Singer Chen Rujia died a sudden death: paper
(Shenzhen Daily)
Updated: 2005-02-24 10:07

Chen Rujia, who used to be one of China's top pop singers and the pride of Shenzhen where he began his singing career, died in his Guangzhou home one year ago, it was reported Wednesday.

Pop singer Chen Rujia, based in Guangdong Province, was reportedly dead in a sudden death without the cause elaborated last year. Media speculate that there was drug-taking involved. [baidu]

The Guangzhou-based Yangcheng Evening News reported Chen's death after talking to Guangzhou's Liwan District Public Security Bureau and the Guangzhou Funeral Home.

Speculations about his death had emerged on the Internet after Chen died Jan. 12, 2004, the paper said. However, his family has not given confirmation or denial.

Although funeral home record showed Chen died a "sudden death" because of "an unexpected accident," the paper said rumors of his history of taking drugs had many people suspecting his death was caused by an overdose.

Some people in show business who were close to Chen said Chen's family did not disclose the cause of his death because he had probably died an "abnormal death."

However, in an interview in July 2002, Chen denied he took drugs.

In 1988, the city of Shenzhen took a great pride in Chen after he took first in the most important national competition for pop singers that year. Afterward, he became a familiar face on CCTV entertainment shows. He even performed in the 1989 CCTV gala of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Chen, a Guangzhou native, started out as a pub singer in Zhuhai. In 1986, he was spotted and hired by the owner of a Shenzhen-based entertainment center, where he was paid — handsomely at that time — HK$2,000 (US$257) a month.

Later, he popped around to different locations including those in Guangzhou and Hong Kong to give shows.

After he won first place in the national competition, Shenzhen's fashion magazine Shenzhen Fengcai (Shenzhen Glamour) featured his portrait on its cover. The article inside hailed Shenzhen as the starting place of Chen’s singing career.

Chen was very fastidious about his looks. He usually took more clothes and cosmetics than other performers when traveling abroad.

He favored black and was reportedly very fussy about his hairstyle, changing his hair from straight to curly regularly. He also dyed his hair different colors from time to time.

Also, he often played pranks on his coworkers between shows.

Qiu Yan, a Shenzhen-based music worker, was surprised by the report of Chen's death. He said he had lost contact with Chen about two years ago.

"He was in good spirits the last time I saw him, though he also looked somewhat debilitated with a pale face," Qiu said. As for Chen's drug history, Qiu said he did not know any details.

"Five or six years ago, I heard of him taking drugs," Qiu said." He had a sister who loved him very much. She and his other family members were very worried.”

According to Qiu, Chen's son out of wedlock died at 4 in Hong Kong in the mid-1990s. That grieved him so much he turned down many offers for performances.

"If he took drugs, I believe (his son's death) had a lot to do with it," said Qiu.

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