Tung Giang

Tùng Giang (1940-2009) was a famous Vietnamese musician, songwriter, producer and singer.

Born as Phạm Văn Lượng on November 17, 1940 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he grew up in Nha Trang, Vietnam.  His mother was famous Southern Vietnamese folk opera actress Cô Ba Được.  After high school, he relocated to Saigon and joined the Dân Nam Theater Troupe alongside Ba Vân, Túy Hoa and Túy Phượng.  Tùng Giang then became one of the most prolific drummers of the pop music industry in Vietnam.  In addition, he also wrote a handful of popular songs including Anh Đã Quên Mùa Thu, Tôi Với Trời Bơ Vơ, Biết Đến Thuở Nào, Chỉ Riêng Mình Em Hiểu and Từ Lúc Em Đi and Người Tình Người Đẹp Xinh Xinh.  He along with singers Đức Huy, Tuấn Ngọc and Billy Shane had formed a group called The Strawberry Four in Saigon.  Prior to 1975,  Tùng Giang also owned one of the most successful record labels in South Vietnam called Nhạc Trẻ.

(From left to right) Đức Huy, Tùng Giang, Tuấn Ngọc and Billy Shane

After the Fall of Saigon, Tùng Giang resettled in Southern California.  Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and up until his death, Tùng Giang owned and operated the most successful recording studio in the overseas Vietnamese music industry.  In 2005, he along with musicians Quốc Dũng and Châu Kỳ were honored for their lifetime achievements in Vietnamese pop music on Thúy Nga's Paris By Night 78: Đường Xưa.

On June 4, 2009, Tùng Giang passed away from cirrhosis of the liver.  His oldest daughter is singer Giáng Ngọc.  He had been romantically linked to singers Khánh Ly, Khánh Hà and Diễm Liên.