Veteran Chinese singer and music educator Liu Huan, whose powerful voice became known across generations and around the world, has died in Shanghai at the age of 63.
Liu died at 9:52am on Sept. 25 surrounded by family members, according to obituaries released by the University of International Business and Economics and the Mango V Foundation. The cause of death was not disclosed in the official announcements.
Born in Tianjin in August 1963, Liu rose to prominence in the 1980s and became one of China’s most recognizable singers. His music blended Chinese and Western influences, while his career also included composing, television appearances and more than three decades as a music educator.
Among his best-known works was “Heroes’ Song,” the theme song of the 1998 television adaptation of the classic Chinese novel The Water Margin. Other songs, including “The Curved Moon” and “Asking Myself A Thousand Times,” helped establish his reputation as one of the defining voices of his generation.
Liu reached an international audience in 2008 when he performed “You and Me,” the official theme song of the Beijing Olympic Games, alongside British soprano Sarah Brightman during the opening ceremony. The performance became one of the most memorable musical moments of the Games.
His influence extended well beyond the stage. Liu joined the University of International Business and Economics in 1991 and taught Western music history for more than three decades before retiring in September 2023. His course became popular among students, and he was also involved in composing the university’s anthem.
Liu also played an important role in nurturing younger musicians. He launched the original-music competition program Sing My Song and later served as a mentor on major Chinese singing programs, helping promote emerging Chinese-language artists.
In 2019, Liu donated 20 million yuan to establish the Liu Huan Original Music Fund with the Mango V Foundation. The initiative was created to support young musicians producing original Chinese-language music, with annual funding continuing after the initial donation.
His passing has prompted tributes from the academic and music communities, with his university describing him as an artist who brought together music education, composition and singing. The institution said his death represented a major loss to both the university and China’s music community.
Liu had requested that his funeral arrangements remain simple. His family and organisations connected to him said there would be no funeral committee, farewell ceremony or memorial service. The music fund established in his name is expected to continue supporting young musicians in accordance with his wishes.
From Chinese television themes to the world’s biggest sporting stage, Liu Huan built a career that connected popular music, education and mentorship. His 2008 Olympic performance ultimately became the moment through which millions of international viewers came to know his voice.
His death marks the end of a career spanning more than four decades — but the songs, students and young musicians he influenced leave behind a legacy that extends far beyond the stage.
