Musician Velu Peter Gana of China's Taiwan at an event in 2019 Photo: VCG

Velu Peter Gana, a pioneering composer and performer from the island of Taiwan, China, passed away at 9:46 am on June 14 in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. He was 82.

His death was announced Tuesday by his son on China's X-like platform Sina Weibo, : "Songs may end, but people remain. As familiar notes once again drift through our hearts, dearest father, please follow the song of the stars on your journey."

Born in Chengdu, Velu Peter Gana moved to Taiwan with his parents at the age of 5, according to a report by the China National Ratio (CNR).

As a veteran musician and composer, he was known for breaking new ground during an era dominated by sweet romantic ballads. He was the first to incorporate Western rock and other international elements into Taiwan pop music, helping to shape the island's modern music trend. He was regarded as the "Godfather of Pop Music in Taiwan," CNR reported.

He wrote nearly 1,000 songs over the course of his career, the Paper reported. His best-known works include Yi Jian Mei or A Spray of Plum Blossoms, Late, Ali Baba, and One Path — many of which became signature hits for some of Mandopop's biggest stars.

Beyond love songs, Chen also expressed his deep connection to the Chinese mainland. In the late 1980s, he penned "Wu Ai Wu Guo" (literally "I Love My Country"), reflecting on his ancestral roots. "If there is reincarnation," he wrote, "I wish to be born again, to return to China again, for I have yet to witness all her vastness."

In November 1988, he led a team back to the Chinese mainland for a series of reunion concerts, becoming the first musician from the Taiwan island to perform in the mainland. He held 20 concerts in cities including Chengdu, Chongqing, and Wuhan — often in stadiums filled with tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans, CNR reported.

In the early 1990s, he shifted his career from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland. He began living in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, in 1993, and later settled in Beijing in 2001, said CNR.

During the 2019 Spring Festival, he performed a flash mob rendition of My Motherland and Me in Chengdu in a CCTV event, touching many people.

His influence extended into the modern era. In 2023, the song Destiny featured in the hit video game Black Myth: Wukong was performed by him, introducing his music to a new generation.

News of his death sparked widespread tributes on Chinese social media. The hashtag Velu Peter Gana passes away on Sina Weibo garnered over 90 million views and over 24,000 comments as of 3 pm on Tuesday.

"Farewell, sir," one Weibo wrote. "From A Spray of Plum Blossoms and Ali Baba to My Motherland and Me, your music accompanied me from youth to retirement."

"Rest in peace," another added. "We will always remember you."

Global Times