Swee Lee Music Company

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Artist Name:
Dick Lee

Website(s):
http://www.dicklee.com/

Equipment
Keyboard(s)	Roland Fantom X8

Multi-talented Dick Lee has firmly established himself as a performer and composer, often recognised through his works as the spokesperson for the New Asian generation.

The Dick Lee phenomenon started in 1971 when, at the age of fifteen, Dick participated in various talent contests with the group, Harmony, and Dick and the Gang (teaming with his siblings). His first album, LIFE STORY, featuring his own compositions, was released in 1974.

Throughout the 70s and 80s, Dick championed the inclusion of Asian elements in pop music. His pioneering album, LIFE IN THE LION CITY (1984), won acclaim for just that but the album that shot him to regional prominence was his 1989 release, THE MAD CHINAMAN, which achieved platinum status in Singapore in 3 months.

In 1990 Dick moved to Japan where he continued to develop the new Asian identity through his solo work, as well as collaborate with top Asian artistes like Sandy Lam from Hong Kong and Japanese group Zoo. He has to date, written countless songs for the top singing talents in Asia including Jackie Cheung, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng, Anita Mui, Miyazawa of The Boom and Stephanie Sun amongst others.

Dick is also passionate about musicals. He has written many staged musicals including BEAUTY WORLD (1988), FRIED RICE PARADISE (1991), KAMPONG AMBER (1994), SING TO THE DAWN (1997), FORBIDDEN CITY (2003), which opened the Esplanade in Singapore, and Jacky Cheung's acclaimed SNOW.WOLF.LAKE (1997), which toured Asia in 2005. NAGRALAND (1992) toured Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong in a sold-out season. Dick continues his love of theatre by being Associate Artistic Director of The Singapore Repertory Theatre, an appointment he has held since 1998.

A dream come true for Dick was to be appointed the Creative Director for Singapore's 2002 National Day Parade. Coincidentally, his song We Will Get There was selected to be 2002's national song, and the theme song for the parade. Top Singapore-born Chinese pop superstar Stephanie Sun performed the song and also included it in her own top-selling album. This is his second National song, having written Home, performed by Kit Chan, in 1998.

Apart from music, Dick's other passion is for fashion, having studied fashion design at Harrow School of Art in London. His interest began at the early age of 16 when he designed for his mother's boutique Midteen. His fashion career has taken him to Carrie Models, where he scouted and trained the top Singapore models, and designing his own labels for his boutique Ping Pong, as well as in Hemispheres, the first young designer store he set up with his partner Alan Koh.

Everything, year 2000

Stories, year 2006

He has worked with Singapore label Celia Loe and is currently Creative Director of Island Shop.

Other forays in the fashion world include Display Director for Tangs departmental store in 1984, fashion editor of Female magazine in 1986 and one of the founders of the Society of Designing Arts, which spearheaded the introduction of Singapore designers to the local fashion market.

From 1982 to 1990, Dick also ran his own event company Runway Productions which specialized in fashion and tourism events. Including sales tours of the USA, convention opening presentations and even a fashion parade on orchard Road. His company also had a hand in the creation of the Boom Boom Room, a successful cabaret featuring a transvestite show in the tradition of the legendary Bugis Street. Another related project, which came later on was the annual Christmas light-up on Orchard Road and the Marina area, for which Dick was Creative Director.

In 1998, Dick moved to Hong Kong where he was appointed Regional Vice-President of Artiste and Repertoire at Sony Music Asia where he stayed till the end of 2000.

Dick celebrated the 30th anniversary of his career in 2004 with the release of a 5 cd compilation as well as his autobiography THE ADVENTURES OF THE AMD CHINAMAN. He also created DICK LEE'S SUNSHINE PROJECT, a charity for handicapped children and youth counseling centres, in conjunction with the Community Chest of Singapore. He also participated in the highly rated television show, SINGAPORE IDOL, where he was a judge.

Dick was very honoured to be invited to write music for the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games 2006 in Doha. In acknowledgement for Dick's works and contribution to the music scene, he was awarded numerous accolades.