Chế Linh (; b. 1942) is a Vietnamese popular singer, songwriter. An ethnic Cham, his stage name Chế Linh is a Vietnamese transcription of his Cham name. However, like many Cham people, he also has an official Vietnamese legal name, Lưu Văn Liên.

He rose to fame in the 1960s and is considered one of the four most renowned male voices of early Vietnamese bolero music ("Tứ trụ nhạc vàng"), each with a distinct style. The other three are Duy Khánh, Nhật Trường, and Hùng Cường.

Early life In 1958, when Che Linh was 16 years old, President Ngo Dinh Diem forbade the teaching of the Cham language in the Cham villages. The Cham language was a prestige language considered a second language since the Bảo Đại’s era.

This discrimination toward the minority group created conflict between the Chams and the Kinh inhabitants. When the Chams came to town, they were stopped and being persecuted. Che Linh was injured on several incidents. The government ignored these incidents.

Che Linh moved to Saigon where he found a small job with a respected employer. After nine months, Che Linh decided to go back to school. He attended Bo De and later Nguyen Cong Tru.

Career

1960-1961 Biet Chinh Biên Hòa Musical Group was selecting new singers to entertain a far-away village in the Biên Hòa Province.

Che Linh participated and won first prize. Not considering singing as a career at the time, but only because the pay is considerably high.  Two years later, the group faded and dissolved and Che Linh became a driver for heavy construction organization in Bien Hoa.  The love for music and as a hobby, Che Linh continues to learn the music, train his voice and composed several songs. Che Linh's musical career strongly excelled, and his first two songs were born: "Dem buon tinh le” and “Dem buoc co don”

Recognizing that music is the shortest way to bring understanding between the Kinh and the Chams and all the other ethnic groups, Che Linh promised to continue and excel in the musical industry. With his effort and talents, Che Linh became a famous star and had sung together with many artists such as Anh Ngọc, Duy Khánh, Thái Thanh, Thanh Thúy, Minh Hiếu, Tùng Lâm. Continental Productions produced his first record, "Vùng Biển Trời Và Màu Áo Em”. Che Linh then signed with several Viet Nam Record Companies.

1964-1965

He produced and wrote many songs.

1972 Awarded by Kim Khánh for Best Male Artist/Vocal which was organized by the Daily Newspaper Trang Den. The Government of South Vietnam then forbade Che Linh's voice and songs during the summer war period.

1975 Che Linh was hoping to have his music released from the forbidden list, however he was jailed as a reactionary at Song Mao, then My Duc.

1978 He was released from prison 28 months later.

1980 Escaped to Malaysia and later settled in Canada where he now resides in Toronto, and where he is presently performing, singing, writing and producing music.

21st century

His songs stay popular both domestically and among Viet diasporas. In 2007 he performed in Vietnam again after decades abroad, during an event hosted by UNESCO. From 2011 onward he returned to Vietnam for several tours.

Compositions All of Che Linh's songs which he wrote goes under the name of Tu Nhi. TitleYearComposerĐêm buồn tỉnh lẻ1962Tú Nhi & Bằng GiangBài ca kỷ niệm1962Tú Nhi & Bằng GiangĐếm bước cô đơn1963Tú Nhi & Bằng GiangThương Hận1966Tú Nhi & Hồ Đình PhươngLời thương chưa ngỏ1966Tú NhiNgày đó xa rồi1967Tú NhiXin làm người xa lạ1967Tú NhiNỗi buốn sa mạc1968Tú Nhi & Tuấn LêLời kẽ đăng trình1968Tú NhiTrong tầm mắt đời1968Tú NhiĐoạn cuối tình yêu1968Tú NhiĐoạn buồn đêm mưa1968Tú NhiĐoạn khúc đọan trường1969Tú NhiMai lỡ mình xa nhau1969Tú NhiKhu Phố ngày xưa1969Tú NhiNụ Cười Chua Cay1970Tú Nhi & Song AnMưa bên song cửa1972Tú NhiNgười về trong chiêm bao1973Tú NhiXin yêu tôi bằng tình người1974Tú NhiMưa buồn tỉnh lẻ1972Tú Nhi & Bằng GiangTình khúc đoạn trường 21976Tú NhiTâm tư kẻ tù1976Tú NhiLời lữ khách1980Tú NhiSao đổi ngôi1976Tú NhiXuân quê hương xuân lạc xứ1980Tú NhiNhư giọt sương mai1980Tú NhiNgày đó quê hương tôi1980Tú NhiTôi đã hát,sẽ hát,và phải hát1980Tú NhiVùng trời đó tôi thương1980Tú NhiĐêm trên đường phố lạ1984Tú NhiEm bên đời ngẫn ngơ1995Tú NhiHết rồi1996Tú Nhi & Anh HoàngMù1997Tú NhiCứ tưởng còn trong tay1998Tú NhiMột trời thương nhớ2000Tú NhiMột góc phố buuồn2002Tú NhiThành phố buồn 2 (Thành phố buồn hơn)2002Tú NhiNỗi buồn của tôi2002Tú NhiBài ca không tựa2002Tú Nhi

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