Elvis Phuong

Elvis Phuong (1945-     ) is a famous Vietnamese singer.  Born as Pham Ngoc Phuong in Binh Duong, Elvis Phuong was educated in Saigon at a French Catholic school.  His first public performance was in 1962 when he performed at Regina Pacis High School Auditorium.  Due to his deep admiration of international rock and roll singer, Elvis Presley, he decided on the professional stage name of Elvis Phuong.  During the 1960s, Elvis Phuong took part in joining several pop music bands in Saigon like Rockin' Stars, Les Vampires, and Phuong Hoang.  Among his trademarks included his exceptional ability to sing in the French language.  His duets with Thanh Lan covering popular French love songs were widely received by audiences in South Vietnam prior to 1975.

After the Fall of Saigon, Elvis Phuong left Vietnam for France.  After several years in France, he relocated to the United States.  Elvis Phuong was one of the first overseas Vietnamese singers to be able to continue his professional singing career successfully outside of Vietnam.  During the 1980s, Elvis Phuong produced a series of successful albums such as Tinh Ca Cho Em (1986), Vet Thu Tren Lung Ngua Hoang (1987), Lady Nguoi Toi Yeu (1988) and Tinh Muon (1989).  He had also co-produced a highly successful duet album together with singer Khanh Ly in 1985, Niem Khuc Cuoi.  In the early 1990s, Elvis Phuong gained a new following of fans with his duets recorded with Ai Van of Vietnamese folk music for Thuy Nga Paris, songs in which the pair would also perform on Paris By Night.  In 1996, Elvis Phuong released his solo autobiographical music videotape, Ta On Doi, Ta On Nguoi, which was filmed entirely in Vietnam.  The videotape was distributed by Kim Loi Productions and turned out to be one of the bestselling overseas Vietnamese music videotapes of the year.

Among his most popular songs include Muoi Nam Yeu Em, Dan Ba, Muoi Nam Tinh Cu, Tinh Cho Khong (L'amour C'est Pour Rien), and Goi Ten Nguoi Quen (Aline). 

After surviving open heart surgery in 1998, Elvis Phuong and his second wife decided to move back to Vietnam.  He now makes his home in Ho Chi Minh City.  His first marriage tragically ended in the early 1970s when his wife was killed in an automobile accident in Saigon.  In the 1980s, he was in a long term relationship with Cat Phuong, film actress and principal dancer of the legendary Luu Hong Dance Troupe which performed at Maxim's back in Saigon prior to 1975.  On May 10, 2014, he celebrated his 54th year in show business in a sold out live concert show held at Lan Anh Music Venue in Ho Chi Minh City.  Among the featured guest performers that night included Dam Vinh Hung, Duong Trieu Vu, Pham Anh Khoa, Le Hieu and Nguyen Anh 9.  Elvis Phuong has a younger sister, Kieu Nga, and a son from his first marriage, Phuong Hung, who are both established overseas Vietnamese singers.

Link(s):

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 2