Entertainment veteran Paul Cheong dies at 75, radio personality Flying Dutchman credits him with career
Local entertainment veteran Paul Cheong has died at age 75 on July 6.
Family and friends paid tribute on social media.
Younger brother Francis described Cheong as a "music DJ, compere, singer, celebrity host in his own right in 70/80s, an icon of his era".
with a Heavy heart , I announce the passing of my Eldest brother - PAUL CHEONG : a music DJ, compere, singer, celebrity... Posted by Francis Cheong on Friday 5 July 2024
Radio personality Mark van Cuylenburg, better known as Flying Dutchman, posted: "Without you, I would never have started this career. You saw something in me and convinced me that the entertainment industry was where I was supposed to be.
"I thank you a million times for starting me on this journey which has been incredible.
"You will be greatly missed, my friend."
RIP Paul Cheong. A True Entertainer! Without you I would never have started this career. You saw something in me and... Posted by Mark van Cuylenburg on Saturday 6 July 2024
Jazz musician Jeremy Monteiro wrote: "A truly multi-talented person who was an important part of the Singapore entertainment scene for many years.
"Paul was always very kind to me, tolerated my youthful arrogance with a knowing smile and showed great kindness to people in need."
Eh Goondu author Sylvia Toh Paik Choo told Stomp: "Paul Cheong was really a nice guy, a 'Gardens boy' from Serangoon Gardens.
"I mean he was literally good-looking with a great speaking-voice, everybody's fave DJ."
She added: "He was, of course, the Cliff Richard of Singapore."
Cheong worked as a presenter at Rediffusion – Singapore’s first cable-transmitted, commercial radio station – from 1971 to 1991.
Aside from hosting radio programmes, he was also a deejay at bygone clubs, such as Top Spin at the Singapore Tennis Centre and Copacabana at Orchard Towers.
He released two albums, in 1978 and 1979, covering hit songs of the day.
In 2022, Cheong appeared in a YouTube video with another DJ, Belinda Yeo, where he looked back on his life in the music industry and talked about how he became the Lion City's Cliff Richard.
The wake is held at St Joseph's Church in Victoria Street with the funeral mass on July 9.
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