Ray Cordeiro

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Reinaldo Maria "Uncle Ray" Cordeiro, MBE (born December 12, 1924) is a Hong Kong media personality and a disc jockey of the Radio Television Hong Kong. He was awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records as “the World's Most Durable DJ” in 2000. He is of Portuguese descent, his parents from Macau.

[edit] Career

Uncle Ray began his career life as a warder in Stanley Prison and then as a clerk in Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation right after World War II. In 1949, he commenced his broadcasting career at the age of 25 as a scriptwriter with the pioneering Radio Rediffusion service. He was later promoted to become a DJ and hosted the very first program called Progressive Jazz.

He joined Radio Television Hong Kong in 1960 as the Head of Light Music. In 1970 he started the programme “All the way with Ray” which is still on the airwaves today. It is the longest-running broadcast programme in Hong Kong.

During his career, he has interviewed many music personalities, including the Beatles three times. He was also awarded by the Management and Staff of Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. for his lifelong contribution to Elvis and his fan club in Hong Kong. He was voted top DJ in Hong Kong consecutively for four years. Besides broadcasting, his many music accomplishments include leading a group of top bands from Hong Kong to perform at the 1970 Osaka Expo. It turned out to be one of the most attended event in the Expo. He, together with Lucky Dip, also created the music scene for band sound music in Hong Kong.

He was awarded an MBE in 1987 by Her Majesty the Queen in Buckingham Palace.