Wan Sha Lang (Chinese: 萬沙浪, also spelled Vansalrang; 21 January 1949 – 18 June 2023), known in China as Wang Zhongyi (Chinese: 王忠義), was a Taiwanese singer and film actor.
Wan Sha Lang | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 萬沙浪 21 January 1949 Taiwan |
| Died | 18 June 2023 (aged 74) Taitung, Taiwan |
| Other names | Vansalrang, Wang Zhongyi, Wang Zhong Yi |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
Life and career edit
Sha Lang approached music during his military conscription, when he became trumpeter in the army band.[1] After being discharged, he started a rock band with two friends, and began performing in clubs and hotels.[1][2] He had his breakout in 1971, when he got a hit with "Love Is an Elusive Wind (風從哪裡來)", the theme song of the film with the same name, and successfully specialized in romantic ballads in Mandarin.[1][2]
In 1987, Vansalrang went to China to take part in the CCTV Spring Festival, but because of the strict cross-strait policy of that time he was banned from returning to Taiwan; the ban was eventually lifted 8 years later, but at that point his wife and children had moved to the US and had lost contact with him.[2]
Starting from a brain injury in 1997 which caused him a mental degradation to the level of infants,[3] Vansalrang suffered massive health issues, including several strokes, one of them in 2015 paralyzing half of his body and forcing him to be fed through nasogastric intubation.[1][2][4] He died on 18 June 2023, at the age of 74.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Kuan-yin, Yeh; Lo, James (18 June 2023). "Veteran Taiwanese singer Vansalrang dies aged 74". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d "原民歌手萬沙浪病逝享壽74歲「愛你一萬年」成絕響". 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). 18 June 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ "山地歌王萬沙浪登春晚爆紅 摔傷腦部智力退化慘遭妻兒拋棄 - 娛樂". China Times (in Chinese). 1 March 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ 葉文正, 林丞偉 (7 May 2017). "68歲萬沙浪半癱生癬 女友賣房送安養院". Apple Daily.
External links edit
- Wan Sha Lang discography at MusicBrainz
- Wan Sha Lang discography at Discogs
- Wan Sha Lang at IMDb
