LookAtVietnam – Veteran musician-guitarist Ung Lang, one of Viet Nam’s most talented musicians in the 1940s, died in HCM City on Monday. He was 91.

Double bar: Veteran musician Ung Lang.

He was recognised as the first artist in Viet Nam who imported and played the Hawaiian guitar, a small four-stringed instrument.

He worked as a music professor for the Hue National Music School.

As the head of Ahola band (Ahola means “greeting” in Hawaiian), Lang and his colleagues performed in Hue and Ha Noi to large audiences.

Lang also composed dozens of love songs, mostly romantic melodies like the tango.

His favourite songs include Mua Roi (It’s Raining), Chieu Tien Biet (Good Bye Love) and Nhac Chieu Dong (Music in Winter Night), which captured the hearts of fans for years.

He composed Mua Roi in 1942 when he was an engineer for bridges and roads in the central province of Nghe An, and the lyrics were written by songwriter Chau Ky.

The song is about his love for a beautiful girl.

Thanks to his songs, many veteran singers like Lan Ngoc, Hong Van and Anh Tuyet won fame.

Lang spent his life creating and playing music that helped connect people.

He and peers like Chau Ky, Van Giang and Nguyen Huu Ba played a role in the country’s music development and Hue’s in particular.

In 2005, he moved to live in California with his family.

He returned to Viet Nam early this year, hoping to spend his last days in his home country.

The artist’s funeral is on Sunday.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News