The world’s longest working DJ, Ray Cordeiro, has died on the age of 98.
Cordeiro was confirmed to have handed away in hospital on Friday, January 13. No reason behind loss of life has been disclosed.
Cordeiro was born in 1924 in Hong Kong and span information for six a long time. He entered broadcasting in 1949 after having labored as a jail warden and clean clerk and joined Hong Kong’s public broadcaster in 1960. He was recognised by the Guinness Ebook of Information because the world’s longest working DJ. His simple listening present, All The Method With Ray, was broadcast for 51 years till his retirement in 2021.
Talking following his retirement, he stated: “The viewers adopted me, grew up with me, and so they’re all around the world now. They nonetheless listened to me on the web.”
Cordeiro interviewed The Beatles on the top of their fame in 1964 whereas he was within the UK doing a coaching course on the BBC. Within the interview, John Lennon recounted their early days in Hamburg, Germany, the place they lived in relative poverty. They later signed {a magazine} cowl for Cordeiro, which he stated was “most likely price a fortune”. The next broadcast of the interview in Hong Kong secured the DJ a star standing.
He additionally interviewed the likes of Elvis Presley, Sir Elton John and Tony Bennett and was recognised by Elvis Presley Enterprises for sometimes taking part in his songs on his radio present, notably in its latter years.
“Dr Cordeiro (Uncle Ray) made vital contributions to the broadcasting trade previously 70 years and was held in excessive regard within the sector. He was the host of the longest-running radio program in Hong Kong, ‘All of the Method with Ray’, with nice success. I wish to specific my honest because of Dr Cordeiro for his lifelong contributions to the broadcasting trade, and prolong my deepest condolences to his household,” stated Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Financial Growth, Algernon Yau [via Variety]. “We’ll fondly bear in mind him.”
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism, Kevin Yeung, additionally paid tribute. “Uncle Ray guided us in appreciating music together with his sound skilled expertise, broad expertise and pleasant voice over many a long time. He was a distinguished determine in Hong Kong fashionable tradition and our form senior, making appreciable contributions to the Hong Kong music scene. We’re saddened by his passing and he can be remembered fondly.”