Li Guoxiang

K.C. Lee Kwok Cheung was a Hong Kong male singer. His notable works included "Unfinished Sentiment", "You Always Encourage Me", "A Starry Night", "The Most Beautiful World = You + Me", and "Love at the End of the Earth".

Biography

Lee graduated from Tiu Keng Leng Secondary School (Primary and junior secondary), being a member of the 27th Primary 6 graduating class of 1978. He then attended Tsui Wah English School and Chung Shan Memorial English Secondary School in Yuen Long (Forms 3 to 5). After graduation, he worked as a clerk.

In 1989, he joined the 8th New Talent Singing Awards organized by TVB and Fitto Record, winning the Special Star Award unanimously selected by the five judges. That same year, he signed with Fitto Record, a collaboration between Hong Kong's Golden Harvest and Japan’s Pony Canyon, officially entering the music industry.

He debuted in 1991 with the Cantonese album *Blue Sha La La*, sporting long curly hair. That year, he received the Gold Award for Best New Male Singer from Commercial Radio's Ultimate Song Chart Awards. His 1992 album *A Starry Night* featured the title track that gained wide popularity, followed by *Unfinished Sentiment* in December.

In 1993, his hit song "Unfinished Sentiment" became a chart-topping success, earning him the first quarter award from TVB's Jade Solid Gold and boosting his fame. Later that year, he released *A Bit More Tenderness*, with the hit duet "You Always Encourage Me" (adapted from Nicky Wu’s "Bless You on Your Journey"), which became a karaoke favorite and won another seasonal Jade Solid Gold award. He also entered the Taiwan market with the Mandarin EP *Drunk*.

In 1994, his song "The Most Beautiful World = You + Me" became another chart-topper. He released the Cantonese album *KC True Nature* in May and his first Mandarin album *Drunk Life, Dream Death* in June, which earned him a Best Newcomer Top 5 nomination in Singapore.

After releasing *Leaving Love Behind* in 1996, Lee left Fitto Record. Post-2000, he focused on cover albums and Hi-Fi recordings. According to Lee, during the mid-to-late 1990s slump in his career, he attempted business ventures that failed thrice. Later, he went bankrupt due to failed property speculation.

In 2015, Lee held his first concert at MacPherson Stadium titled *K.C. Lee Unfinished Sentiment Live*. In 2016, he served as a judge for the “Smile Enterprise and Employees Awards” in Hong Kong and Macau. That same year, he came out as gay in an interview with *Next Magazine*, revealing he had ended an 11-year relationship.

In 2017, he performed "Unfinished Sentiment" on TVB’s *Cantopop at 50*. In recent years, he was active in Mainland China, and in February 2023, he became Director of Artists at BlueSky Media in Guangzhou and signed a full contract.

In March 2024, Lee was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died at his residence in Mainland China on March 13, 2025, aged 60. His ashes were returned to Hong Kong on March 28. His death was first announced by composer and arranger Joe Chow on Facebook on March 29 and confirmed by Lee’s manager via TVB News Channel.

Controversies

In 2000, Lee was found in possession of one ecstasy pill at a disco in Tsim Sha Tsui and was fined HK$2,000 with a criminal record.

Lee was known for his pro-establishment stance and often expressed strong views on social media. In August 2020, he was criticized online for mocking pro-democracy actress Deanie Ip and calling young protesters "idiots filled with knowledge".

In 2021, he posted that he had received the Sinovac vaccine from Mainland China, reporting no side effects and encouraging others to get vaccinated for easier cross-border travel.