Taiwanese Golden Melody King Khalil Fong's music label, Fu Music, released a statement on Saturday (March 1) at noon, revealing that the singer passed away on the morning of February 21, at the age of 41.
Fu Music stated in the announcement: "After facing a stubborn illness with a positive attitude for five years, Khalil Fong left this world peacefully and serenely on the morning of February 21, 2025, moving on to another realm of his life journey to continue his mission and dreams. The music and graphic novels he left behind are eternal spiritual treasures."
According to Taiwanese media, Fong's relatives, friends, and staff, tearfully expressed their deep regret and sorrow: "The boss has moved on to the next stage of his life journey." It is said that he was both a mentor and a friend to everyone around him. Known for his low profile, it is reported that his relatives have requested privacy regarding his funeral arrangements, asking for some space for the family.
More than two years ago, after releasing the single "Clearer," Khalil Fong suddenly disappeared from the public eye. There were curious inquiries about his whereabouts online, and rumors even surfaced that he had switched to farming. Last September, he clarified through a video that "I am not a farmer," admitting that he had been "in seclusion" due to health issues but was on the road to recovery, during which he was inspired to produce a new album, "Dreamer." However, the news of his passing has now come as a shock.
15 years ago, he experienced a "burst lung," commonly known as pneumothorax, and was hospitalized several times without improvement. In recent years, he was hospitalized more frequently, and his agent mentioned that he was severely troubled by lung function issues but still strived to complete his work, not wanting to disappoint his fans who had been waiting.
As a singer-songwriter, "Love Love Love," "Three Person Tour," and "Love Song" are among Khalil Fong's representative classic songs. He was dubbed "Hong Kong's Jay Chou" and "Hong Kong's David Tao" for his R&B style within less than three years of his debut.
Khalil Fong was born on July 14, 1983, in Hawaii and later returned to China, growing up in Shanghai and Hong Kong. His father was a professional drummer, and Fong began learning drums at the age of four. In the mid-1990s, he was deeply influenced by American singers like Boyz II Men, Babyface, and Stevie Wonder, falling completely in love with R&B and Soul music. He also began learning to play the guitar, piano, and to compose, and his music style and voice are highly distinctive. He once said, "No matter when, my mind is always filled with music!"
In 2017, after being nominated six times at the Taiwan Golden Melody Awards, he finally won the Best Male Singer award for "JTW Journey to the West." When he took the stage holding the trophy, he thanked his mother who had supported him all along and said excitedly, "Music has given me a lot, and I hope to give back more to musicians. I will continue to work hard."
In 2021, he won the Golden Melody Award for Best Single Producer again.
