Wong Ka Kui

There is just no one way to describe how Wong Ka Kui had influenced countless number of people around the world. There was just something special about him. He was talented; he was a musically-gifted genius. He was able to influence not only Chinese rock music in Hong Kong but also to many other parts of the world. He was the heart and soul of the band, BEYOND. He was the lead singer, songwriter, and composer. Without him, there would be no BEYOND. He composed more than 90% of their music. BEYOND's philosophy in music was that rock bands should be their own musicians, that they write their own music. The BEYOND philosophy has influenced the new generation of musicians/entertainers to create their own music, especially in tough music industries where image is more important than music itself. Several recurring themes would emerge in his lyrics, including commentary on social and political issues, war and peace, love for his culture, pursuing dreams, perseverance and the strength to never give up. Ka Kui believed in the words that he sang and in fact, embodied much of the messages - a trait that solidified his credibility and garnered respect.While Beyond was certainly not the first band ever in Hong Kong, their emergence and success came at a time when the music scene was dominated by covers of Japanese and American pop songs. Original music with a message was Ka Kui's passion and an area in which he excelled - listeners who were looking for more than just Cantonese lyrics to foreign songs found Beyond and their contemporaries a refreshing change. Unfortunately, the golden age of Chinese rock would end abruptly when Ka Kui died from an unfortunate accident. Although Ka Kui is far away from us, his dream of having BEYOND doing world tours and spreading their influence didn't die as BEYOND continued on with the support and love of fans from all over the world. Wong Ka Kui will always be remembered for his influence in the music industry and for the many lives that he had touched.