Ken Lim
Ken Lim (born 1964) is an album producer, composer, publisher, artist manager and concert promoter from Singapore who came under the spotlight in 2004 as a chief judge of the Singapore Idol [1] series. His remarks and deadpan expressions invariably drew attention with his comments.
Ken has appeared in numerous magazine covers and press articles and is a respected & well known all rounder entertainment icon in the Singapore music industry. Known to excel not only in one but in many areas of the music and entertainment industry. Famous on being very particular on the delivery on his task, he has had more than two decades of significant contribution with regards to the development of Singapore's pop culture.
He currently runs one of Singapore's record companies, Hype Records,[2] a set-up that promotes music and artists across the Asia Pacific region with record production, recording facilities, artist management, concert promotions, campaign management, publishing and television and film productions.
Reputed to be a godfather to the local music and entertainment industry, Ken represented Singapore in numerous song festivals and competition through the years. Amongst them, the first Asian Idol competition in Jakarta, Indonesia as the last judge. While the other judges were praising other contestants to win, Ken predicted the unlikely victory of Hady Mirza. During the audition rounds of the third season of Singapore Idol, Ken also accurately foretold, despite opposition from the other judges, that one of the contestants, Sylvia, would be amongst the top 10 out of the thousands of participants that auditioned.
Ken is married to Judy Hsu, a Canadian and Singapore PR who is currently a Global Head at Standard Chartered Bank. They met while she was a successful recording artiste more than 29 years ago. They have two young boys named Jax and Kaz & attended Anglo Chinese School.
Timeline of achievements
- 1977 - Started career at the young age of 13 when he was awarded a scholarship from The Yamaha School of Music and participated actively in concerts and performances all over Asia;[3]
- 1981 - Awarded ‘The Most Outstanding Composition Award’ at the Asia Popular Song Festival at the age of 17;
- 1984 - Represented Singapore at the Seoul Song Festival held in Korea with composition ‘I Live In The past’;
- 1985 - Awarded the ‘Most Outstanding Television Theme Song’ for 2 consecutive years;
- 1987 - Composition featured in Miss Universe International Pageant opening segment hosted by Singapore;
- 1991 - Commissioned to produce the official theme songs for the XI Asian Games in Beijing;
- 1991 - Promoted Hideki Saijo's Concert
- 1993 - Commissioned to produce XVII Sea Games in Singapore;
- 1994 - Released debut album entitled ‘Empyrean’ under the EMI International label. Was not successful;
- 1995 - Secured a record-breaking recording contract for Stella Chang Chin Fang with EMI International;
- 1996 - Was the producer of Fann Wong's debut album, Fanntasy, which spearheaded her entry into regional Asian showbiz;
- 1998 - Commissioned by the Television Corporation of Singapore to write, produce and brand its channel with the theme ‘Your World at Home on 5’;
- 1999 - Executive Producer and wrote the National Song 'Together'. The MV was directed by Tsui Hark
- 2000 - Executive Producer for the TV series 'Chemistry'
- 1999 - Composed the movie soundtrack for the Hong Kong films The Truth About Jane and Sam and When I Fall in Love... with Both, both starring Fann Wong.[4]
- 1999 - Wrote the National Song 'Together'
- 2000 - Produced Singapore's millennium song Moments of Magic, starring Fann Wong, Tanya Chua and Elsa Lin.
- 2001 - Commissioned by Ministry of Information and the Arts to produce the new version of the National Anthem of Singapore, 'Majulah Singapura';
- 2001 - Wrote 'The ‘V’ in you’ (performed by Dreamz FM, a local pop group), to commemorate the international year of volunteers’’ (Was the first Asian composition to be presented and performed at the United Nations Assembly in New York. This invitation was both Singapore’s and Asia’s first cultural presence at the United Nations);
- 2001 - Promoted Buena Vista Social Club's Concert
- 2002 - Partnered Tsui Hark, Hong Kong’s top film director, and produced the world’s first cyber recording artistes, AM FM [5] and won the Siggraph awards in New Orleans.
- 2002 - Promoted F4's Concert
- 2003 - Consultant producer - 'True Hearts Charity Show' for Community Chest.
- 2004 - Became a Judge of Singapore Idol[6]
- 2004 - Promoted Kazumasa Oda's Concert
- 2004 - Promoted Faye Wong's Concert
- 2004 - Consultant producer - 2nd 'True Hearts Charity Show' for Community Chest.
- 2005 - Executive Producer for the TV Series 'Shooting Star"
- 2005 - Appointed Starhub's Ambassador
- 2005 - Produced Taufik and Olinda's albums
- 2005 - Produced the National Song "Reach out for the Skies"
- 2005 – Named “Music Producer & Extraordinaire “ in the Singapore Book of Records 2005
- 2006 - Returned as judge for Singapore Idol season 2
- 2007 - Promoted Olivia Newton-John's concert
- 2007 - Was one of 2 primary judges alongside Dick Lee for reality show "Live The Dream"
- 2007 - Became a Judge of Asian Idol, representing Singapore.
- 2008 - Promoted Lee Hom's Concert
- 2008 - Promoted Jay Chou and Lee Hom's concerts
- 2009 - Appointed 7-11 Spokesperson
- 2009 - Promoted Eason Chan's Concert
- 2009 - Consultant producer - 3nd 'True Hearts Charity Show' for Community Chest
- 2009 - Promoted Grasshopper's Concert
- 2009 - Returned as chief judge for Singapore Idol Season 3 & wrote the winning song 'Touched by an angel".
- 2010 - Promoted first ever public concert at Resort World with US artiste "Boys Likes Girls"
- 2010 - Executive Producer and song writer of Everyone - 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games theme song performed by Jody Williams (Afrikaans singer), Jessica Mauboy, Tabitha Nauser, Steve Appleton (musician) and Sean Kingston.
- 2010 - Promoted Eason Chan's Duo Concert
- 2010 - Promoted Rainie Yang's 1st Concert in Singapore
- 2010 - Promoted Anzenchitai's Concert in Singapore
- 2010 - Promoted Fong Fei Fei's Concert in Singapore
- 2010 - Promoted Grasshopper's Concert in Singapore
- 2011 - Promoted 2 P.M's concert in Singapore
- 2011 - Promoted The Cranberries in Singapore
- 2011 - Promoted B.O.B in Singapore
- 2011 - Promoted Good Charlotte in Singapore
- 2011 - Music Changes Life Event
- 2011 - Consultant producer - 'True Hearts Youth Charity Show' for Community Chest.
- 2012 - Promoted Ah Mei's Concert in Singapore
- 2012 - Promoted LeeHom's Concert in Singapore
- 2013 - Creator and Judge of The Final 1
- 2013 - Promoted Ah Mei's Concert in SIngapore
- 2013 - Promoted Adam Lambert in Singapore
Grooming of local talents
Discovered and developed numerous talents in the likes of Stella Chang Chin Fang, Jessica, Gurmit Singh, Kym Ng, Zann, Dreamz FM, Rui En, Jeanette Aw, etc.
He is also responsible for exporting many local artistes in the likes of Fann Wong, Phyllis Quek, Michelle Saram to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and China.
References
External links
- Ken Lim at the Internet Movie Database
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