Coco Lee, a Hong Kong-born American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress, made a significant impact on the music industry. Her career initially flourished in Hong Kong before expanding to Taiwan and achieving international recognition. With a prolific discography, Coco released 18 studio albums, two live albums, and five compilation albums, including her notable English-language album, Just No Other Way. Her single "Do You Want My Love" garnered attention worldwide, charting in the top 50 of the US Billboard Dance Club Play Chart and the Australian Singles Chart. Coco Lee achieved a remarkable milestone as the first Chinese American to perform at the Academy Awards, captivating audiences with her rendition of "A Love Before Time" from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at the 73rd Academy Awards. She also made history as the first Chinese ambassador for Chanel, further showcasing her influence and recognition in the fashion world. Tragically, Coco Lee passed away on 5th July 2023, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable talent and contributions to the music and entertainment industry.
Coco Lee was a singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress. During her career timeline, she released numerous albums, including the notable English-language album "Just No Other Way." Her single "Do You Want My Love" gained global attention, and she became the first Chinese American to perform at the Academy Awards. Additionally, she made history as the first Chinese ambassador for Chanel. Sadly, she passed away on July 5, 2023, at the age of 48.
Coco Lee whose real name goes by Ferren Lee, was born on January 17, 1975, in British Hong Kong. She held Chinese-American nationality and had a mixed ethnicity. Her father had Indonesian Chinese ancestry, while her mother had Hong Kongese Chinese ancestry. Coco was the daughter of a Hong Kong Cantonese mother and a Malaysian father. Sadly, her father passed away before she was born. At the age of nine, Coco and her two elder sisters, Nancy (who later became her manager) and Carol, moved to San Francisco with their mother. She attended Presidio Middle School and Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School in San Francisco. After graduating from high school, she received a recording contract offer in Hong Kong. While initially attempting to balance her burgeoning career with her studies at the University of California, Irvine, Coco ultimately decided to focus on her pop career, leaving the university after her freshman year.
After graduating from high school in 1992, Coco Lee returned to Hong Kong and happened to participate in the 12th Annual New Talent Singing Awards while attending her sister's involvement in the Miss Hong Kong Pageant. Her remarkable performance as the first runner-up, singing Whitney Houston's "Run to You," caught the attention of Capital Artists, who wasted no time in offering her a recording contract. Lee made her debut by contributing to various compilation albums and in 1994, she released her first solo Mandarin albums, "Love from Now On" and "Promise Me," under Fancy Pie Records. The following year saw the release of her English cover album, "Brave Enough to Love," and her third Mandarin album, "Woman in Love." In 1996, she signed with Sony Music Entertainment, and her eponymous album, "Coco Lee," emerged as the best-selling album of the year in Asia. Lee continued her success in 1997 with the release of the Mandarin album "Sincere" and a self-titled Cantonese album. The momentum persisted in 1998 with the Mandarin album "Di Da Di," which sold a remarkable 1 million copies in less than three months.
Following her album "Sunny Day," she achieved notable milestones in her career. Her song "Colors" was chosen as the opening theme for the Football World Cup, while "The Answer" (答案) was featured in the Chinese film Bishonen. In 1998, Walt Disney Pictures enlisted her to sing the theme song "Reflection" (自己) and voice the character Fa Mulan in the Mandarin version of Mulan. That same year, Coco performed in Taiwan, drawing an audience of over 30,000 fans and becoming the second-largest concert audience in Taiwan's history. She also participated in Michael Jackson's "Michael Jackson and Friends" charity concert. In 1999, under 550 Music, she released her debut album "Just No Other Way," which included the hit "Do You Want My Love." Additionally, her love song "Before I Fall in Love" was featured in the movie Runaway Bride. Coco collaborated with singer Kelly Price on the duet "Can't Get Over" and recorded charity singles for SARS relief efforts. By 2000, she had released 20 albums in Asia, selling over 7.5 million copies in the region. In 2001, Coco performed "A Love Before Time" for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at the Oscars. She continued her musical journey with albums like "Promise Coco" (2001) and "D. Is Coco" (2002), featuring collaborations with artists like Jacky Cheung and Jin Young Park. Coco also ventured into acting, co-starring in the award-winning film Master of Everything (自娱自乐) and assuming the role of a Youth AIDS ambassador, advocating for AIDS awareness and education.
In 2005, Lee released her second English album, "Exposed", which faced a ban in Mainland China due to perceived explicit lyrics in certain songs. She followed up with her Mandarin album, "Just Want You" (要定你), in September 2006. In 2008, she was selected to sing "Forever Friends," one of the Olympic songs, alongside Sun Nan. Coco switched record companies, joined Warner Music Group (Taiwan), and released her Mandarin album East to West (CoCo的東西) in August 2008. The album featured notable tracks such as "Party Time," "Turn" (the soundtrack of the movie "The Legend of Silkboy" for the Shanghai World Expo 2010), and "BYOB" ("Bring Your Own Bag"), promoting environmental awareness. She collaborated with various artists, including JJ Lin, Andy Lau, Jam Hsiao, and Jane Zhang, to record "Smile Shanghai," the theme song for the Shanghai World Expo 2010. Coco embarked on her "East2West" World Tour Concert, starting in Taipei in March 2010, and performing in Las Vegas, Singapore, and Nanning. In 2011, she participated in the recording of the official theme song, "Succumb Not to Sorrow" (不要輸給心痛), for the "Artists 311 Love Beyond Borders" event and premiered her song "Dreams on Oriental Seas" featuring Sun Nan, chosen as the theme for the 14th FINA World Championships held in Shanghai.
On June 8, 2011, she announced the establishment of her own studio. Soon after, on June 25, her song "Four Seas Alliance" (四海盟約), the theme song for the Chinese television drama All Men Are Brothers (水滸傳), was broadcast. In December 2011, she performed at the "Booey Lehoo Concert" in Beijing alongside artists such as will.i.am, apl.de.ap from The Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, and Shunza. In February 2012, she took part in the TRANS4M Boyle Heights benefit in Los Angeles, performing with will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas. Her album "Illuminate" (盛開) was released on May 31, 2013, under Universal Music. In 2016, Coco competed in the fourth season of the Chinese reality show "I Am A Singer", despite facing vocal issues due to bronchitis in 2014. She triumphed and became the first non-mainland Chinese singer to win the competition. Coco later returned as a guest singer for two more seasons of the show, now rebranded as Singer, performing on the fifth season during the biennial concert and on the sixth season as a guest performer for eventual winner Jessie J.
Coco Lee was a multi-talented artist, excelling as a singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress. At the time of her unfortunate passing, her net worth was estimated to be $5 million, with a considerable annual income from her professional pursuits. Her primary source of wealth stemmed from the music industry, where she achieved considerable success. Additionally, she garnered a decent sum of money through her involvement in entertainment and dance. Coco Lee lived life to the fullest, embracing a lavish lifestyle before her untimely demise. Throughout her illustrious career, she released numerous albums, earning accolades and achieving significant milestones in the music industry. She collaborated with various artists and graced high-profile events with her exceptional performances. Moreover, she showcased her talent in films and TV shows, further contributing to her financial success and leaving a lasting impact on the entertainment world.
Coco Lee was a married woman who shared her life with her husband, Bruce Rockowitz. They exchanged vows on October 27, 2011, in a beautiful ceremony held in Hong Kong, which included a Jewish ceremony filled with remarkable performances by renowned artists such as Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, and Ne-Yo. Bruce Rockowitz, a Canadian businessman, became Coco's loving partner in life. In anticipation of their wedding, Coco recorded the song "I Just Wanna Marry U" in both Chinese and English versions, which was released on October 24, 2011. As part of their blended family, Coco embraced her role as a stepmother to two adult step-daughters from Bruce's previous marriage. The couple cherished their time together until Coco's unfortunate passing in 2023, leaving behind memories of their love and partnership.
Tragically, Coco Lee's life came to a devastating end. On July 2, 2023, she attempted suicide leading to her admission to Queen Mary Hospital in an unconscious state. Despite medical efforts, Coco Lee passed away three days later, on July 5, 2023, at the age of 48. Her untimely death left a profound sense of loss and sorrow in the hearts of her fans and the entertainment industry as a whole.
Coco Lee, a captivating singer and actress, possessed a charming presence. She had a slim build and stood at a height of 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm). Her weight was around 46 kg (101.5 lbs), highlighting her petite frame. Coco's dark brown hair added to her allure, perfectly complementing her captivating dark brown almond-shaped eyes, which were among her distinctive features. With her captivating appearance and remarkable talent, Coco Lee left an indelible mark in the world of entertainment.
Coco, as revealed in a February Weibo post, shared her lifelong battle with health problems, which originated in her childhood. She opened up about being born with complications in her left leg, a concern noticed by her mother during her early years. Consequently, Coco underwent surgery at the tender age of two, but unfortunately, it did not yield the desired results. Instead, doctors resorted to inserting a thick metal rod through her heel and immobilizing her leg with a cast. This experience left her deeply traumatized, exacerbated by the absence of her mother and sisters during the ordeal.
Before rising to international fame as a pop star, Lee had taken the path of higher education by enrolling at the University of California, Irvine, with the intention of pursuing a psychology degree. However, her journey took an unexpected turn when she received a record deal offer in Hong Kong shortly after graduating from high school in San Francisco, California. Ultimately, after completing her first year of college, she made the decision to drop out and dedicate herself entirely to her burgeoning career.
Lee's final song, released in May before her untimely passing, carried a powerful message of resilience. Titled "战歌" ("Fight Song") in Chinese, it served as the theme song for the animated TV series Soul Land. The lyrics of the song were deeply inspirational, capturing the essence of a fighter who perseveres despite enduring pain, shedding tears, and facing uncertainty. The heartfelt words expressed a determination to begin anew, forging ahead as a testament to one's destiny. During the song's promotion, Lee not only shared her artistry but also encouraged her followers to fearlessly pursue their dreams and confront challenges head-on.
In October 2011, after an eight-year courtship, Lee tied the knot with her husband, Bruce Rockowitz, who is a Canadian businessman based in Hong Kong. Born in Boston, Rockowitz held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Li&Fung, a prominent supply chain company in Hong Kong, from 2011 to 2014. With a significant age difference of 17 years, their union brought together Lee's artistry and Rockowitz's business acumen. Currently, Rockowitz occupies various positions in different companies, including the role of chairman at Rock Media International and serving as the co-founder and non-executive chairman of Pure Group, an esteemed fitness and restaurant chain.
Coco Lee was a remarkable multi-lingual singer, showcasing her fluency in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Thai. This exceptional linguistic talent enabled her to forge connections with a broad and diverse audience on a global scale. Her ability to deliver captivating performances in multiple languages contributed to her wide-reaching appeal and cemented her status as a truly international artist.