong Kong.[12]
Gan was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in 2013 and then early-stage breast cancer in 2014. She had five surgeries to remove four tumours and a lobe of her lung, and was deemed tumour-free in 2016.[15] She died on 22 September 2018 in Hong Kong.[12]
Two concerts were held in memorial of Gan, one held at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on 10 October 2018 by TCR Music Station and another concert, Embracing Dawn – Farewell for Dawn Gan, at the Capitol Theatre on 15 October 2018, organised by Singapore Press Holdings' Chinese Media Group along with Singaporean record label Ocean Butterflies Music.[13]
Discography
[edit] |
| Year | Title | Native title | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Girl Next Door | 偶遇的女孩 | [16] |
| 1986 | Youth 1 2 3 | 青春 1 2 3 | [17] |
| 1987 | Popular Songs | 流行歌曲 | |
| 1988 | After Graduation | 毕业以后 | |
| 1989 | The Heart Of Dawn | 黎明的心 |
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Chinese: 颜黎明; pinyin: Yán Límíng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gân Lê-Bêng
- ↑ Both sources have contradictory names for the drama. Song of Youth is the correct translated name.
References
[edit]- ↑ "GAN, Dawn Lay Beng 颜黎明 – Oral History Interviews". National Archives of Singapore. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ↑ "The emergence of xinyao – Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- 1 2 "新广演员变歌坛巨星". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 15 April 1989. p. 17. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- 1 2 Auto, Hermes (22 September 2018). "Xinyao singer Dawn Gan dies at the age of 55 | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- 1 2 Koh, Siew Tin (4 October 1985). "And now, the big time". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ↑ "Page 4 Miscellaneous Column 2". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 20 December 1985. p. 4. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ↑ 东尼已答应放人颜黎明等待解约书 [Tony Wong Company agrees to release Yan Li-ming from her contract; awaits for letter of termination]. Lianhe Wanbao (in Chinese). 11 September 1986. p. 11.
- ↑ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions" 颜黎明加盟“海蝶” [颜黎明加盟“海蝶” Yan Li-ming joins Ocean Butterflies Music]. Lianhe Wanbao. 7 March 1987. p. 16.
- 1 2 Chiong, Vivien (16 January 1989). "Dawn breaks into a new image". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 21. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ↑ "Dawn gets sunny praises for debut". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 10 April 1989. p. 18. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- 1 2 "东方黎明 前程似锦 颜黎明加盟华纳". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 10 January 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- 1 2 3 Auto, Hermes (8 October 2018). "Family and friends say farewell to late xinyao singer Dawn Gan at Hong Kong memorial service | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- 1 2 "Over a thousand fans attend memorial concert for late Xinyao pioneer Dawn Gan on Sunday". AsiaOne. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ↑ "CHIA Song Huat Lawrence". The Singapore Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ↑ "Xinyao singer Dawn Gan Liming now tumour-free". TODAY. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ↑ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions" 颜黎明加盟东尼机构推出首张个人专辑——《偶遇的女孩》 [Yan Li-ming joins Tony Wong Company, release debut album]. Lianhe Zaobao. 7 October 1985.
- ↑ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions" 颜黎明推出第二张专辑 电视剧主题曲—青春1,2,3 [Yan Li-ming released second album and television OST – Youth 1,2,3]. Shin Min Daily News. 13 February 1986. p. 18.
External links
[edit]- Dawn Gan at MusicSG (National Library Board)