Chinese actress and singer Bai Hong (Feb 24, 1920 – May 28, 1992). File photo

2. Bai Hong (Feb 24, 1920 – May 28, 1992)

Beijing native Bai Hong was the first Chinese singer who rose to fame through singing competitions. She was also the first Chinese pop singer to host her own concert. Bai Hong had a wide vocal range and could translate her emotions in different types of music. She had a sweet yet thick singing voice that could touch listeners' hearts. In the late 1930s, Bai was referred to as one of the "Trio of Songstresses," along with Zhou Xuan and Gong Qiuxia. In the 1940s, when the "Seven Songstresses in the Bund of Shanghai" became popular, Bai was always ranked second, only after Zhou Xuan. She was also a talented actress in both films and on stage. After 1949, Bai actively participated in theater, all the way through retirement.

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