Veteran Hong Kong lyricist and actor Richard Lai, whose collaborations with “God of Song” Sam Hui produced some of Cantopop’s most enduring classics, died on Tuesday at age 76. Lai, a self-taught wordsmith who left school after the fifth grade, crafted lyrics that blended streetwise vernacular with poetic depth, leaving an indelible mark on the genre’s golden era.
Lai’s partnership with Hui in the 1970s and early 1980s is widely regarded as one of Hong Kong music’s most fruitful creative alliances. Over the course of seven albums, Lai wrote lyrics for more than 80 songs, including timeless hits such as “The Heart of a Wanderer,” “The Legend of the Mahjong Heroes,” and “The Dimpled Smile.” Their work defined the sound of a generation, marrying Hui’s melodic flair with Lai’s sharp, relatable observations on everyday life.
News of Lai’s passing drew an immediate and emotional response from Hui. Speaking through mutual friend Siu Chuen-shun, Hui expressed profound sorrow and offered condolences to Lai’s family. In a handwritten letter later posted on social media, Hui wrote: “Peter, rest in peace. Thank you for creating so many brilliant works for Hong Kong’s music scene. Your lyrics were popular without being vulgar—the vividness of ‘Mahjong Heroes,’ the insight of ‘Life Is Like a Chess Game,’ the tenderness of ‘The Dimpled Smile,’ the wisdom of ‘The Heart of a Wanderer.’ I am forever grateful to have had you on my musical journey. Sam Hui.”
Though their professional partnership ended after those seven albums and their personal ties gradually cooled, Lai maintained a tone of gratitude when discussing Hui in recent years. In a 2024 online program, Lai acknowledged that their relationship was marked by far more kindness than friction. “The kindness outweighs any grievances. Outsiders might think I’m just flattering him, but that’s not true,” Lai said. “When friends get too close, some issues are bound to arise. As for whether Sam holds a grudge against me, I don’t know. But my heart has always been full of gratitude toward him. He is my benefactor and my mentor. That is undeniable.”
Lai also addressed long-standing rumors of a rift with Hui’s wife. He clarified that he was close to all three Hui brothers—Michael, Ricky, and Sam—and praised Sam as a devoted husband. “Some people said his wife considered me a bad influence, that I turned Sam from a non-drinker and non-smoker into someone who enjoyed cigars and red wine. They tried to blame me. That had nothing to do with me, but if she thought so, so be it,” Lai said. “Enjoying a cigar and fine wine is a pleasure in life. As for claims she disliked me, that’s nonsense. She actually liked me very much. She would sometimes cook steak for me, and we would eat together.”
Lai emphasized that their divergent interests—he had no love for sun and sea, unlike Hui—simply meant they walked different paths. “We just didn’t share the same tastes. That’s not hostility; it’s just that each of us lived our own brilliant life.”
Beyond his work with Hui, Lai enjoyed a prolific career as an actor and lyricist for other artists. His death marks the loss of a singular talent who proved that formal education is no barrier to artistic greatness.
The Hong Kong music community is expected to honor Lai’s legacy in the coming weeks. For fans, his lyrics remain a treasure trove of wit, heart, and authenticity—a testament to a life lived fully on his own terms.
