Chinese American singer and songwriter Coco Li, best known for performing the Oscar-nominated song in the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, died in a Hong Kong hospital on Wednesday. She was 48 years old.
According to a statement by his sisters, Carol and Nancy Lee, the cause was suicide. He said Ms. Li was taken to hospital after attempting suicide at her home on Sunday.
Her sisters wrote, “Coco had been suffering from depression for some years but her condition worsened in the last few months.” “Although Coco sought professional help and did her best to fight the depression, sadly, her inner devil got the better of her.”
Ms. Lee had a successful career as a pop singer in Asia, but was best known to American audiences for singing “A Love Before Time” in the 2000 film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” The song was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best New Original Song, and she performed it in front of millions of television viewers at the Academy Awards ceremony in March 2001.
Actress Julia Stiles introduced Ms. Lee’s performance, saying, “Combining the flavor and texture of Eastern music with the orchestral color and sensitive lyrics of Western culture, the magic of this stunningly beautiful film is truly felt in this evocative love ballad.” Has been done.”
Her career as a recording artist began shortly after graduating from high school in 1993 after being runner-up in a singing contest organized by television broadcaster TVB in Hong Kong. Ms. Lee entered the contest without thinking, she told tthe san francisco chronicle In 2000, more success followed.
“I was a coward growing up,” she said. “I would hide in the bathroom and sing in the shower. I always predicted that my older sister Nancy would become a singer. She is beautiful, talented and has good legs. I didn’t know it would be me.
But being voted runner-up in a TVB contest, their first album with a Taiwanese record label was released in 1994. “My goal in the singing business is not to stick to one spot,” she told a reporter. South China Morning Post in 1997She said she wants to work in Asia and America
In 1999, Ms. Lee released her first full English-language album, “Just No Other Way”, which included pop and R&B songs. One track, “Before I Fall in Love”, was included in the soundtrack for the Julia Roberts film “Runaway Bride”.
Ms. Lee’s career has expanded beyond music as well. She voiced the main character in the Mandarin version of Disney’s 1998 animated film “Mulan”, in addition to singing the film’s theme song, “Reflection”.
Ms. Lee, who was born in Hong Kong on January 17, 1975, moved to the United States and attended middle and high school in San Francisco, where she Crowned Miss Teen Chinatown In 1991. He briefly attended the University of California at Irvine with the intention of studying biology and becoming a doctor, but dropped out after his first year, he said. Chronicle,
In their statement, Ms. Li’s sisters said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the start of her accomplished singing career. Ms. Li is known for “working tirelessly to open up a new world for Chinese singers on the international music scene,” he wrote, highlighting her “outstanding live performances.”
In addition to her sisters, Ms. Lee’s survivors include her husband, Bruce Rockowitz, and two stepdaughters. A complete list was not immediately available.
Their last single, titled “Tragic”, was released in February. In a post on her social media at the end of 2022, Ms Lee admitted it had been an “incredibly difficult year”, but urged her followers to spread positivity and “be an influencer to inspire people”. encouraged.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 or visit 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. speakingofsuicide.com/resources,