Welcome To Hong Kong Musicians Union

Hong Kong Musician’s Union (HKMU)

As early as the 1930’s, Filipinos dominated Hong Kong’s music scene. Their exposure to Western culture and innate musical abilities made them invaluable in Hong Kong’s night scene and music industry. Chinese musicians at that time were excellent in classical Chinese music but struggled in adapting to Western pop culture.  Musical artists such as Vic Cristobal and Ray del Val played in Hong Kong’s posh night clubs and hotels during night time and worked as musical arrangers, composers, programmers and back-up singers for Chinese musicians like Yao Min, Lee Hao-yang, Koo Ka-fai, Ng Hiu-lung and Tang Hong.

The second generation of Filipino musicians in Hong Kong grew up under the tutelage and influence of their musician parents and later formed bands such as D’Topnotes, Blue Star Sisters, Reynettes, Dandan Brothers, of advertisement commercials in Hong Kong. Past Chairmen of the Hong Kong Musician’s Union included Jose “Peping” Viola and Lito Naba, who headed the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Band.

All throughout the 1960’s to the 1970’s, Filipino musicians contributed their craft to work for Chinese music stars such as Francis Yip, Sandra Lam, Roman Tam and Michael Lai. Other great musical arrangers were Andres “Bading” Tuason, musical director at the Hilton Hotel, and Joey Villanueva, who currently plays the lead guitar for Cantopop sensation, Teresa Carpio. Teresa’s uncle, Tony Carpio worked as musical director for the Dickens Bar in Excelsior Hotel and the Palace Theatre. Änother musical genius was Eugenio "Nonoy" Ocampo who was able to program and arrange Chinese songs to fit mainstream pop culture. Mr. Ocampo received the Gold Needle Award during RTHK’s "Ten Top Chinese Gold Songs Awards" ceremony. 

Mr. Chris Babida is another well recognized composer, keyboard player and band manager in Hong Kong’s music scene and runs his own recording company in Hong Kong and in Beijing. He was instrumental in the composition and arrangement of songs sung during the Handover Ceremony of Hong Kong to China and the Beijing Olympics.

To celebrate their love for music and promote the city’s vibrant music scene, the Hong Kong Musicians Union, in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General and the Government of Hong Kong, has been co-organizing the annual Concert in the Park. The event  was held in Kowloon Park during its inaugural years, but has since moved to the Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Now, on its 23rd concert, the HKMU remains strong and dynamic in showcasing the best of Filipino music and talent.

Danny Diaz and Checkmates. As the Beatles gained popularity in the West, so did the popularity of pop culture among Hong Kong’s youth. Filipinos filled this demand and performed in nightclubs in Tsim Sha Tsui such as The Scene, Latin Quarters, Bayside, Golden Crown and The Firecracker.

Singing competitions, organized by ATV, RTHK and Sing Tao Newspaper’s “HK Singing Contests for Amateur Singers", were a common thing in the 1960’s which enabled Filipino musicians such as Teresa Carpio and Rowena Cortes to enter Hong Kong’s music industry as Cantopop stars.
With the growing number of musicians in Hong Kong, they established the Hong Kong Musicians Union in 1948. The first president was Pete O’Neil, a British musician. He was followed by Filipino musician Andy Hidalgo and these has been the norm ever since.  

To explore and improve their music, the musicians would rent flats in Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui for musical jam sessions until they were able to purchase a Union House in Mirador Mansion in 1957. For general assemblies, they would meet at the Filipino Club in Tsim Sha Tsui. 

Among the musical geniuses that worked in Hong Kong were Romeo Diaz who was keyboard player for Danny Diaz and the Checkmates. He won a lot of awards and was instrumental in the development

Concert In The Park
Date: November 9, 2008