Dawn Gan

In this Chinese name, the family name is Gan.

Dawn Gan Lay Beng[a][1] (15 April 1963 – 22 September 2018), also known as Yan Liming, was a Singaporean xinyao singer. She was one of the pioneer xinyao singers in Singapore.[2]

Early life and education

Gan was born on 15 April 1963[3] and studied at River Valley High School[4] and National Junior College.[5]

Career

In 1984, Gan signed a five-year contract with the Tony Wong Company as a singer,[5] one of the first two solo xinyao recording singers.[6]

Gan sang the theme song, Youth 1 2 3, for the 1986 Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Channel 8 drama The Happy Trio.[4] In September 1986, the Tony Wong Company ceased operations, and agreed to release Gan from her contract ahead of a clause which abrogated the contract if the company did not release a new album for her within a year from her last release.[7] In March 1987, Gan signed with Ocean Butterflies Music.[8]

In 1988, Gan made her acting debut in the Channel 8 drama, Song of Youth, about aspiring singers.[9][b] She received critical acclaim for her role as an undergraduate student whose personality matches her real self and who writes lyrics for other singers.[10] To promote the drama, SBC held a concert in which Gan was a featured performer, along with other cast members.[3]

The same year, Gan left Ocean Butterflies Music[11] and signed with WEA Records (now known as Warner Music Group).[9] Production of her albums, however, continued to be done through Ocean Butterflies Music.[11]

From 2008, Gan performed yearly at the annual Xinyao Reunion Concert series organised by TCR Music Station, until 2018. In July 2014, she performed at a xinyao concert held at the Bras Basah Complex as part of the xinyao documentary film, The Songs We Sang.[12]

Personal life

Gan was married to businessman Lawrence Chia Song Huat.[13][14] They had two sons and a daughter, and lived in Hong Kong.[12]

Gan was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in 2013 and then early-stage breast cancer in 2014. She had five surgeries to remove four tumours and a lobe of her lung, and was deemed tumour-free in 2016.[15] She died on 22 September 2018 in Hong Kong.[12]

Two concerts were held in memorial of Gan, one held at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on 10 October 2018 by TCR Music Station and another concert, Embracing Dawn – Farewell for Dawn Gan, at the Capitol Theatre on 15 October 2018, organised by Singapore Press Holdings' Chinese Media Group along with Singaporean record label Ocean Butterflies Music.[13]

Discography

Discography
Year Title Native title Ref
1985 Girl Next Door 偶遇的女孩 [16]
1986 Youth 1 2 3 青春 1 2 3 [17]
1987 Popular Songs 流行歌曲
1988 After Graduation 毕业以后
1989 The Heart Of Dawn 黎明的心

Notes

  1. ^ Chinese: 颜黎明; pinyin: Yán Límíng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gân Lê-Bêng
  2. ^ Both sources have contradictory names for the drama. Song of Youth is the correct translated name.

References

  1. ^ "GAN, Dawn Lay Beng 颜黎明 – Oral History Interviews". National Archives of Singapore. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  2. ^ "The emergence of xinyao – Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b "新广演员变歌坛巨星". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 15 April 1989. p. 17. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b Auto, Hermes (22 September 2018). "Xinyao singer Dawn Gan dies at the age of 55 | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b Koh, Siew Tin (4 October 1985). "And now, the big time". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Page 4 Miscellaneous Column 2". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 20 December 1985. p. 4. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  7. ^ 东尼已答应放人颜黎明等待解约书 [Tony Wong Company agrees to release Yan Li-ming from her contract; awaits for letter of termination]. Lianhe Wanbao (in Chinese). 11 September 1986. p. 11.
  8. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions" 颜黎明加盟“海蝶” [颜黎明加盟“海蝶” Yan Li-ming joins Ocean Butterflies Music]. Lianhe Wanbao. 7 March 1987. p. 16.
  9. ^ a b Chiong, Vivien (16 January 1989). "Dawn breaks into a new image". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 21. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Dawn gets sunny praises for debut". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 10 April 1989. p. 18. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  11. ^ a b "东方黎明 前程似锦 颜黎明加盟华纳". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 10 January 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Auto, Hermes (8 October 2018). "Family and friends say farewell to late xinyao singer Dawn Gan at Hong Kong memorial service | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Over a thousand fans attend memorial concert for late Xinyao pioneer Dawn Gan on Sunday". AsiaOne. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  14. ^ "CHIA Song Huat Lawrence". The Singapore Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Xinyao singer Dawn Gan Liming now tumour-free". TODAY. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  16. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions" 颜黎明加盟东尼机构推出首张个人专辑——《偶遇的女孩》 [Yan Li-ming joins Tony Wong Company, release debut album]. Lianhe Zaobao. 7 October 1985.
  17. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions" 颜黎明推出第二张专辑 电视剧主题曲—青春1,2,3 [Yan Li-ming released second album and television OST – Youth 1,2,3]. Shin Min Daily News. 13 February 1986. p. 18.
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