Prominent Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong has passed away at the age of 41. He was known for the songs "Love Love Love" (2006), "Singalongsong" (2008), and "Tour For Three" (2008).
According to the announcement of Fu Music, the independent record label he founded, he bravely faced an illness for five years. The statement, released March 1 on Weibo, did not provide details about Fong's specific illness.
"He passed away peacefully on the morning of February 21, 2025, to continue a new journey in the afterlife. His music and graphic novels will remain eternal treasures of the spirit," according to a Fu Music statement.
Musician Since Childhood, Became Industry Inspiration
Born in 1983 in Hawaii, Fong grew up in Shanghai and Guangzhou before moving to Hong Kong in the late 1990s. At an early age he was shaped by music under the guidance of his father, a professional drummer. He often plays drums in their house and sometimes sings in his father's performances. He learned to play the guitar at the age of 15.
His music was heavily influenced by American artists such as Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. In 2005, he released his debut album "Soulboy", which gave him recognition in the industry.
Besides his own songs, Fong has also written and produced music for popular artists such as Eason Chan, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, A-mei, and Fiona Sit—a Hong Kong singer who has long been linked to Fong as his girlfriend, although they insist they are just friends.
Coping with Illness and Reducing Music Activity
In 2010, it was reported that Fong was diagnosed with pneumothorax, a condition where air gets trapped between the lungs and chest, causing severe pain and difficulty breathing.
Due to his worsening condition, Fong took a slight step back from his career after releasing his album "Journey To The West" in 2016. With this album, he won the Best Mandarin Male Singer at the prestigious Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan in 2017.
In 2021, he also won Best Single Producer at the same award show for his song "Noodles", from his pandemic EP "Home Sweet Home" (2020).
Getting into Literature and Writing Graphic Novels
Besides music, Fong began in 2018 to release a six-book series of graphic novels for children titled "Emi The Dream Catcher", which is about a girl who has the ability to have vivid and colorful dreams.
In 2022, he released the next book, "The Seeds Of Capacity (Phase 1)", designed to help young readers understand the first six books. The entire series was written by Fong himself, and he also directed the visual art and composed the theme songs for it.
In a 2019 interview, Fong revealed that he plans to publish a total of 30 books in the series within the next ten years.
Last Album: "The Dreamer"
In October 2024, he released his last album, "The Dreamer", and called it a "sick" project.
"I recorded it at different stages of my illness. In my condition, it was both a challenge and a break from the hardship of my situation," he said in an Instagram post.
In the same post, he announced that his condition had improved and left a message:
"In life, each of us has future trials, but let's not forget how dream."
Grieving Friends and Artists
Many artists and friends of Fong paid tribute to him on social media on March 1.
JJ Lin, a Singaporean singer, shared a photo of them together and said they had just talked.
"Why did you suddenly disappear? I can't believe it. We have never written and sung together."
Wang Leehom, an American singer-songwriter, recalled their vegetarianism and said:
"He quietly told me then, 'As long as there is even one candle, darkness will never reign.'
Such is his music, thought, and spirit—bringing light to the hearts of many."
Jam Hsiao, a Taiwanese singer, shared an old photo of them and shared a message:
"It hurts to lose a friend. All I can think is, 'You are an angel. We will meet again.'"
He also posted a photo of a bowl of red bean soup, accompanied by Fong's cover of "Red Bean" by Faye Wong from on his 2009 album "Timeless".
Although Khalil Fong has passed away, his music and art will continue to inspire generations to come.
