Ray Cordeiro
Encyclopedia
Reinaldo Maria "Uncle Ray" Cordeiro, BBS
MBE
(born December 12, 1924) is a Hong Kong
media
personality and a disc jockey
of the Radio Television Hong Kong
. He was awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records as “the World's Most Durable DJ” in 2000. He is of Macanese
and Portuguese
descent, his parents from Macau
.
and then as a clerk in Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation right after World War II
. In 1949, he commenced his broadcasting career at the age of 25 as a scriptwriter with the pioneering Radio Rediffusion
service. He was later promoted to become a DJ and hosted the very first program called Progressive Jazz.
He joined Radio Television Hong Kong
in 1960 as the Head of Light Music. In 1970 he started the programme “All the way with Ray” which is still on the airwaves today.
During his career, he has interviewed many music personalities, including the Beatles
three times. He was also awarded by the Management and Staff of Elvis Presley
Enterprises Inc. for his lifelong contribution to Elvis and his fan club in Hong Kong. He was voted top DJ in Hong Kong consecutively for four years. Besides broadcasting, his many music accomplishments include leading a group of top bands from Hong Kong to perform at the 1970 Osaka Expo
. It turned out to be one of the most attended event in the Expo. He, together with Lucky Dip, also created the music scene for band sound music in Hong Kong.
He was awarded an MBE in 1987 by Her Majesty the Queen
in Buckingham Palace
.
Bronze Bauhinia Star
The Bronze Bauhinia Star is the lowest rank in Order of the Bauhinia Star in Hong Kong, created in 1997 to replace the British honours system of the Order of the British Empire after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special...
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born December 12, 1924) is a Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
personality and a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
of the Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcasting organisation in Hong Kong that is operated as an independent department in the government under the Broadcasting Authority. RTHK operates seven radio channels, and produces television programmes that are then broadcast through local television...
. He was awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records as “the World's Most Durable DJ” in 2000. He is of Macanese
Macanese people
The Macanese-born Portuguese people or simply the Macanese people refer to an ethnic group which originated in Macau since the 16th century, consisting mostly of people with some Portuguese ancestry.-Culture:...
and Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
descent, his parents from Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
.
Career
Uncle Ray began his career life as a warder in Stanley PrisonStanley Prison
Stanley Prison is one of the five maximum security prisons in Hong Kong and is currently the oldest institution still in service...
and then as a clerk in Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation right after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1949, he commenced his broadcasting career at the age of 25 as a scriptwriter with the pioneering Radio Rediffusion
Rediffusion Television
Rediffusion Television was the first television station in Hong Kong, established on May 29, 1957, making it both the first British colony and the first predominantly Chinese city to have television...
service. He was later promoted to become a DJ and hosted the very first program called Progressive Jazz.
He joined Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcasting organisation in Hong Kong that is operated as an independent department in the government under the Broadcasting Authority. RTHK operates seven radio channels, and produces television programmes that are then broadcast through local television...
in 1960 as the Head of Light Music. In 1970 he started the programme “All the way with Ray” which is still on the airwaves today.
During his career, he has interviewed many music personalities, including the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
three times. He was also awarded by the Management and Staff of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
Enterprises Inc. for his lifelong contribution to Elvis and his fan club in Hong Kong. He was voted top DJ in Hong Kong consecutively for four years. Besides broadcasting, his many music accomplishments include leading a group of top bands from Hong Kong to perform at the 1970 Osaka Expo
Osaka Expo '70 Stadium
is an athletic stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It is in the Expo Commemoration Park, the site of Expo '70. The stadium is the home ground of J. League club Gamba Osaka.The stadium's north end is terraced and is used by Gamba's most vocal supporters....
. It turned out to be one of the most attended event in the Expo. He, together with Lucky Dip, also created the music scene for band sound music in Hong Kong.
He was awarded an MBE in 1987 by Her Majesty the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
Programmes hosted
- Progressive Jazz (1949 - 1960 at Reddifusion)
- Talent Time (1950 - 1956 at Reddifusion / live show)
- Rumpus Time (1950 - 1956 at Reddifusion / live show)
- Just For You (1964 - 1969 at RTHK)
- From Me To You (1964 - 1969 at RTHK)
- Hit Parade (1964 - 1969 at RTHK)
- Lucky Dip (1964 - 1969 at RTHK)
- All the Way with Ray (1970 - now at RTHK)