Qing Shan (青山)

Taiwanese singer who visited Singapore many times from the late 1960s onwards. On some occasions he had residencies at local nightclubs.

“It was to be the story of his success – from the Taiwanese King of Songs himself. But as Mr. Ching San told his tale yesterday, he unfolded not the expected spoils of victory, but a trail of broken dreams. Here for a 10-day visit, Ching San, top Mandarin pop vocalist who has 12 hit albums, 140 hit tunes and four film appearances to his credit, said today: ‘When I was in school I was very interested in classical music. I tried to get into the Music Academy in Taiwan after I finished high school. I went for the auditions and found that only five students out of over 100 applicants were to be selected. As it went, I wasn’t one of them.’ The star said he was very disappointed, especially because he was then already 18 years old, which was the maximum age limit for entry into that academy. ‘It meant I couldn’t even try again!’ Ching San said. But later he was offered contracts to do recordings of popular songs over radio and television. Pop music was a far cry from his classical dreams, but he decided to make a go of it. ‘But that too was stopped short by national service,’ said Ching San, now 25, whose real name is Chang Tieh Yu. ‘But now it’s all over,’ the young star smiled. Ching San reconciles pop and classical music like this: ‘Pop music is not as sophisticated as classical music but its appeal is broader, and for the professional entertainer that means a bigger audience…’ ” [The Straits Times, November 6, 1970, 22]

“Ching San will be appearing at the Pearl’s Opera House at the People’s Park Shopping Complex from Friday night for 10 days. He will also appear at the National Theatre for three nights starting from Nov. 11.” [The Straits Times, November 6, 1970, 22]