Le Uyen Phuong

Le Uyen Phuong (1941-1999) was a famous Vietnamese musician, songwriter and singer.  He and his former wife, Le Uyen, were one of South Vietnam's most successful singing duos of Vietnamese pop music known as Le Uyen & Phuong.

He was born as Le Minh Lap on February 2, 1941 in Da Lat.  At the age of 19, his first written song, Buon Den Bao Gio, was published.  In 1968, he met and married Lam Anh Phuc, a singer who would later become known as Le Uyen.  Together they ran and operated a cabaret club of their own in Da Lat called Luc Huyen Cam.  The year of 1970 would be a turning point in their careers with the release of the album, Tinh Ca Le Uyen Phuong.  For the duration of the early 1970s prior to the Fall of Saigon, Le Uyen Phuong would be one of the most prolific songwriters of South Vietnam.  His most popular written and composed songs include Vung Lay Cua Chung Ta, Loi Goi Chan May, Tren Da Tinh Yeu, Cho Lan Cuoi, Hay Ngoi Xuong Day, Tinh Khuc Cho Em, Da Khuc Cho Tinh Nhan, Bai Ca Hanh Ngo and Dem Cho Phien Mua Dong.  Two songbooks of Le Uyen Phuong were published while in South Vietnam, Khi Loai Thu Xa Nhau (1970) and Yeu Nhau Khi Con Tho (1971).

Le Uyen & Phuong

After resettling in Southern California in 1979, Le Uyen & Phuong continued with their careers in music performing for overseas Vietnamese audiences across the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe.  Le Uyen Phuong published his third songbook, Bien, Ke Phan Xet Cuoi Cung, in 1980.  A couple years later, he and his wife opened up LUP Café in Santa Ana, California which remained in operation until their divorce in 1985.  For the next several years, Le Uyen Phuong went into obscurity while his former wife continued with her solo career.

In 1990, Le Uyen Phuong resurfaced with the publication of his book, Khong Co May Tren Thanh Pho Los Angeles.  The 1990s also brought about a resurgence to the popularity of his music when he and his former wife reunited as Le Uyen & Phuong on several music videos produced by Thuy Nga Paris, Asia Entertainment and Lang Van.  On June 29, 1999, Le Uyen Phuong passed away from lung cancer at the age of 58.  He is survived by his two daughters, Le Uyen Uyen and Le Uyen Mi, from his marriage to Le Uyen.  His songs have been recorded by numerous other Vietnamese artists including Khanh Ly, Tuan Ngoc, Julie Quang, Thanh Ha and Thai Hien.

Link(s):

Le Uyen Phuong Facebook Page