'Agogo princess' Rita Chao died 6 months ago

'Agogo princess' Rita Chao died 6 months ago

SINGAPORE - Singer Rita Chao, who was wildly popular in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong in the 1960s and 1970s, has passed away in July last year. She was 64.

Shin Min Daily News said that Chao's 90-year-old mother confirmed the news of the former singer's death on Monday morning. Chao passed away in Singapore General Hospital, surrounded by her mother, brothers and sisters.

Mandarin-speaking fans may remember Chao as "Ling Yun", one-half of the "agogo princesses" duo with Sakura Teng.

Chao was diagnosed three years ago to be suffering from colorectal cancer, the Chinese daily reported.

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Chao's family said that a three-day funeral was held last year, but they did not inform anyone in the entertainment business.

Former partner Teng wailed this morning when told that Chao had died, Shin Min said. Teng said that she had known that Chao was suffering from colorectal cancer for some time, but had assumed that Chao had won the fight against cancer.

The "agogo princesses" were well-known in the Chinese entertainment scene in the 1960s and 1970s, and had many hits to their name.

sinsh@sph.com.sg

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