Hong Kong-born singer-songwriter Coco Lee, who had a highly successful career in Asia, has tragically passed away at the age of 48. Her two elder sisters Carol and Nancy Lee announced the devastating news on her official Facebook page, revealing that the singer had been struggling with depression for several years. The sisters shared that Coco had attempted to take her own life over the weekend and was rushed to a hospital. Sadly, she was in a coma and passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 5.
Known for her iconic Mandarin-language pop songs, Coco was a trailblazer in the music industry, paving the way for Chinese singers to break into the international music scene. She was the voice of heroine Fa Mulan in the Mandarin version of Disney’s Mulan, and also sang the Mandarin version of the movie’s theme song ‘Reflection’. In 2001, Coco performed ‘A Love Before Time’ from Ang Lee’s film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at the Oscars. This track earned her the award award for best original film song at the 2001 Hong Kong Film Awards. During her 30-year music career, she released 18 studio albums, two live albums and five compilation albums. She also appeared in the films No Tobacco by Stanley Kwan, Lee Xin’s Master of Everything and 2015’s Forever Young.
In 2011, Coco married Bruce Rockowitz, a Canadian businessman who is the former CEO of Hong Kong supply chain company Li & Fung. She had two stepdaughters from her marriage with Rockowitz.
Coco’s two elder sisters asked for privacy during this difficult time, as well as urged people to reach out to mental health services if they are struggling. Resources such as CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably, Help Musicians UK, Music Support Org, Young Minds, Time To Change and The Samaritans are all available for those in need of mental health support and advice.
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